Roger Stevens Jr. has been taking photographs that illustrate Maine’s abundant wildlife and natural beauty for years, selling them at craft fairs and gatherings around the state.
Two years ago he decided to branch out and published a book that gave readers an inside look at the lives of foxes. Another book, “June the Loon,” documented the early life of some of the state’s iconic birds. In June, Stevens, who lives in Lincoln and worked at the local paper mill for 21 years until pursuing a career as a photographer 17 years ago, published his fifth book, “Babes in the Woods and Waters.”
His latest offering promises to be very popular among young readers and to those who read to their children.
In “Babes in the Woods and Waters,” Stevens includes more than 50 painfully cute photos of baby animals, including moose, raccoons, skunks, bears and others.
“My wife is an English teacher in school, and she knows what the younger folks and the teachers are looking for,” Stevens said. “They call this a ‘nonfiction informative’ book. The classrooms are just dying to get them. So that was the idea with this [book].”
The book is educational, as Stevens shares interesting facts about each of the species he highlights.
“I like a book that will teach kids something as well as entertain them with the pictures,” Stevens said. “There are a lot of facts in [this book] that I didn’t know until I did the research.”
For example, male foxes are called dogs, male Canada geese will defend eggs fiercely and sometimes even attack moose and baby bears weigh between 8 ounces and a pound at birth.
Stevens gained access to some of the young animals he photographed through a friend who is a wildlife rehabilitator.
He has no trouble identifying his favorite photo shoot during the production of the book.
“The one thing I wanted to do really bad was to see a baby bear,” he said. “I teamed up with Randy Cross [from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife] and was able to go on a bear den visit, which was the most incredible thing I’ve ever in my life. I was floating in the air on that one.”
The experience has also opened his eyes to the possibility of a new book.
“When I went with them, all I wanted to do was get a picture of a baby bear. But then after just being with [the crew] for one day, now I want to do a book about visiting a bear den,” Stevens said. “I learned so much about bears in a day. It was incredible.”
Stevens said his books are available in 30 stores around the state and locally can be found in Bangor at The Briar Patch on Central Street and the Maine Discovery Museum on Main Street. Those interested in ordering a book from him directly can also reach him at mefocus@myfairpoint.net.
Since he began producing books two years ago, Stevens says he has sold about 4,000 copies. He has sold 400 copies of “Babes in the Woods and Waters” in three weeks and expects it to wind up being the most popular thus far.
And while he’s enjoying publishing the books, he has learned there’s a spinoff that has been equally rewarding.
“Another exciting thing that’s going on in my life is that I’ve been asked to do a lot of school visits as a visiting author,” he said. “This year I had 10 different schools that invited me to come visit them, to talk with the kids about my craft and about animals. I never realized that I would really, really love doing that. So I’m trying to urge teachers and people in the area to contact me about next year.”
And speaking of next, Stevens is already mulling the books that will follow.
“All the time I’ve been doing the animal books, I’ve been getting ready to do one called ‘Barnyard Babies,’” he said. “I’ve been going around to farms this spring and catching baby animals at a very early age — sometimes 2 or 3 days old.”
That book may appear this fall. And after that?
“Next year we’re talking about doing an eagle book, and I’m definitely doing a puffin book,” Stevens said.
