Edgar Arnette
Children's Author
Edgar holds a Diploma in Children’s Writing: A Corresponding Course from the Institute of Children’s Literature, Connecticut, USA, 1996.
As a kid, he enjoyed sketching sea animals and Disney characters with chalk-like stone on the blazing Bahamian tar road, only to have his artwork washed away by brief bursts of summer showers.
Edgar Arnette’s earliest childhood memories involved hunting juvenile land crabs near the landfall of the Christopher Columbus Monument and contesting handmade boats on the peaceful ponds of San Salvador, The Bahamas.
His favorite boyhood pastimes were swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Islands, snorkeling, bird-watching, raising pigeons, drawing, shooting marbles, flying kites, and reading until the wee hours of the night.
Author-illustrator Edgar Arnette published two A–Z coloring books with Kingston Publishers in 1992. In 1996, Longman UK released Reckley’s Night Journey for Caribbean schools.
Author
Edgar's Story
Born on a small Bahamian island where land crabs outnumbered people, Edgar Arnette turned everyday fun into wild imagination.
He fished, dove for conch, sailed handmade boats on the peaceful ponds, drew birds and sea creatures on the hot tar road, and read books by moonlight until the wee hours.
Today, he writes stories with that same mischief and wonder.
His debut picture book, Ocean Bravery, blends rhyme, humor, and heart—perfect for classrooms, storytime, and any young adventurer with a big imagination, where island life shaped his love for nature, art, and storytelling.
Edgar's Traditionally Published Books
Caribbean Birds A-Z Colouring Book
A-Z of some of the captivating birds to be found in the Caribbean, presented as a colouring book for children.
Reckley's Night Journey
Reckley is a land crab who wants to explore his world. Family and friends warn him not to stray too far from home. He does not heed their advice—what becomes of him?
Bahamian & Caribbean Sea Creatures
A-Z of some of the common sea animals in The Bahamas and the Caribbean, presented as a colouring book for children.
Edgar's Story continues...
From an early age, Edgar showed a natural talent for art and storytelling. At ten, he spent countless hours sketching Disney, sea creatures, and comic book characters with chalk-like stone on Bahamian roads—only to have his creations washed away by sudden tropical showers. Fascinated by movies and sea life, he often recreated scenes and animals with youthful imagination and flair. In the sixth grade, he was recognized when he received a prize for his illustrated book project, which told the story of a boy and his racehorse.
While attending St. Augustine’s College in Nassau, Edgar won multiple awards for art and photography. In 1980, he pursued formal training at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London on a Foundation Art Course. Though financial hardship prevented him from completing his intended Art Degree at Middlesex Polytechnic, Edgar continued to refine his skills, later working as a paste-up artist at a local print shop. He also earned acceptance into the Rochester Institute of Technology’s College of Art & Design in New York, though once again, financial barriers stood in the way.
Despite these challenges, Edgar’s resilience and passion never wavered. He remained active in creative and athletic pursuits, excelling in basketball and pool—where his competitiveness often turned underestimation into triumph.
A lifelong reader with interests ranging from picture books and children’s novels to news articles and westerns to history and non-fiction, Edgar continues to balance imagination with discipline. His creative journey, marked by perseverance and dedication, reflects his commitment to bringing Caribbean culture, humor, and artistry to young readers.
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