Today I want to tell you about an animal story inspired by a cormorant and a little girl.

Here’s how it happened: last summer, some friends from Málaga came to visit us in Alicante with their three kids.

I absolutely adore that family.

Of course, I wanted to show them the best of what we have around here — and without a doubt, the best thing about Alicante is its beaches.

So, I took them to my favorite one. I was so excited for them to see it in all its glory — it was June, not too crowded yet, the weather was perfect...

Everything seemed ideal.

But when we got to the beach...

It was full of jellyfish.

The adults went in anyway, keeping a close eye on each other’s backs, but it was stressful. So, with the kids, we didn’t even try.

Instead, we stayed on the shore, painting pebbles and staring out at the sea.

And since the beach was practically empty of people, we suddenly spotted a couple of cormorants swimming nearby.

Completely unbothered by the jellyfish.

Probably delighted by the invasion.

This is my favorite beach because the water is crystal clear and full of fish. I imagine it’s those cormorants’ favorite beach for exactly the same reason.

So, they started diving and fishing right in front of us — putting on the most incredible show.

It was magical.

That’s when I told my friends something fascinating about cormorants — something amazing they can do, which later became the inspiration for my story “The Cormorants Can Count to Seven.”

Elena, the eldest of the siblings (she’s six), was completely captivated by the story. I told her I wanted to turn it into a book, and since she’s a wonderful little artist and storyteller, she promised to help me.

A few weeks after they returned home, her mother sent me a beautiful story written and illustrated by Elena herself.

Her drawings, her imagination, and her enthusiasm inspired me to create my own version of the story — this time as a published book.

You can buy “The Cormorants Can Count to Seven” in print on Amazon, or get it in digital format as part of The Danio Science Club.

Opinions

“A beautiful and heartfelt story with lovely illustrations that my children — ages 7, 5, and 3 — have read over and over again! We always look for stories that carry a meaningful message and help them care about the world around them, and this one delivers on every level. Empathy, generosity, a sense of justice... Plus, the story is based on real scientific research — you can even access the scientists’ original publication — and it sparks children’s curiosity about science. We give it a 10!”

— Clara

“My 8-year-old daughter was so excited for this one because she had already read the previous books. As soon as I told her we had it, she grabbed it and started reading it aloud to me. When she finished, I asked her what she thought. ‘It’s amazing, Dad!’ she said, catching her breath after reading it all in one go.

It’s already become one of her favorite bedtime books.
We’re eagerly waiting for the next one.”

— José Manuel and Ema

“I love this book and its story — it’s told with such simple and beautiful words. I’m going to read it to my 3-year-old students, and I’m sure they’ll love it. Plus, the illustrations are inspired by drawings made by a 7-year-old girl — what a fantastic idea! I highly recommend it. And the story is based on real events — yes, cormorants really can count! 🥰🥰”

— María Ángeles Pastor

“I adored this story — such a beautiful and true tale about animals, perfect for helping children learn about science and foster a love for living creatures, just as the author has always intended (and certainly achieved!). I can’t wait to give it to my grandchildren so they can enjoy it too!
P.S. They also loved the story of Bombyx, the silkworm.”

— Belén Finat

“I’ve just finished reading it, and I loved it — like all of this author’s books. It’s perfect for inspiring children to love and learn about animals. I can’t wait to give it to my niece!”

— Alicia Hurtado

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The links direct you to Amazon.com, but the books are available worldwide. If you’re not in Spain, simply open Amazon in your country and paste the book title into the search bar.

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