Children's author Iris Gray Dowling of Cochranville recently announced the release of her newest picture book, titled "Open Your Eyes (Discover the Cecropia Moth)."
According to the author, the book is particularly designed for elementary-age children, who will learn the scientific facts about moths and butterflies that live in the eastern United States, particularly in Pennsylvania.
"The story was inspired when my grandson found a Cecropia moth on the street in Parkesburg. He brought it to me knowing that I had a lifetime of studying moths and butterflies," Dowling explained. "Of course, I told him the name of the moth and that it was the largest one living in the United States. The Cecropia has a wingspread of over six inches."
She noted that William, the grandson who found the moth, gave it to her when he joined the United States Navy two years ago, hoping that she would include it in a story. "This story was born out of his wishes. He is the central character, but is portrayed much younger," Dowling noted. "In the book, the siblings are elementary ages and go with their father on a library visit particularly to study about this moth but find out how moths differ from butterflies and how moths, being nocturnal, live much differently."
Dowling reported that William is currently serving on a submarine in the Pacific region. "His twin brother, Robert, helped with the story by listening many times to the various versions and making suggestions to help see it to completion," she noted.
For this book, Dowling personally illustrated a Cecropia moth on the cover and elsewhere in the book, along with other large moths and butterflies. "This is the way I spent many hours during the COVID-19 pandemic - writing, drawing and coloring the illustrations in this book, as well as the backgrounds for their display," said Dowling. The book also contains several pages of game ideas, a glossary, additional facts, diagrams, a devotional on moths and bibliography information.
"These large (Cecropia) moths only live about a week just to mate and lay eggs. This contributes to the fact that many people have not seen them in their lifetime," Dowling explained. "The book is definitely scientific and would be an interesting study for homeschoolers, as well as students in any school."
This is Dowling's 17th book and the sixth picture book she has written. Her other books have offered nature stories, school and church program ideas and puppet skits. She also wrote "History of Churches and Worship Groups in the Oxford Area" and "Mission Stories," which details true stories from people in the Upper Oxford and Cochranville areas who served as missionaries.
The new picture book, available in soft copy, was designed and published by Jeanine Quinn of Goddard Printing, West Grove. For more information about the new book, email dowlingiris013@gmail.com.
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