The art and science of storytelling

As a marine scientist and artist I have always been drawn to the ocean and I am following by saltwater heART as Dr Suzie Starfish, Author/Illustrator (Authorstrator), to publish a series of children’s picture books about the importance of our oceans. My series of ocean picture books includes:

• The Great Barrier Thief
• Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash
• Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes

BUYING MY BOOKS: you can BUY SIGNED copies of my latest picture book, “Roger the Wrasse and the itchy fishes” directly from me by emailing me at drsuepillans@gmail.com to arrange a bank transfer and delivery details, and I will address the book to a little starfish in your life and sign the book.

To BUY the last remaining copies of my other two picture books dive into the below links now:

The Great Barrier Thief https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/the-great-barrier-thief/

Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/cranky-frankie-oceans-of-trash/

You can SEA more about my ocean picture books below…

Scientist, Artist, Author …AND Mermaid!

It’s not everyday I get to dress up as a Mermaid in the name of science, but as you can ‘sea’ I was very excited to dive into National Science Week as a Mermaid, as you can’t be what you can’t ‘sea’!

The STEAMzone Twilight Science Market was held by the Gympie Regional STEM Hub and Cooloola Coastcare for National Science Week, showcasing the diverse work of scientists in the area with children of all ages able to meet and talk with real-life scientists.

I was thrilled by the response to my ocean science-art tent where we made turtle and fish heARTs, read my ocean stories amongst all of my ocean toys and shared our love of all things oceans. My new Mermaid-esque outfit, which was also fitted with lights for this night time event, was a BIG hit with children, and people of all ages!

AND one of the conversations I had with a young girl made my Sci-heART sing:
Young girl: “Are you a girl scientist”?
Me: “Yes I am”
Young girl: “And you are also an artist?”
Me: “Yes”
Young girl: “And you get to be a mermaid”?
Me: “Yes, and a starfish”
Young girl: ….”WOW”!

How privileged am I as Dr Suzie Starfish to be able to have these conversations with children. As a marine scientist, artist and author I hope living my life with ESTEAM (add Entrepreneur in there) helps our children to SEA that not all scientists wear white coats, you can become anything you put your mind to, you just have to follow your heART.

I use art and science storytelling to engage the heARTs and minds of children. In my world the ART of SCIENCE is not tacked onto STEM/STEAM, but integrated into my storytelling work to give children the creative thinking skills they need to problem solve, think outside the box and colour outside the lines, literally!

Inside Story – for aspiring authors & illustrators

I’m SO EXCITED to ‘sea’ the release of “Inside Story: the wonderful world of writing, illustrating and publishing children’s books” by United Publishers of Armidale. This book showcases the diversity and wonder of Australian children’s books and is a fabulous resource for aspiring writers and illustrators (and Authorstrators)! I was thrilled to feature in and contribute to this book as an Aussie Authorstrator with ALL of my ocean picture books showcased, including a sneak peek at my 3rd picture book “Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes”!!

In the book I provide some words of advice:
“Creating words and pictures for children is a privilege. Reading your story to them is a joy. An an authorstrator, the picture book journey is a long one, filled with ups and downs and plenty of sideways. But believe in your story, follow your heART and commit to the journey, as it is so worth it when you hold your book in your hands!” – Dr Sue Pillans (aka. Dr Suzie Starfish)

You can find out more information about this book and where to buy it at https://lnkd.in/dXBhp4nJ

Animals Make Us Human – and swimming with the biggest shark in the sea!

As an Aussie scientist/artist/author I have also been invited to contribute a story to “Animals Make Us Human” (published by Penguin Books Australia), which is a collection of short stories by photographers, researchers and writers reflecting on their connection with animals and nature. This book is not a picture book but it is suitable for all ages as it celebrates our connection with animals and nature. You can ‘SEA’ more about my BIG love story about a BIG animal who is still a BIG mystery to us, and buy a copy of the book, at Nature & Animals.

Positive storytelling

As an environmental educator I use science in fiction to help children and readers to understand, appreciate and hopefully help protect our underwater environments. As my alter ego Dr Suzie Starfish I ‘sea’ the world through words and pictures so it will come as no surprise that I have always wanted to write and illustrate a series of kids picture books about the wonders of the underwater world. Storytelling is the oldest form of education so my sea stories are based on real-life marine science mixed with fun facts and whimsical tales…..fish tails that is!

I also strongly believe in the power of positive storytelling so even though my stories may draw attention to difficult or challenging environmental issues, such as my first two picture books which illustrate the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef and our oceans of Marine Debris, my stories always offer messages of hope and solutions. I also love to share and celebrate the importance of biodiversity on our reefs, and the special relationships animals have under the sea, in my third picture book about Reef cleaning stations. Using the art of science and storytelling I love to excite, engage and educate our children about the wonders of our oceans and empower them that they CAN be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world!!

