It takes a special person to write and illustrate his or her own book. It’s even more impressive when that person happens to be a 12-year-old middle school student. But that’s exactly what Celso Moreno-Valdez has done with his new book “El Rio” or “The River.”

The young author hosted a well-attended author talk at Brown Library on Wednesday, reading from and answering questions about his new book.

Focused on the beauty of, and environmental threats to, the Pamlico River, Moreno-Valdez’s 12-page book contains a series of vivid watercolor illustrations of the waterway, its wildlife and its hazards. In the end, the message is clear — we all have a part to play in caring for the river.

“It’s something that’s here that we all see and know, and it’s also something that’s in danger,” Moreno-Valdez said. “The people are destroying it. If we do something about it, maybe in the future, other generations can enjoy a river that doesn’t have any pollutants or anything in it.”

Throughout the process of writing and illustrating the book, Moreno-Valdez was coached by local artist and teacher Doug Alvord. The two struck up their friendship at a summer feeding program sponsored by Caro-World and Asbury Methodist Church.

“I can’t think of a better way that I could have spent my time than with Celso,” Alvord said.

An avid reader, Moreno-Valdez is a frequent patron of the Brown Library. Children’s Librarian Terry Rollins says that the young man and his family visit the library almost every week.

“During our summer reading program, Celso has often been my top winner for number of books read during the summer,” Rollins said.

Copies of “El Rio” are available for purchase for $5 each, all of which will go to the author. For more information, inquire at the library.