Storytelling is a skill that is sometimes overlooked. In a world full of cold reality, danger and sometimes hate, an immersive story can be something to bring us into a world of fantasy, excitement, adventure or even just cute and cuddly animals. For junior Carly Truscott, storytelling is a talent that can not only bring smiles and joy to the reader, but also to those in need of help, whether it be a person or an animal.

Just recently, she published her first book, Fox, Bird, and Squirrel Were Not Friends. The story is aimed for children and tells the story about a fox, a bird and a squirrel who all live in the same forest. In the story, the trio do not get along and are annoyed with each other’s habits, but all of them learn that they each play a key role in nature and that they are all important together as friends.

The process of writing and publishing a book can be difficult and exhausting. “I definitely went through multiple drafts and the beginning concept was way different than the final draft of the book,” Carly said. “…It was really fun to go through the whole process of writing and doing all the illustrations that accompany it.”

On the subject of the illustrations, they look very stunning and pleasing to the eye. All of the pictures are watercolor painting, and the colors are calm and cool from an artist’s standpoint. Carly was the one who created every single one of these illustrations. “It was interesting because I don’t draw animals. I usually draw or paint more abstract things or I draw more faces or nature, so drawing animals was interesting.” Carly added that the design of the animals was intentionally made to be simplistic and childish in order to attract younger readers. “[Making the visual appeal for children] was kind of difficult for me, but I liked doing the watercoloring and the pen outline. That was fun.”

Carly actually wanted to be an illustrator when she was younger. “I always liked drawing so I’ve definitely thought about being an illustrator,” Carly added. “I never thought that I could [write a book] because I wasn’t really a kid who just wrote for fun, but it was just rewarding enough.”

One of the more interesting facts that Carly spoke about was where all the money spent on the books is going. “Any money that I make from it is going to the Helen Woodward Animal Center, so I felt like it was nice that something that I would normally just do as a hobby is now being used to help orphaned animals and it just feels better than just doing it for myself.”

The cause she selflessly donates money to helps injured and orphaned animals recover. They strive to help animals as well as people who want to care for the animals they save. And as Carly stated, not a single penny is kept for herself. “All of the money, every cent that you pay for the book, goes directly into providing care for hurt animals, providing foster services for orphaned animals, paper towels, blankets, just down to the really basic things that the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter needs,” she said.

Carly is already busy writing a new book. “I’m actually already drafting another children’s book geared more specifically towards animal rescue, because now that I’m working with the center, they’ve asked me to do a more specifically rescue-driven book.” A specific date for this book was not given.

Carly Truscott’s book, Fox, Bird, and Squirrel Were Not Friends, is quite a read. Not only is it visually beautiful, but the moral behind it shouldn’t be forgotten, and the cause the book is for is a very important one. Carly has quite a talent for telling new stories, and if she continues, she has a bright future ahead. Personally, I’ll be waiting in line at my nearby Barnes and Noble, eagerly awaiting Carly’s next piece.