Local Author and Illustrator Introduce “A Granny With Fins”

Local author Sally Hodson and illustrator Ann Jones have created Granny’s Clan, about the J-pod Granny Orca

August 30 at 6 p.m. at Darvill’s Bookstore

Join local author Dr. Sally Hodson and illustrator Ann Jones at Darvill’s Bookstore on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. to celebrate the story of one-hundred year old Granny (J-2), a real-life wild orca great-great-grandmother and her family.  Hodson and Jones will discuss and sign copies of their new children’s book, Granny’s Clan: A Tale of Wild Orcas. Written for ages 4-10, their picture book weaves science with story to explore the importance of family and friendship and the power of a grandmother’s love in helping her endangered family survive.

Granny’s clan (J, K, and L pod) is often seen traveling through the San Juan Islands as they search for salmon. Once feared and shot on sight, our resident orcas are one of the most famous and studied wild orca populations in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people watch them from boats and shore. Millions of children have seen Granny and her family as the wild orcas in the Free Willy movies.

Granny’s Clan – A Tale of Wild Orcas takes young readers on a real-life adventure with Granny and two young orcas as they welcome a new baby, “see” with sounds, hunt for salmon, play, communicate, face dangers and encounter humans.  As the largest of the dolphins, orcas are very intelligent, unique individuals who live complex social lives. Granny’s family spends all of their lives together and their family relationships are crucial to their survival. An orca family in the sea may look different from ours, but their experiences are familiar and resonate with our own. Like human families, orca families share food, help each other and care for their little ones. An orca grandmother babysits, teaches and plays with her grandkids just as human grannies do.

While the Executive Director at The Whale Museum, Dr. Hodson helped coordinate the successful rescue of Springer (A-73), the orphaned baby orca found in Puget Sound and successfully returned to her wild family in Canada. Using her background in education, environmental science and animal behavior, she wrote this picture book for children to share all the amazing things scientists have learned about the lives, culture and behavior of these orcas.

She remembers a special encounter with Granny. “Once, on a whale-watching trip, Granny (J-2) swam alongside our boat, raised her head above the surface and looked directly into my eyes for several moments. Making eye contact with a century old great-grandmother orca is an experience that cannot be described with words. I was captivated and knew I had to share her story with kids.”

Fine artist Ann Jones is well known for her use of color. She taught elementary school for many years and began her artistic career here on Orcas Island. Her work can be seen at Orcas Island Artworks and Darvill’s Bookstore. She uses soft pastels which she applies with her hands and fingers . . . a very tactile experience resulting in luminous paintings filled with color.

With careful attention to the unique dorsal fins, saddle patches and eye patches of each individual orca, she brings these orcas to life.  This allows the readers to identify the main characters in the story visually as well as verbally. “Painting our cherished resident orcas has been a delightful and humbling experience.”

Dr. Hodson has created an activity guide with a variety of learning experiences to accompany the book. Hodson and Jones are donating a portion of the proceeds from Granny’s Clan: A Tale of Wild Orcas to non-profit organizations working to learn about and protect orcas.