Roger the Wrasse and the itchy fishes!
I am SO EXCITED to add to my series of ocean science stories for children with “Roger the Wrasse and the itchy fishes”, written and illustrated by Dr Suzie Starfish and published by Little Pink Dog Books. This is the third in my series of ocean stories for children. This story draws attention to the importance of biodiversity on the reef and illustrates the special roles and relationships animals have under the sea, on reef cleaning stations. Showing you are never too small to make a BIG difference!
Told through the eyes of Roger the Wrasse, a small and brightly coloured reef fish who oversees a cleaning station on the reef. Roger’s bright colours are almost like a neon sign advertising his ‘cleaning services’ to other sea creatures on the reef.
Inspired by my time snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, this is an exciting and engaging story for children illustrating the different shapes, sizes, colours and patterns of marine creatures that live on the reef (ie. biodiversity). A story based on science and provides a fun, visual and interactive story which can be used as a visual learning and teaching resource.
This book is suitable for all ages with the focus on young readers from 4-10 years of age. I use positive storytelling to engage, excite, educate and empower children that they CAN be the change they want to ‘sea’ in the world.
BUYING THIS BOOK
You can BUY signed copies of this book 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 (with International orders through my Publisher at https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/roger-the-wrasse-and-the-itchy-fishes/).
MY OCEAN BOOK SERIES
The other titles in my series of ocean science stories includes The Great Barrier Thief and Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash. You can BUY copies of The Great Barrier Thief at https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/the-great-barrier-thief/ and Cranky Frankie and the oceans of trash at https://littlepinkdogbooks.com/cranky-frankie-oceans-of-trash/
Book reviews & articles
SO EXCITED to ‘sea’ my first review of “Roger the wrasse and the itchy fishes“, by Books and Publishing.
And check out this FIN-tastic story by the wonderful Lee McCarthy of the Gympie Times. A BIG thank you to Lee for her AMAZING support of my ocean storytelling, what a STAR you are!!
Diving into our love of ocean storytelling
As you can ‘sea’ we always have a great time diving into my ocean books, whether that be for World Oceans Day, the First Five Forever group at the library or a STEAM-inspired event. Story time with “Roger the wrasse” is always such a colourful and FUN time learning all about cleaning stations on the Great Barrier Reef. AND then we always create some fishy art with lot’s of heART! I just love getting to share my love of the ocean with our future ocean stewards, our kids.
The story behind the story of Cleaning Stations
The story of “Roger the Wrasse” was inspired by the real-life and amazing role of cleaner fish who literally clean itchy fishes on the reef. And I have been lucky enough to ‘sea’ Roger the Wrasse cleaning BIG fish on Lady Elliot Island! Cleaning stations appear on coral reefs where fish, sea turtles and other marine animals gather together to be cleaned, by some of the smallest creatures in the ocean (as you can ‘sea’ from the photos)! The cleaners, like Roger the Wrasse, remove parasites and dead skill cells and bacteria from the gills, flesh and mouths of fish, manta rays, turtles and even sharks! This is a VERY special relationship as cleaner fish provide a cleaning service to their ‘clients’ and in return the cleaners get a full stomach.
I am forever fascinated by the amazing creatures we have in the ocean and the incredible features they have to do their important ‘jobs’. I wanted to showcase this as a story as it provides a great example of mutualism in nature where two organisms of different species are in a relationship in which BOTH benefit.
This story is also about celebrating the small creatures that do BIG things in the ocean. Roger the Wrasse also shows us how little things can make a BIG difference in the world — and I hope kids of all ages who read this story grow up to be just like Roger… courageous and helpful! You can follow Roger’s journey and the creation of this story via my social media and the hashtag #itchyfishes
Just remember: “You are never too small to make a BIG difference in the world!“
Fun & fast cleaner facts
Did you know that cleaner fish:
- Clean fish daily with some ‘clients’ seeking cleaners up to 144 times a day!
- Can recognise familiar ‘client’ fish and avoid those that bite!
- Can affect the abundance and diversity of reef fish
- Use ‘tactile dancing’ as a pre-conflict management strategy to avoid being eaten!
- Blue colouring within their pattern attracts more ‘client’ reef fish to the cleaning station
- May possess complex co-operative and cognitive behaviours that had been assumed to only occur in primates and humans!
WOW!! Isn’t nature just amazing! These fun and fast facts are the results of almost 20 years of research from The Coral Reef Ecology Lab as documented in “The Cleaner Fish Chronicles“. It’s so great to ‘sea’ this research into the wonders of our underwater world and these amazing creatures and their FIN-tastic features. I love that I get to bring these important underwater stories to life through words and pictures.
Love ‘sea-ing’ this!
As an Authorstrator I love to ‘sea’ young happy faces diving into my book. Here we have Finley and Daisy, the first children in the UK to ‘sea’ the book. What cute little starfish they are!
And here are the first boys in the USA to dive into ‘Roger the wrasse’. How great to ‘sea’ Paulo and Andres exploring my new picture book amongst nature!
My timeline – Creating the WORDS & PICTURES
This is where you can ‘sea’ the progress of my story, the inspiration behind the storyline and the illustration ideas. Dive in and follow Roger the Wrasse as we create the words and pictures.
April 2019 – It was SO great to ‘sea’ Roger the wrasse cleaning on the Great Barrier Reef whilst I was snorkelling at Lady Elliot Island! Can you ‘sea’ him too!?
August 2019 – The exciting announcement of my newest picture book in the series of children’s books about the science of the sea with Little Pink Dog Books!
November 2022 – I’m so excited to ‘sea’ the completion of the pencil “Roughs” illustrations!!
March – May 2023 – EXCITED to be creating the final paintings for the book! Can’t wait for you all to ‘sea’ them!
July 2023 – FRONT COVER REVEAL TIME! It’s always an exciting time to reveal a new kids book!
January 2024 – BOOK ARRIVAL TIME! The book is now here and I just can’t wait for everyone to ‘sea’ it!
January 2024 – Rainbow Beach Markets: EXCITED to be at my first ever markets selling my SERIES of ocean picture books for kids. I now have my own ocean story TRILOGY!!
March 2024 – SO EXCITED to do my 1st book reading of ‘Roger the wrasse’ to kindergarten children at Tamalpais Valley Elementary School, in Mill Valley, California! Thank you for having me in your classroom!
June 2024 – You can ‘sea’ how excited I was to dive into World Oceans Day with the First 5 Forever group at the Rainbow Beach Library
August 2025 – Diving into our oceans with the First Five Forever group at the Rainbow Beach library is always so colourful, creative and FUN!
Stay tuned here for further updates on the progress of this story.
If you would like to know more about my ocean storytelling.
All artworks, stories and images are Copyright © 2025 Dr Sue Pillans
Dr Sue Pillans 