Young Caymanian college students Sasha Parchman and Kenny Ryan have turned their third-year final project for school into an illustrated book celebrating Caymanian heritage.
‘Shellshock: Saving Cayman’s Turtles’ explores the story between a grandfather and his granddaughter, Kassie, while highlighting Cayman’s sea turtles and their significance in Cayman history and culture.
Homage to Caymanian culture — and turtles
Ryan and Parchman, both students at Falmouth University in the United Kingdom, are in the final year of their bachelor’s programme for illustration, were inspired to write the book out of a desire to discuss the importance of Cayman’s turtles.
“We wanted the book to be a way to introduce others to the Cayman Islands and our culture,” Parchman said.
Turtles are her favourite animals and as an aspiring illustrator for children’s books or animation, she told the Compass, “I wanted to show my Caymanian roots throughout [the] artworks I produce. So, I was given the opportunity to present the topic. I was excited to create a picture book to present them.”
Ryan said, “It was important to not only introduce persons to the culture of the Cayman Islands, but also conserving the turtles and other endangered animals in our country, as being an overall message to conserving nature and our culture.”
As a young Caymanian, Parchman said, it was important to “write a book about saving Cayman turtles because they are a vital part of our heritage, identity and natural environment that deserves protection and celebration.”
The 32-page illustrated book features characters speaking in Caymanian dialect and includes “accurate, clear and engaging [information] for children, while staying true to the message of conservation”, Parchman said.
The process of writing the book had its “highs and lows”, Parchman said, adding, that she wondered how writing in Caymanian dialect would land with non-Caymanian readers.
“There were times where I was worried [that] I was not doing the book to appeal to an international audience. But, after some feedback from local people, we wrote the script to be more inclusive of Caymanian dialect. Overall, I think it was a good learning experience,” she said.
The pair hopes to produce more copies of the book for distribution, “to educate and inspire both local and international audiences about other unique aspects of our islands”, Parchman said.
“I also hope to collaborate with schools and conservation groups to use this book as a learning tool, encouraging young readers to take pride in and protect their natural heritage,” she added.
Ryan said he hopes “this will inspire and encourage young generations of Caymanians to learn more about their history and culture, along with trying to keep our culture and who we are not just as a country, but as a people, alive for centuries to come.”
Parchman wants readers to “take away a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the Cayman Islands, the importance of our native turtles, and the vital role of the Cayman Turtle Centre plays in conservation. Through this book, I hope to inspire respect for our environment and a shared commitment to protecting these incredible creatures for future generations.”
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