Story & Lesson Highlights with Adalgisa and David Nico of Los Angeles

Adalgisa and David Nico shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Adalgisa and David, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, we are learning from naturalists who spend their days out in the field, even when we cannot be there beside them. We learn by consulting with them directly, reading their journal articles, and listening to their talks and presentations. Their voices help us understand how animals live, how ecosystems function, and what is at stake for these species today. This ongoing learning shapes how we approach every story.

Learning this way keeps our work rooted in real observation and current science. It allows us to write with care, accuracy, and deep respect for the people who are doing the daily work of observing, studying, and protecting these places.

Beyond the written research, we listen closely. When naturalists speak about their findings, their concerns, and their hopes, we are reminded that science is not abstract. It is lived work, carried out by people who care deeply about the future of these animals and the places they call home. That ongoing learning guides every decision we make as we write.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are Adalgisa and David Nico, a husband-and-wife author team who create children’s books rooted in real places, real science, and a deep respect for the natural world. Our series, Bringing National Parks to Life, uses narrative nonfiction and detailed illustrations to help young readers understand the ecology, biodiversity, and interdependence of plants and animals within U.S. national parks.

What makes our work special is the way the story leads the science. Each book centers on a real species, often endangered or threatened, and invites children into its world through careful observation, accurate ecological detail, and a sense of wonder grounded in fact. Our goal is not only to share information, but to help children build a meaningful connection to these places and creatures so they grow into thoughtful stewards of the land.

Adalgisa brings more than twenty-five years of experience as a teacher, and our work is shaped by time spent learning directly from scientists, biologists, and park professionals. Together, we create books that support curiosity, empathy, and learning at home, in classrooms, and out in nature.

We are currently working on the fourth book in the Bringing National Parks to Life series, continuing our mission to show children that national parks are living classrooms where ecology, science, story, and conservation meet.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is often fear, misunderstanding, or a lack of shared experience. When we stop noticing each other, stop listening, or fail to appreciate our differences, relationships can grow distant.

What restores them is curiosity, empathy, and shared exploration. For us, nature and storytelling are powerful ways to reconnect when children and adults alike slow down to observe a frog in a mountain stream or the delicate balance of a desert ecosystem.

They also learn to notice each other, to listen, and to care. Sharing stories about the natural world opens conversations, builds understanding, and reminds us that, like ecosystems, human relationships thrive when we pay attention, respect one another, and nurture our connections.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The children’s book market can feel oversaturated at times, and it’s easy to wonder if there’s space for another nonfiction series. But what kept us going was remembering why we do this work. We wanted to create books that treat children as thoughtful learners, that honor the work of scientists and naturalists, and that help young readers build a relationship with the natural world. Each time a child connects with one of our stories, asks a careful question, or sees a national park as more than a place on a map, it reminds us that the work matters. That sense of purpose carried us through the moments when giving up felt close.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Not entirely. The public version of us is shaped by interviews, book descriptions, and the small pieces of a larger story that are easy to share. It reflects our values and our work, but it can’t capture the whole picture, including the doubts, the long hours, and the quiet moments of learning that happen behind the scenes.

What is true is the intention. The care we bring to children, to science, and to the natural world is the same whether anyone is watching or not. We also bring that sense of caretaking into our personal lives. Currently, we are caring for my dad, which gives us an even deeper understanding of responsibility, patience, and love. We see ourselves as caretakers of stories, of young readers’ curiosity, of the natural world, and of our own family. The public version may be a simplified snapshot, but it grows from the same curiosity, persistence, and commitment that guide the work every day. The public version may be a simplified snapshot, but it grows from the same curiosity, persistence, and commitment that guide the work every day.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
We don’t literally tap dance to work every day, but there have absolutely been moments in our careers when the excitement felt just like that. Those days usually come when we finally have the time and space to sit down together and work on a new story, when ideas are flowing and the research, the writing, and the purpose all line up.

Some of our happiest days are spent collaborating. We love working with our illustrator, Andy Atkins, whose art brings depth, accuracy, and feeling to every page, and with our book designer, Lindsay Broderick Milversted, who understands how to shape a book so children can fully experience and explore the story. Seeing a story move from notes and drafts to sketches, layouts, and finished pages is still thrilling for us.

What excites us most is the shared work itself. There is a deep joy in creating something meaningful together, especially when we know it will help children see the natural world with curiosity, care, and respect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicoauthors.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bringingnationalparkstolife/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bringing-national-parks-to-life-51941a283/
• Twitter: https://x.com/nicoauthors
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090882191269
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhZiVSTRISw