MERTF recognizes illustrator of children’s coloring book

The Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force recognized Macy Noll for her work illustrating the town’s children’s coloring book titled “Flippers and Feathers: Our Beach Friends Forever.” From left to right is MERTF board members Rose Larkin, Chair Steve Johnson, Rob Howell, Noll, Vice Chair Jennifer Rusk and town councilmember and MERTF liaison John King. Photo provided

The Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force (MERTF) honored Macy Noll, the illustrator of the town’s new nature coloring book for children titled “Flippers and Feathers: Our Beach Friends Forever.”

Noll was recognized at the advisory board’s most recent meeting on a day when 7,000 new copies of the book were approved for printing to replenish the first 10,000 copies that have nearly all been handed out already.

MERTF Vice Chair Jennifer Rusk, who spearhead the creation of the book with the assistance of MERTF board members, said there were only 1,000 copies left as of last week after first being published last month.

The books were printed largely through donations from the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation and town resident Patti Smith.

The books have been passed out to students at the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, to visitors at the MERTF pop-up tent at the Fort Myers Beach Market,

The town’s new coloring book for children teaches about the local wildlife and ecology of Fort Myers Beach.

Rusk worked closely with Noll, a Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) student, on the book. “She worked so hard on this,” Rusk said of the illustrator. “I am so proud of her and the town should be extremely proud of her. She is very talented.”

The books feature the town’s wildlife and other nature illustrations with information about their sensitive habitat and the threats they face to their survival.

Noll called her work on the children’s book “an incredible honor.”

Noll is currently working on a dual-degree in art and biology at FGCU.

“I have always loved nature and have always been fascinated by science,” Noll said. “I know that as a small child I would have enjoyed coloring this book.”

The Fort Myers Beach children’s coloring book for children was spearheaded by MERTF Vice Chair Jennifer Rusk and illustrated by Macy Noll with donations from the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation and town homeowner Patti Smith.

With the books rushing off the presses, the task force voted to approve spending the remaining $7,000 of the donations to print another 16,000 books.

One of the frequent questions Rusk said she has received when distributing the books is for crayons. “A lot of people are asking for crayons with these books,” Rusk said. Rusk said the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce has requested crayons for the books they give out at the Roxie Mobile Welcome Center at Times Square. That led MERTF Chair Steve Johnson to volunteer that he would personally donate to help cover the purchase of more crayons to accompany the distribution of the coloring books. “Many other people I am sure would donate as well,” Johnson said.

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