You can ‘sea’ more about my picture books, artworks and underwater wonders via my YouTube channel (@drsuepillans) at the Picture books playlist, and ‘sea’ me in my office below:

Science in fiction

Picture books are often the first books a child will be exposed to, so when it comes to our oceans I think it is important to tell children the truth, even if the reality is not particularly pretty. In saying that, science in fiction can be told through positive storytelling to give children hope that they CAN do something to help. And ocean optimism is the focus of all of my picture books, which you can ‘sea’ more about below.

You can ‘sea’ more about where I get the ideas and inspiration for my ocean storytelling and why I use positive storytelling with a BIG splash of ocean optimism via my interview with BioTechniques (International Journal of Life Science Methods) in the UK in their “Science in fiction” series to celebrate World Book Day https://www.biotechniques.com/interview/science-in-fiction-dr-sue-pillans/

Ocean Storytelling

As Dr Suzie Starfish I am so lucky to get the opportunity to share the art of marine science and storytelling with kids of all ages (including big kids!), through my Schools visits and Workshops. I believe that our kids are our future ocean stewards and if they understand and love the oceans (via storytelling) then they are more likely to protect the oceans. Through my schools visits and workshops I teach children (of all ages) how to write and illustrate their own picture books through the art of visual storytelling. You can ‘sea’ below how ‘turtley awesome’ the primary school students were at storytelling as they created their own unique story about ‘Terry the Turtle‘, to help ‘shellebrate’ World Turtle Day!

As you can ‘sea’ from the great letters to Dr Suzie Starfish below from Exmouth primary school, they certainly love their marine art and asking great scientific questions. And YES, starfish can grow their legs back! Whenever I am doing art and science storytelling with children their interest, questions and knowledge of the sea never ceases to amaze me and I want to create picture books to encourage and support this creative thinking and connection with nature.

  

My picture books

The Great Barrier Thief

My first children’s picture book, “The Great Barrier Thief” by Dr Suzie Starfish, illustrates the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef. The book is suitable for all ages with the focus on young readers from 4 – 10 years of age. You can read more about the story behind the story at The Great Barrier Reef.

Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash

I’m SO excited about the second book in my series of science stories of the sea for children, “Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash” written and illustrated by Dr Suzie Starfish and published by Little Pink Dog Books. This book draws attention to the global issue of marine debris and plastic pollution in our oceans and follows the journey of Cranky Frankie to try and find a solution! You can dive into the story behind this story at Marine Debris and ‘sea’ my story as an “Authorstrator” at https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/2020-books-2/cranky-frankie-oceans-of-trash/.

Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes

This is the third book in my series of ocean science stories about the wonder and beauty of the sea. I’m SO excited about my newest book “Roger the Wrasse and the itchy fishes” by Dr Suzie Starfish published by Little Pink Dog Books. This book illustrates the importance of biodiversity on the reef and the special role and relationships animals have under the sea, on reef cleaning stations. This story celebrates our amazing ocean creatures and their FIN-tastic features! AND there is also another important message ‘drawn out’ in this story – that you are NEVER too small to make a BIG difference in the world! This children’s picture book will be released on the 31st January 2024. You can dive into the story behind this story at Reef Cleaning Stations.

VISITS by an Aussie Author/Illustrator/Scientist!

Please Contact me if you are interested in a classroom visit by Dr Suzie Starfish as I provide a range of visits and classroom incursions for children ranging from Kindergarten through to middle Primary School (and even to High School students as you are never too old to read picture books!):

• Author/Illustrator Visits: visit includes story time, chat and colouring-in the living colours of the reef (suitable for ages Kindergarten – through to Years 3/4) and other ocean issues such as marine debris, ocean pollution and creature features!
• Marine Scientist/Artist/Storyteller Incursions: aligned to the Australian Curriculum this highly interactive and visual classroom incursion is tailored to all year levels and classroom needs to discuss the art and science of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef (suitable for Years 1 – 12), marine debris, ocean pollution, creature features and tagging along with marine megafauna.

My WORDS & PICTURES in Progress

Creating my series of kids picture books about OUR oceans is a work in progress so stay tuned here for some more exciting updates as I follow my saltwater heART. I have several other ocean stories drafted about the amazing world of some of our most unique and colourful underwater wonders! SEA more here soon! I also host and present at workshops throughout the year as an Author/Illustrator so dive in and check out my latest Workshops.

A BIG shout out to my writing mentor and friend, award winning children’s picture book author Michelle Worthington (aka. Mermaid Michelle) for helping me to Share my Story! If you are interested in joining a great and supportive group then join the tribe at Share your Story.

The life of a writer…keep submitting your manuscripts, keep swimming through the waves of rejection letters and keep following your heART! No just means no to this story, this time…

     

If you would like to contact me about my ocean storytelling, please 

All artworks, stories and images are Copyright © 2025 Dr Sue Pillans