Husband-and-wife children’s book author team, Adalgisa Nico and David Nico, did not set out to be writers. During a camping trip to Death Valley National Park with their young daughter, they became fascinated by the world’s rarest fish, the pupfish, and its ability to withstand the unforgiving and harsh conditions of their environment. Unable to find any books dedicated to these resilient little fish, they set out to write a children’s story, Fish in the Desert: The Untold Story of the Death Valley Pupfish, to highlight the importance of environmental stewardship to prevent the loss of this incredible endangered species. 

Adalgisa “Gisa” loves the National Parks and their junior ranger programs. She has been an educator for over 25 years and collects children’s picture books.  She hopes to inspire others to visit the National Parks and find joy in learning about the animals, plants, and history at each park. 

Born in Dearborn, Michigan, David Nico enjoys audiobooks and podcasts. He spends his free time working on DIY home projects around the house. David worked in feature film production for twelve years and has been an IT support engineer for a growing software company. 

David and Gisa live in Los Angeles, California, with their daughter, Adele, her grandfather, and three dogs. Fish in the Desert: The Untold Story of the Death Valley Pupfish is their debut children’s book, the first installment in the Bringing National Parks to Life picture book series.