Memory of snorkeler featured in couple’s children’s books
The memory of a young man killed in a snorkeling accident off Jupiter lives on through children’s books authored and illustrated by a Palm Beach Gardens couple.
Scott and Karen Lamberson began working on their “Professor Clark the Science Shark” series for children in kindergarten through fifth grades about five years ago. They write the books spotlighting topics such as pollution and ecosystems together, and Karen, a former art teacher, illustrates them.
After 26-year-old Andrew “Red” Harris was killed by a boat while snorkeling in the Jupiter Inlet two years ago, Karen re-imagined the boy who grew into a young man in the books as him. The books are set around a reef off the coast of Jupiter, where the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation started in his memory is helping create an artificial reef.
The Lambersons created Professor Clark the Science Shark at the urging of a friend who is a professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. The character is inspired by Emma, a famous tiger shark in the Bahamas.
“He s a i d t he oc e a ns need a Smokey the Bear,” Karen Lamberson recalled.
Each book features a vocab lab that includes words commonly used on the Florida Standards Assessments and “fin facts” the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium helps compile. Kids create different aquatic creatures out of recycled water bottles. The activity teaches them about movement, propulsion and engineering, Karen Lamberson said.
Andrew’s mom, Martha Harris, has read to children during three or four of the Lambersons’ programs, including one at Limestone Creek Elementary School where Andrew attended.
“Andrew loved the ocean and the sea. That the Lambersons want to write about him in that way is amazing,” she said. “To me, it’s special that I can go read about For more information or to assist the Lambersons go to professorclarkthescienceshark. com, ProfessorClark on Facebook, professor_clark_ on Instagram or email lambersonconsulting@ yahoo.com.
my Andrew.”
Scott Harris, Andrew’s dad, said their primary goal along with helping the environment is to assure Andrew is remembered in a way that benefits the community as his life would have. The books are one of the education initiatives they’re pursuing, he said.
The Lambersons hope to have 20 books in the Professor Clark the Science Shark series when it’s completed. They recently ordered their fifth story about how a hurricane affects a reef and marine life. Through a partnership with the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Professor Clark the Science Shark-related programming reaches about 2,000 school children a year.
The fourth book in the series features Reada, an endangered hawksbill turtle who is rescued by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center with help from Ray the Remora (a suckerfish), Holt the Seahorse and, of course, Andrew.