Children’s Book to Benefit Humane Society of Ocean City

By MADDY VITALE Olivia Margulis realizes that when people think of the shore, one bird usually comes to mind – the seagull. But there are many others that grace the skies and contribute as well. Margulis, 26, marketing director for the children’s boutique, Bowfish Kids in Ocean City, wants people to take notice of another bird. Diminutive, it is sometimes overlooked, yet it plays an important role. It is the sandpiper. “I love the tiny, little sandpipers. They are so cute and small. I feel there are so many other birds people think of when they go to the beach, like seagulls,” Margulis said in an interview. Margulis, of Ocean City, was inspired to write about the sandpipers. And with the support of Bowfish Kids shop owner, Caitlin Quirk, and the rest of the Bowfish team, she wrote a 24-page children’s book following the adventures of “Pip” the sandpiper. The book is called, “Hello, Ocean City!” and it takes the reader on Pip’s travels through Ocean City to find her “Grammy.” Margulis, who is also an artist, did the illustrations. Here is an excerpt from the book: “I was born in Ocean City, New Jersey, and I just made it home after my first winter migration! Help me find my Grammy while I travel around OCNJ to all of our favorite local businesses!” The book is $16.95 is available at Bowfish Kids, Margulis said. The best way to purchase the book is to visit the store’s website at bowfishkids.com/pages/hello-ocean-city, she noted. “We have a ton of people coming in asking for books for kids," Margulis said. "We had a lot of books about New Jersey, but not too many focused on Ocean City. That is what sparked the idea to make a children's book.” "Hello, Ocean City!" is a picture book that highlights the travels through the resort by Pip. The book, created with eco-friendly materials, is not only special because of its story, but because of where some of the proceeds are going, Margulis said. “We love animals, so we are donating $1 for every book purchased to the Humane Society of Ocean City,” Margulis said of her and the rest of the Bowfish staff. “We are all very big animal lovers.” She noted that HSOC's staff was pleased about the fact the animals were thought of and some of the book's proceeds would go toward helping them. “You hear so much negative and depressing news every day, that it is truly refreshing to see us always rally around the love and passion we have for the animals and provide a voice for the voiceless,” said Phil Bellucci, director of operations at HSOC. New to being an author, Margulis took an online class on how to write a children's picture book with award-winning author, Julia Donaldson. She also collaborated with the whole Bowfish team and local author, Andrew S. Lewis, to come up with a final concept, she said. In addition to praising her Bowfish work family, she credited her parents, Robin and Gary Margulis, of Egg Harbor Township, and her brother, Josh, for always being supportive of her artistic endeavors. She graduated in 2019 from Adrian College in Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business and a minor in art. “It is funny because when I was eight, I wrote a book about a frog. It was really just some writing on a scrap piece of paper,” she said. “That is what sparked everything along the road for me. I have always been interested in art ever since I could pick up a pencil.” To purchase the book, visit bowfishkids.com/pages/hello-ocean-city