The Long County Public Library hosted a storytime event last Wednesday, June 15, featuring guest author Ellen Giordano.

Giordano is a native of Hilton Head and has been an author for four years. She writes children’s books centered around kids exploring places such as Hilton Head and Savannah. Before she was an author, Giordano taught elementary school for 40 years and worked as a literacy teacher. “I always enjoyed children’s literature and reading books,” Giordano said. “It was a natural fit when I retired.” Her first book, “The Best Day Ever: Hilton Head Island,” was published in 2018, and her second, “The Best Day Ever: Savannah,” was published in 2020.

Giordano’s inspiration is taken from her love of her home. While she is the author of her books, her niece is the illustrator.

“I like where I live,” Giordano said. “I love Hilton Head Island, and we have so many visitors there, and it was just fun to relive the places that we enjoyed with our children and grandchildren through the book.”

Giordano said she hopes that children enjoy her books.

“I would hope that it would increase children’s love for reading and learning,” she said. “There’s a natural language pattern in the books that encourage early readers.”

Giordano is currently working on her next story called, “Coretta, Coretta: The Loggerhead Turtle.”

Next week, the Long County Library will host storytime again, with the Long County Police Department and special guest State Rep. Buddy Deloach.