Laois woman writes children's book all about cute alpacas in aid of SPCA

A Laois woman who is passionate about animal welfare has penned her first book, after seeing a gap in the market.

Caroline Cornelissen from Monavea, Crettyard put her own money into sourcing a young local illustrator and publishing her book, Alpacas in Green Pastures this Christmas.

She is giving the profits to her local animal charity, Carlow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA), as well as to an American animal charity.

Caroline hopes people will support these two charities by purchasing her book online.  

She told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what inspired her to put pen to paper.

“Last year my neighbour bought four alpacas, and he asked me to help to volunteer and look after them.

“I didn't know much about alpacas beforehand so I tried to do some research into alpacas. There was so little on the Irish market so I decided to write my own book, in a way that children can understand,” she said.

Caroline is an animal lover, regularly rescuing both wild animals and pets in need of her care. With two dogs and four cats at home, she now has more experience in taking care of alpacas too. 

The gentle South American herd animals are bred for their wool, and are a distant relative to llamas which are larger and traditionally used as pack animals.

“There is a lot of work required in taking care of alpacas,” Caroline said.

She is hoping that her book will shine a light on the species for Irish children.

Caroline enlisted a talented local artist that she knew to do the lovely illustrations. Grace Conroy lives in Tullamore and both her grandparents are from Crettyard.

“I wanted to give a young artist a chance to put their work out. When Grace read my story after discussing it together we both had the same ideas for how the illustrations should look. Grace is very gifted and really helped bring the book to life," the author said.

Grace is a student at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.

“I wanted to try something new and challenge myself creatively,” she explains in the book.

Sandy Carson, a close and dear friend from America, who produces her own poetry books helped her to publish the book through Orenaug Mountain Publishing.  Rita Reynolds, editor of La Joie, who has published many of Caroline's short articles in her magazine, has helped to share the publication with animal lovers throughout America and gave the book a very nice review.

“Caroline Cornelissen offers us such a tender and loving story that radiates respect and honour for alpacas everywhere. The conversation between the mother alpaca and her cria, illuminates how these amazing, gentle creatures offer us so much of their beautiful ways. This splendid little book is a joy to read and a delight to share with others. It will inspire adults and children alike to discover how special alpacas truly are,” the editor said.

The profits of Alpacas in Green Pastures will be shared between the SPCA and the Animals Peace Garden, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the United States.

Alpacas in Green Pastures is available to buy in paperback form. Order it online, priced at €12 from www.lulu.com/