Community Corner
Bridgewater Teacher's New Book Blends Prehistoric Mammals, Graffiti Art
Rob Ambrose said his third book was inspired in part by his daughter's science fair project on prehistoric mammals.
BRIDGEWATER, NJ — An eighth-grade science teacher at Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School has launched a new book, this time turning from dinosaurs to prehistoric mammals.
Rob Ambrose of Somerville said his new children's book, "Dino Style Meets Prehistoric Mammals," was released on Oct. 20.
He previously penned two books, Dino Style and Stickersaurus.
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Ambrose said the new book follows his earlier work in mixing education with graffiti-inspired art, but with a different prehistoric focus.
"It's still prehistoric creatures, but this is dealing with prehistoric mammals like the woolly mammoth and the saber-tooth cat and animals like that," Ambrose told Patch.
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The new book is also more collaborative than his previous titles.
Ambrose said 10 artists contributed graffiti lettering to accompany his illustrations, including Lady Pink and Zephyr as two of the better-known contributors.
The artwork was not commissioned. The contributors donated their work after he shared the concept and his illustrations with people he knew or respected.
"It's more like it's a collaborative effort," he said.
The idea for the book came from closer to home.
Ambrose said his 9-year-old daughter's science fair project last year focused on prehistoric mammals, which led him to start drawing them and eventually build a book around the topic.
The book includes a photo of her project in the foreword and explains that it helped inspire the work.
Ambrose described the book as aimed mainly at children ages 4 to 10, though he said he creates his books so readers of different ages can enjoy them.
"I wanted to make something that kind of bridges that gap. Like it's fun, but it also is going to be informative," Ambrose said.
Dino Style Meets Prehistoric Mammals is available to purchase by visiting dinostyle.bigcartel.com.
For more information on Ambrose and his books, visit instagram.com/dinostylebook or Dino Style on Facebook.
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