When it comes to combining my passions—creativity, animals, and environmental conservation—there’s always one creature that stands out: the aardvark. You might be wondering, “Why aardvarks?” Well, they always get to be first in line thanks to the alphabet. My journey with these marvelous mammals started with my kids’ book, Uncommon Animals of the Alphabet. The idea was to introduce children to the less glamorous but utterly fascinating creatures of our world.
I wanted to spark a sense of wonder and curiosity about animals that rarely get their time in the spotlight. But I didn’t stop at books. I had an idea to infiltrate everyday life with these uncommon creatures through my Uncommon Wallpapers series. Think about it—how many times have you looked at your wallpaper and thought, “This needs more immortal jellyfish”? Probably never, but that’s the point! I wanted to make these rare animals a common sight in our homes, hoping that familiarity would breed affection and, ultimately, a desire to conserve these incredible beings.
What are you passionate about?
With my llatest collection, I’ve decided to flip the script. Instead of making uncommon animals common, I’m making them extraterrestrial. Enter the Alien Aardvark. Because let’s face it, if aardvarks were actual aliens, we’d be rolling out the red carpet, erecting statues, and writing them into our history books as we speak. By portraying these animals as the unique, almost otherworldly beings they truly are, I’m hoping to inspire a little more reverence and respect.
Whether it’s in the pages of a children’s book, on the walls of your home, or in this latest galactic iteration, is a testament to my belief that creativity can be a powerful tool for conservation. It’s a way to connect people, especially kids, with the natural world in a manner that’s engaging and inspiring.
So here’s to the aardvark, always first in line and forever close to my heart. May we all start to see these uncommon creatures with the wonder they deserve, whether they’re gracing our bookshelves, adorning our walls, or exploring the cosmos. Because maybe, just maybe, if we start treating these amazing animals like the extraordinary beings they are, we might begin to give them the reverence and respect they’ve always deserved. And who knows? One day, our conservation efforts might just turn science fiction into a happily-ever-after reality.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 