Mother, Son Team Up To Write Children's Book Set On North Fork

SOUTHOLD, NY — A mother and her grown son recently embarked up the adventure of a lifetime — writing and illustrating a newly published children's book.

According to Claire Kennedy of Southold, the idea for "The Curious Puffer" — which she wrote and her son Ian Hunter illustrated — was born in Maine.

"We stumbled across a bakery/gift shop and upstairs in the gift shop was a pufferfish stuffed animal that I fell in love with," Kennedy said. "I wanted to buy it, but it was pretty pricey so I did not. My son Ian surprised me a few months later on my birthday with it! I was so enamored with the big squishy puffer that I decided we needed to bring it to life through the venue of a children’s book."

The book is an undersea adventure that takes place on the North Fork and involves a pufferfish and his friends in their underwater world of Luna Bay, Kennedy said. "An unfortunate event occurs to Puffer as he is baking his cookies. Someone took them right out of his oven!" Children are able to help Puffer find his missing cookies, she said.

"In The Curious Puffer, explore the charming underwater town of Luna Bay with Puffer and his adorable sea creature friends. In the colorful illustrations, see if you can spot some of the local landmarks that are well known to eastern Long Island. Follow along with the enticing mystery of Puffer's missing cookies, and see if you can figure out what happened to them," a description of the book on Barnes & Noble said.

Working on the project with her son was rewarding, Kennedy said. "It was a pleasure. Ian is very easy to be with and we always have a good time. We have a close relationship — as I do with all three of my sons. I love Ian’s artwork and this was the ultimate way to showcase something that would give it a life of its own forever."

Hunter added that he, too, enjoyed working side-by-side with his mother on the project.

"It was a lot of fun and it was something neither of us had ever done before. My mom’s imagination really brought these characters to life," he said.

Kennedy said while she did read to her son as a child, the idea came to them when he was an adult.

Both reflected on the most fulfilling part of their first foray into children's book publishing.

The most meaningful part, Kennedy said, was "memorializing and showcasing my son’s artwork in something more permanent in the form of this book for all generations to come — and all the time we spent together doing it."

Hunter, an English major in college, said he'd always wanted to be published. "I never would have imagined it would have come in the form of a children’s book, but I’m very happy it did. I am also very grateful and happy that my mom and I were able to accomplish this together," he said.

Both agree that seeing the book in children's hands is an incredible experience.

"It really fills us both with joy to see children loving our book," Kennedy said. "One of Ian’s very close friends Ria Anasagasti shares Ian’s love of art. We have pictures of one of Ria’s children Ezra with our book and much to our surprise, he made his mom and grandma read it over and over and over again to him."

"The Curious Puffer" is available in both hardcover and softcover and can be found on Amazon, at Archway Publishing, and at Barnes & Noble.