A Qualicum Beach teacher has raised more than $10,000 for local charities through her popular interactive colouring books.

Ashley Kuramoto recently published the fifth in her series Little Adventurers Vancouver Island and is just getting started. The latest release focuses on the Comox Valley, but she plans to cover the whole Island some day.

She and another local mom, Gauri Harrison, raised $14,000 this summer for a new skate park in Qualicum Beach.

Kuramoto's efforts were recognized with a nomination for a Women of Influence Nanaimo Award.

B次元官网网址淚t will be good to be surrounded by all these powerful and courageous women in our community, so IB次元官网网址檓 really excited just to be a part of the day,B次元官网网址� she said. "I feel super grateful to be nominated at all.B次元官网网址�

Kuramoto was nominated for two categories, but since she can only be considered for one, she chose the community and social responsibility category.

Her books include plenty of family-friendly places to visit in the mid-Island area, plus a scavenger hunt component that lets children search for fun things at that location. Kuramoto created the scavenger hunts with help from her daughter Claire.

So far she has covered Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Coombs, Errington, North Nanaimo, Lantzville, Nanoose Bay and now the Comox Valley.

Each entry includes the locationB次元官网网址檚 co-ordinates, an explanation of the area and lets the reader know if the destination is accessible and if it has a bathroom. On the right side is a colouring page illustrated by Kuramoto.

To research her latest book, she spent a week in the Comox Valley for an artistB次元官网网址檚 residency at McLoughlin Gardens.

B次元官网网址淚t honestly made me want to move there, itB次元官网网址檚 such a beautiful spot,B次元官网网址� she said.

Kuramoto added that her favourite was Nymph Falls Nature Park.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really short walk which is great and itB次元官网网址檚 like natural water slides on these rock faces that go into these pools,B次元官网网址� she said.

Cumberland Village Park also made a big impression, with tons of activities including skateboarding, mountain biking, BMXing, hiking trails, a water park and a large playground.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lots to do there and itB次元官网网址檚 great for any age.B次元官网网址�

Proceeds from Little Adventurers Vancouver Island: Comox Valley will go towards the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society Bike Shop.

B次元官网网址淭hey fix up all these bikes and they sell them and 100 per cent of the proceeds go the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society," Kuramoto said. "After meeting them and then talking to the society, I knew it was a really good fit for this book.B次元官网网址�

Her books are available for purchase at more than 30 locations in Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Errington, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Lantzville and Nanaimo.

They are also available online at .

The Women of Influence Nanaimo Awards will be presented on Feb. 2.

Kuramoto has already started on her next book, which will cover South Nanaimo, and she expects it will be ready in the spring or summer.