This spring, Island Readers & Writers brought picture book and middle-grade author Evan Griffith on a three-island tour, with visits at Islesboro Elementary School, North Haven Elementary School, and Vinalhaven Elementary School.

Nature, science, and discovery are at the heart of author Evan Griffith’s books for children. During the spring 2026 semester, IRW featured his picture book biography, Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist and his middle-grade novel Manatee Summer in school programs. Secrets of the Sea is the true story of a 17th century French dressmaker who revolutionized marine science when she invented the first modern aquarium. Manatee Summer is a coming-of-age story about two friends working on a nature journal of the wildlife around their Florida town, and the way their summer unfolds.

Facts Inspire Good Fiction

Evan is curious and loves research and he encourages kids to follow their own interests…to the library and onto the page. His writing workshops focus on teaching students that research can be fun, that you can turn your own experiences into fiction, and that you can bring your stories to life with rich sensory details. (As a bonus, Evan is full of interesting animal facts!)

One teacher told us: “I really liked the reminder to write not just about what you know, but about what you want to know. It was a good reminder that you can blend nonfiction research with writing fiction.”

Many of IRW’s programs bring authors and illustrators who are from Maine themselves or have written Maine stories to our partner schools. We love the deep connections we make in those programs, but there’s also a huge benefit to bringing authors and illustrators from other places into classrooms as well. One teacher wrote to us after the program: “This program is important because it provides a unique type of enrichment for the island students. Being on the island, most are quite sheltered from experiences that connect them to the broader world. They love books but being able to meet the author provides them with a deeper love and understanding for them.” As it turns out, Evan’s program was a wonderful opportunity to broaden perspectives, but—as always—there was much in common as well.

“If you could talk to your self as a kid about your IRW experience, what would you say?”

One day you’ll get to visit beautiful islands where almost everyone shares your interest in marine life!

Evan is right! So many students loved learning facts from him about ocean life.

A dolphin, leafy sea dragon, shark, manatee and nautilus, drawn by students.

We can’t wait to have Evan back and see what stories he’ll inspire our students to write. In the meantime, grab one of his books below.