Writer/photographer Dale Smith is the author of an environmental fiction series for juvenile and young adult readers ages 11-17. His first book, “What the Parrot Told Alice,” was published in 1996 to rave reviews. Published in October 2001, “What the Orangutan Told Alice” is the second book in Smith’s series. A third book, “What the Tortoise Told Alice,” is in progress.

For “What the Orangutan Told Alice,” Smith traveled to Indonesia three times to research and photograph orangutans in the rain forest and at the Wanariset Orangutan Reintroduction Center on the island of Borneo. The book is illustrated with over thirty of the author’s photographs.

Smith has been a photographer since the late 1960s. As a student at the California College of Arts and Crafts, he documented the counter culture movement in San Francisco Bay Area. He also photographed many of the Beat poets and early rock musicians such as Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison of The Doors.

Inspired by the birth of his daughter Alice in 1991, Smith set aside his career as an advertising creative director to focus his attention on writing books that he hopes will inspire young readers to become involved in helping save endangered species and make the earth a better place for all living things.

Dale Smith lives with his daughter Alice and their Scottish terrier Kirby in Nevada City, California.

Dale has written many articles directly related to the situation in Borneo. Here are links to a couple of those articles: