SUNDAY 12/2: Book Signing, Wool Spinning at Barrier Islands Center

The Barrier Islands Center has produced a new illustrated hardcover children’s book, The Hog Island Sheep in a Twisted Christmas Tale, written by Andrew Barbour and illustrated by Cameron Waff.

The book tells a holiday story of the Hog Island Sheep and Amanda, an orphan who lived at the Almshouse for the poor at the Barrier Islands Center.

The book premiere will include a reading and signing by the author on Sunday, December 2, at 1:30 p.m. at the Barrier Islands Center.

Copies of the book will be available for $17.99. There will also be a wool-spinning demonstration by Karyn Belknap of Ten Good Sheep.

The book reading is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, reservations are requested. Please call the Barrier Islands Center at 757-678-5550. The books will be for sale in the Barrier Islands Center gift shop as long as supplies last.

The Barrier Islands Center is located off Route 13 at 7295 Young Street in Machipongo, 20 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year ’round. Admission is free.

For more information, visit barrierislandscenter.com.

“The idea of doing a children’s book came from a photograph of one of the rare Hog Island sheep,” said Laura Vaughan, the executive director. “The staff knew immediately that an engaging story would be a great educational tool.”

Along with the sheep, the story highlights Virginia’s bar­rier islands, as well as the Almshouse and farm that are now part of the Barrier Islands Center.

Author Andrew Barbour tells the story of the Hog Island sheep in a clever and entertaining way.

Artist Cameron Waff illustrated the book with original paintings interpreting the Hog Island sheep, the Almshouse, and the orphan Amanda Doughty.

The paintings will be on display during the holiday season at the Barrier Islands Center.

Hog Island is a 45,000-acre barrier island off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. About 200 years ago, a flock of sheep was established on the island.

Hog Island sheep were considered to be one of the few populations of feral sheep in the United States. They survived in an extremely harsh environment with a limited diet and little medical attention.

Most of the sheep population was removed from Hog Island in 1974 when the island was purchased by the Nature Conservancy. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy characterizes the status of Hog Island sheep as “critical,” meaning that only concentrated and sustained effort can save this type of sheep from extinction.

There are currently five Hog Island sheep that live on a farm nearby the Barrier Islands Center. Most of the sheep are white, although 10% are black in color. Lambs may be born with spots, which disappear as they mature.

 

Share

Comments

Comments are closed.