Anjeli Chiroli shares a special friendship and literary partnership with her longtime neighbor and author-illustrator, Jonathan Otto. Chiroli is a sophomore pursuing an associate in arts degree at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. She helped Otto get the medical attention he needed after a mirror-shattering accident. The two grew closer and learned about their mutual interest in children’s book writing.  

“Upon discovering I had completed a children’s book for a school project, he introduced me to his idea for one,” said Chiroli. “It quickly led to us working together on his book.”

Chiroli contributed to Otto’s book, “Child of the Wild: Animal Families in Portraits and Poems,” volume one, which was released in Fall 2024.  Otto plans to develop a five-book series and release volume two in Spring 2025. The series imagines animal kids’ questions and qualms and their parents’ responses. The rhyming text and lifelike family portraits are designed to offer a fun reading experience.

Otto and Chiroli enjoyed the book creation process.

“I contributed to the book when I could, watching it grow into a fully published piece,” Chiroli said. “It is truly an honor to know I was a part of its production.”

Otto started drawing pencil portraits of humans, pets, and wildlife 10 years ago and transitioned to pastel drawings. His friends viewed his growing portfolio and suggested he create a children’s book.

“My first adult experience making art was a workshop on pencil portrait drawing,” Otto said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I focused on sketching animal families, including images of moms and dads with their young offspring. That work felt comforting as their lives went on despite the travails of our species.”

Otto continues to sketch drawings in his Sarasota, Florida studio during the colder weather and in the Westminster, Vermont woods during the warmer weather.

“Child of the Wild: Animal Families in Portraits and Poems” volume one and other books authored and liked by SCF students and faculty are on display at the College’s libraries in recognition of National Reading Month. Visit SCF.edu to learn more about the library locations, hours and resources.