GetLit

	Amada Lumry is the author of the Adventures of Riley series. Ms. Lumry will be the headliner for this year's Kid's Concert at the Met Theater on Saturday, Arpil 17 at 1pm.

AMANDA LUMRY

Amanda Lumry, the eldest of three children, was born in 1977 in Bellevue, Wash. She traveled frequently with her parents, who felt that hands-on experiences were the best way to educate their children about the world.

"I remember one time when my dad took my brothers and me on a tour of the Muse d' Orsay in Paris to see all of the Impressionist paintings," says Lumry. "At the end of the day, my dad bought postcards of the paintings and then he quizzed us on the artist, date and style. For each correct answer, we earned five cents."

Her parents continually encouraged her learning and explorations, and when a young Lumry showed an interest in cameras in the second grade, they presented her with her first point-and-shoot camera.

Lumry eventually went on to study photography at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., earning a bachelor of arts degree in visual environmental studies in 1999. For her senior thesis Lumry set off for a month-long photographic safari at South Africa's MalaMala Game Reserve to explore the relationship between animals in captivity and animals in the wild. Collaborating with MalaMala ranger and fellow photographer Jamie Thom, Lumry captured more than 8,000 photographs.

In 1997 Lumry formed Vista Press, now Eaglemont Press, with the help of photographer and husband Loren Wengerd, to produce and publish photography books that focus on issues relating to cultural and wildlife conservation and preservation for all ages.

Her book credits include Nantucket Borders ( March 1998), MalaMala: Pathway of an African Eden (June 1999), Cayman: A Photographic Journey Through the Islands (June 2000), and Holmespun: An Intimate Portrait of an Amish and Mennonite Community (September 2002)

Lumry enjoys traveling the world and supporting charitable and conservational causes through her photography. Lumry donates a portion of the proceeds from MalaMala to the World Wildlife Funds in South Africa and the United States and to the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Lumry also offers her photographic services in the Dominican Republic for ex-Seattle Mariner Dave Valle's nonprofit organization, Esperanza, which provides small loans for single mothers.