About the Site Developer – Author, Illustrator, Science Educator: Sheri Amsel

All the information on this website, including more than 10,000 scientific illustrations, have been researched, written, and illustrated by Sheri Amsel. Ms. Amsel has been teaching science, writing and illustrating children's books, developing interpretive signage for nature centers and museums, doing author visits, and leading naturalist hikes for 30 years.

Below find a list of her published books, awards, and credentials. For a few thoughts from the thousands of children and adults who have been touched by Sheri Amsel's work, click:  testimonials and site reviews.

PUBLISHED BOOKS

The Rodent, the Bee, and the Brazil Nut Tree (Eifrig Publishing, 2022)
A Night Walk (AM Ink Publishing, 2022)
Drawing Birds of the World (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2022)
Drawing North American Wildlife (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2019)
Adirondack Alphabet (NEW Full Color Version - North Country Books  2018)
Drawing Florida Wildlife (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2018)
Wild Florida Activty Book (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2018)
Wild Oceans Activity Book (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2018)
Color an Adirondack Year (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2017)
Saving Cats and Dogs (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2017)
Color an Adirondack Year (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2017)
Saving Cats and Dogs (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2017)
Zoo Vet Aphabet (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2016)
Draw, Color, and Learn About Rainforests (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2016)
Vermont Nature Guide (Echo Point Books & Media, 2015)
Wild Coloring: Fairy Gardens (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2015)
Dogs and Cats for Kids (North Country SPCA and Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2013)
Wild Science (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2012)
Cecil Goes Wild  (Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2012)
Adirondack Wild Adventure (The Wild Center and Exploring Nature Science Publishing, 2012)
The Kids Everything Kids Human Body Book (Adams Publishing, 2012)
365 Ways to Live Green for Kids (Adams Publishing, 2009)
The Kids Everything Kids Environment Book (Adams Publishing, 2007)
Finger Lakes Almanac (North Country Books, 2005)
Drawing Adirondack Wildlife (N.K. Burns Press, 2001)

Vermont Nature Guide (Pinto Press, 1998)
Adirondack Counting Book (North County Books, 1998) 

Adirondack Nature Guide (Pinto Press, 1997)
Adirondack Alphabet (North County Books, 1997)
Cecil’s Great Northern Adventure (North County Books, 1995)

A Wetland Walk (Millbrook Press, 1993) 

Cecil’s Montana Adventure (Falcon Press, 1993)
Habitats of the World 4-Book Series Rainforests, Deserts, Grasslands, Mountains (Raintree-Steck Vaughn, 1993)
Simon’s Bug (Nystrom Press, 1992) 

A World of Insects (Nystrom Press, 1992)


Visit the bookstore.

SPEAKER, KEYNOTES, HONORARIUMS, GRANTS, & AWARDS
2023: The Rodent, the Bee, and The Brazil Nut Tree (Eifrig Publishing 2022) won the 2023 Nautilus Book Award (Gold Winner for Nonfiction, Illustrated Children’s Book)
2023: The Rodent, the Bee, and The Brazil Nut Tree (Eifrig Publishing 2022) made the 2023 shortlist and recommended reading list for the Green Earth Book Award.
2022: A Night Walk (AM Ink Publishing 2022) made the 2023 Excellence in Science Books longlist for Children's Science Picture Book by AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) .
2022: Grant from Adirondack the Garden Club to develop A Night Walk adventure for families to experience the outdoors at night.
2020: Grant from Adirondack the Garden Club to develop Arts and Discovery Kits (ADK) for K-4th grade kids in Northern New York
2019: Adirondack Council's Special Recognition of Conservation and Educational Efforts in Support of the Adirondack Park Award.
2019: Keynote Speaker for the Leading the Way 2019 North Country Librarians Conference in Lake Placid
2015-19: NYS Grant for Expanded Pre-kindergarten - Science Concepts and Drawing Skills
2014: NYS Grant for 3-Day PD Workshop “Integrating Next Generation of Science Standards into Curriculum.”
2013: Featured Author at 2013 Mountain Lake PBS Writing Contest Celebration.
2012: Speaker at 2012 NSTA National Conference in Atlanta, GA, “Teaching Science on School Grounds.”
2011: Speaker at 2011 CAST Conference in Dallas, Texas, “Bridging the Outdoors with Science Education, ELA, Art, and Historical Perspectives.”
2010: Speaker at the 2010 NSTA National Conference in Philadelphia, PA, “Bridging Outdoor Education with Classroom Science.”
2009: Received the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Environmental Education of Youths, by the National Garden Club.
2008: Speaker at 2008 NYOEA Conference in Lake Placid, “Developing Educational Nature Trail for Schools.”
2007: Speaker at 2007 NSTA Conference in Denver, “Developing Educational Nature Trail for Schools.”
2006: Vermont Library Conference, “Enhancing Elementary Curriculum with Picture Books.”
2005: Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting, “Alternative Careers in Science.”
2004: Medialle College Graduate Program for Elementary Educators, “Science Education Supplements.”
2004: National Association of Interpreters Conference, “Creating Educational Murals.”
2004: Iroquois Reading Council Meetings, “Accuracy in Trade Books for the Classroom.”
2003: Genesee BOCES Featured Author Series, “Nonfiction in Children’s Literature and Publishing.”
2001: Keynote Speaker at 2001 SLIMS (School Library Media) Conference, “Writing Nonfiction for Children.”

