Alpacas in Ireland: Children, Meet Your Neighbors

Caroline Cornelissen
with an alpaca friend. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

3 January 2025 

 Contact: Sandy Lee Carlson, Managing Partner 

Email: sandy@orenaugmountainpublishing.com

Cell: 910-554-5979 

Alpacas in Ireland:

Children, Meet Your Neighbors 

SOUTHBURY, Connecticut, USA - Alpacas in Green Pastures is a delightful story for children that will introduce them to the genial South American camelids who reside on farms throughout Ireland, gently grazing on tender grasses and stealing hearts with their gentle ways. 

Written by Caroline Cornelissen and illustrated by Grace Conroy, both born, raised, and living in Ireland, Alpacas in Green Pastures describes the social and biological behavior of alpacas from the point of view of a mother alpaca speaking to her young one. 

“Last year my neighbor bought four alpacas, and he asked me to help to volunteer and look after them,” Mrs. Cornelissen said, describing the circumstances that inspired her to write. “I didn't know much about alpacas beforehand so I tried to do some research into alpacas. There was so little on the Irish market so I decided to write my own book in a way that children can understand,” she said. 

Mrs. Cornelissen is an animal lover, regularly rescuing both wild animals and pets in need of her care. With two dogs and four cats at home, she now has more experience in taking care of alpacas too. 

The author enlisted a local artist whom she knew to do the illustrations. “I wanted to give a young artist a chance to put their work out. After Grace read my story and after discussing it together, we both had the same ideas for how the illustrations should look. Grace is very gifted and really helped bring the book to life," the author said. 

The gentle South American herd animals are bred for their wool, and are a distant relative to llamas which are larger and traditionally used as pack animals. 

“This book is a dream come true, and I am so happy to put it in people’s hands and share the wonderful story inspired by my experiences with alpacas,” Ms. Cornelissen said. 

Published in the United States by Orenaug Mountain Publishing, based in Southbury, Connecticut, the 7.5” square book with color illustrations is available at Lulu.com. 

Profits from book sales will benefit two charities: the Carlow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animals’ Peace Garden in Virginia, United States.