Story Time With Author Patricia O'Hara

Story Time With The Author

Author Patricia O'Hara reads from her book, Ollie Smallie's. This engaging story is based on a true story.  Drop-in program for children and families.

About Patricia

Patricia O’Hara (author) has lived on the shores of the Upper St. Lawrence River, lovingly known as the Great River, all her life. Patricia enjoys every aspect of the Great River including scuba diving.
During her dives, she has chance encounters with all that call the river home. As an author, Patricia tells her stories of these adventures and discoveries through her main character Ollie Smallie, a juvenile small mouth bass, and his best friend Rita, an elver (juvenile) American eel. There are also life lessons and science-based facts intertwined in these stories. 
Take the plunge into these stories with Ollie and Rita! Meet their friends and neighbours and learn the ways of the Great River.
Patricia lives in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada so she can visit the Great River every day.
•    Connect with Patricia and see more of her work at (olliesmalliesfishtales.ca)

Sheila Dunkinson (illustrator), Patricia’s O’Hara’s twin sister, studies visual arts and paints whenever she can.
She skillfully brings the “Ollie Smallie’s Fish Tales” characters to life on backgrounds of original mixed media and water colour paintings.
Sheila divides her time between homes in Seeley’s Bay and Cornwall, Ontario. These places represent two very distinctly different watersheds and provides her with unlimited pallets of patterns, reflections and colours that is the signature of her artwork.
 

Illustrated by Sheila Dunkinson, 

Patricia’s O’Hara’s twin sister, studies visual arts and paints whenever she can.

Ollie Smallie’s Dangerous Discovery

This newly released children’s book is authored by 2024 River Award recipient, Patricia O’Hara and tells a story about Ollie the Smallmouth Bass and Rita the American Eel, who make a scary discovery together in the St. Lawrence River. The story is inspired by Patricia’s many encounters as a scuba diver in the St. Lawrence River, and is brought to life with illustrations of Ollie and friends by Patricia’s twin sister, Sheila Dunkinson.

Book Description for “Ollie Smallie’s Dangerous Discovery.”
Two aquatic friends stumble upon a dangerous situation created by garbage dumping but they learn from some odd-looking strangers that it is okay to ask for help.
Have you ever wondered what other creatures, like fish, see and think when they come upon something unfamiliar in their world? 

When Ollie Smallie, a juvenile small mouth bass, and his bestie Rita, an elver (juvenile) American eel, decide to cruise a different part of the Great River, they stumble upon a dangerous situation. They also encounter weird creatures that Ollie has only heard of from his father.

This story was inspired by a true event. Garbage dumping is a serious environmental problem and its impact does not stop at the water’s edge. As a scuba diver, Patricia O’Hara finds garbage during every dive. It is very important that children learn how our thoughtless actions can be tragic to other species and also that we, as the new species in the water, can be the solution.