EDUCATION 

1987 M.S. Biomedical Illustration, Colorado State University

1987 M.S. Anatomy and Physiology, Colorado State University

1983 Internship at the Smithsonian Institute in Scientific Illustration
1980 B.A. Botany and Zoology, University of Montana

DIGITAL WORK AS AUTHOR, SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATOR AND EDUCATOR
1998 TO PRESENT
Creator of Exploring Nature Educational Resource - Exploringnature.org (including all content development and scientific illustration), a subscription website with more than 7,000 pages of illustrated science content for K-12, based on NGSS and used by schools in more than 20 countries (receiving more than 75,000 page-views per month). (2005 - present)
Curriculum Development and Illustration for Benchmark Literacy (2013-14)
iPad Development with Intrepid Pursuits (Boston, MA) - Development of content and illustrations for the Animal of the World iPad and iPhone App. (2012-present)
   
WORK IN PRINT AS AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
1995 TO PRESENT
Author and Illustrator of nonfiction science and nature picture books for children and field guides for adults. More than twenty published titles with: Raintree Steck Vaughn, Millbrook Press, Nystrom Science, Adams Media, Pinto Press, North Country Books, Eifrig Publishing, AM Ink Publishing, etc.
Author and Illustrator of Science Flip Charts for NewPath Learning (Victor, NY). Six chart series: Animals, Plants, Classification, Oceans, Biomes and Food Webs. (2011)
Interpretive Signage for NYS Department of Health and Creating Healthy Places – Text development and Illustration for outdoor recreation trails throughout upstate New York. (2012-13)

WORK AS EDUCATOR
1990 TO PRESENT
Visiting Author presenting science programming to more than 300 schools, libraries, science museums, and science education conferences. Programs include: Exploring Habitats of the World, Bridging Nature Trails with Classroom Science, A Close Up Look at Wild Animals, Drawing Wildlife. Funded by New York State Arts and Education, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Adirondack VIC, etc. (1995 - present)
Adjunct Faculty at Plattsburgh State University, Clinton Community College and North Country Community College as teaching classes in Biology and Anatomy and Physiology. (Between 1990 - 1999).

Other Site Contributors:
Dr. Scott Amsel is the website's animal consultant and answers questions for the "Ask the Zoo Vet" database. He has also contributed many of the animal movies and photographs. Dr. Amsel is an exotic animal veterinarian. He received his veterinary degree from Davis Veterinary School in 1984. Dr. Amsel has worked as veterinarian at the Los Angeles Zoo, Disney's Wild Animal Park in Orlando, and the Aviculture Institute. He contributes his expertise to big cat rescue facilities throughout the country, speaks at conferences on tiger care and has worked for the Orangutan Foundation and Earth Trust to help promote the protection of exotic animals around the world.

Eli Madden, Quicksilver Web Works, LLC., Middlebury, VT

Stacy Prime, Educational Consultant, Keene Valley, NY