CAPE MAY — The ability to connect with nature is one of the elements that makes Cape May such a special place.
With nature on sea and on land, there is much inspiration to be found for creative types, especially writers. Tracie Cicchitti is one such writer inspired by the wonder of the Jersey Cape’s coastal environment.
“North Star Adventures: Passport to Nature” is her first published work, a series dedicated to the vision and life of her late husband, Captain Jim Cicchitti. The story takes young readers on a boat journey, spotting local birds and sea wildlife while aboard the Stella James.
The story is designed for children ages 4 to 8 to encourage curiosity, observation and family connection, as well as introducing young readers to remarkable wildlife found in the Cape May area.
“North Star Adventures: Passport to Nature” is the first book in a series, with more releases expected this fall, winter and next spring.
Over 30 years ago, Cicchitti came to Cape May and worked as a teacher. Meanwhile, Captain Cicchitti found the Starlight Fleet in 1976, and was a founding partner in the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center.
Following the passing of her husband in 2022, Cicchitti sold the operation to Captain Matt Remuzzi and Melissa Laurino, who had served as the center’s director of research and internship program.
“The business has been under their ownership and leadership since February 2023,” Cicchitti said. “My experiences helping to build and lead the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center greatly influenced the educational foundation of ‘North Star Adventures.’”
Cicchitti’s grandmother was a librarian who drove a bookmobile through the Appalachian Mountains of western Maryland and inspired Cicchitti’s lifelong love of reading and storytelling.
With a background in elementary education, English and fine arts, Cicchitti said she has been writing her entire life. But with raising a family and running a business, she did not spend much time writing other than journaling for herself.
“[When] my husband passed four years ago, I began writing earnestly as a way to journey through my grief,” she said. “When you lose someone that is your best friend, mentor, business partner, it’s really difficult because you don’t have a separation in life. We spent virtually every minute of our lives together.”
Writing as a therapeutic tool brought Cicchitti joy and a way to honor her husband’s legacy and continue the spirit of the wonder, curiosity and exploration he brought to the community.
“I wanted to be curious and explore and educate in a way that is not presenting facts but being interactive throughout the book,” she said, adding this method provides engaging opportunities not only for children but for parents and grandparents as well.
In the back of “North Star Adventures: Passport to Nature” is the “Passport to Nature,” which is a fill-in-the-blanks section, providing opportunities for readers to mark the date, vessel and naturalist findings. Some of the creatures include spider crabs, horseshoe crabs, laughing gulls, purple sea urchins and sea horses.
As part of the ongoing series, Cicchitti said a separate passport for filling in the blanks is in the works.
“[It] encourages them to explore and know right out of our doorstep, nature is abundant,” she said. “And trying to connect children to nature so that they’ll want to protect it, honor it and love it as much as I do and Jim did.”
Cicchitti noted that with so much access to nature in the local area, exploring can be done through birding, hiking, beach walks, back bay tours.
“We’re very lucky to live in this environment,” she said.
“North Star Adventures: Passport to Nature” is based on a whale/dolphin and bird watch, which starts as a journey from the dock through Two Mile Bridge.
“Cape May is almost like a main character,” Cicchitti said. “They set sail on an exciting ocean journey, full of wildlife, discovery and hands-on fun.”
A sense of continued curiosity is one of the main things Cicchitti hopes her readers take away from her book series.
“If a child closes one of my books and wants to visit the beach, look through binoculars or ask more questions about a bird or animal or plant, or simply notice the world around them, then I think I’ve accomplished what I’ve hoped,” she said.
Cicchitti believes every adventure starts with curiosity and every child is already an explorer.
“North Star Adventures: Passport to Nature” is available online and locally at the Starlight Fleet gift shop and Ink and Ivy Mobile Bookstore.
Visit traciecicchittibooks.com for more information.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
