About Me

Let me introduce myself: I’m Corinne Kelly Avery—an artist and children’s book author and illustrator. I grew up in a family of six children on a charming country farm in the picturesque hills of upstate New York. Surrounded by nature, I began sketching and painting the landscapes that inspired me. As a child, I dreamed of one day becoming an artist.

My passion led me to study fine art and art education at SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University, earning my bachelor’s degree. I later pursued a master’s degree in art k-12 education at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. After marrying my college sweetheart, Ken Avery, I taught art k-12.

My husband and I started our family of three children, and I became a stay-at-home mom. As our kids grew, I found myself immersed in the world of children’s books. Each week, I eagerly filled our bags with library books, igniting my love for children’s literature. It was during these years that I began to dream of writing and illustrating my own children’s book. Now, after years of dedication, I am proud to share my very first book with you: Little Hawaii.

My work is infused with faith, hope, wonder, and adventure. For the past 20 years, I’ve had the incredible joy of painting “en plein air” (the French term for painting in the open air), capturing the beauty of God’s creation through my brush. I work with watercolor, gouache, pastel, and oil, each medium helping me reflect on the magnificent world around us.

Through plein air painting groups and workshops, especially those with Carol Douglas at Acadia National Park on the Schoodic Peninsula, I’ve learned to better capture the landscape in all its glory. These workshops played a pivotal role in my growth as an artist, sparking my love for painting in National Parks. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting 31 National Parks, painting in most of them, and bringing their natural beauty to life.

In addition to my landscape work, I’ve illustrated two books: The Wondrous Story of the Little Shoe by Christine O’Riley and The ABCs of Frederick Douglass by Cynthia Britt-English (yet to be published). I’ve also had the honor of illustrating covers for Emotional Freedom by Jane Ault and Luv I sAm by Daniel P. Hochreiter

God’s blessings have shaped every part of my life, and I aim to inspire young readers with the message that “I CAN DO” too. The verse that has guided me throughout my journey is Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (ESV)

Little Hawaii is a heartwarming adventure that takes readers on a journey with a curious seven-year-old girl and her five siblings, growing up on a sheep farm in the rolling hills of upstate New York in the 1960s. Life on the farm is filled with daily chores, but the young girl’s natural curiosity about the world around her leads her to see each day as a new opportunity for exploration, always with her sketchbook in hand.

One day, while wandering the pasture, she stumbles upon something unusual—what looks to her like a tropical island in the middle of the farm. Initially, she’s too scared to investigate further on her own, so she runs to gather her brothers and sisters to share the exciting discovery. What follows is an enchanting tale of imagination, as the small patch of trees in the field transforms into a wonder-filled paradise. Every day turns into a new adventure, where childhood dreams and creativity come to life.

But the biggest surprise is yet to come, and if you want to find out what happens next, you’ll have to read Little Hawaii.