A local author and artist are teaming up and using their creativity to share the story of an iconic Rockaway symbol destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.

"The people of the Rockaways are healers, artists, genuine souls and exceptional friends," Laura Cryan read.

Laura Cryan didn't have to look far for inspiration when writing her first children's book, Whalemina: The Rockaway Whale.

"Whalemina was the symbol, the unofficial mascot of Rockaway for so long. And really the welcome…driving into Rockaway you'd see this gorgeous mosaic structure," said Cryan, a Breezy Point native.

The Whalemina statue once sat on Beach 95th Street but was washed out to sea during Hurricane Sandy.

"Now that she's gone, I feel like all of the kids who live here, they have no idea. They don't remember her," said Cryan.

So, she teamed up with artist Geoff Rawling to share Whalemina's story. Cryan says Rawling is the perfect person to illustrate her story because he transformed it into the statue residents came to know and love. He's part of the team who brought the whale statue from the Central Park Children's Zoo to the Rockaways in the '90s.

"The Parks Department agreed to drop the whale over here. And they dropped it and homeless people lived in it and it was a mess. Finally, they agreed to let me mosaic it, to make it colorful," said Rawling.

The book follows Whalemina's actual history, with a whole lot of imagination.

"It's also a story about growing up and getting lost and finding your way back home," said Cryan.

Now Cryan and Rawling are hoping Whalemina can find her way back home too.

They're raising money to build a new statue but this one will be mobile.

Rawling wants to build it on a boat and tour it around the Rockaways.

"We can park her wherever we like. She can go to different sites in Rockaway," Rawling.

All of the proceeds from the book sales will go towards the new statue. The duo is also selling painted kites and has set up a go fund me account to raise money.

For more information you can visit whalemina.com or gofundme.com/rebuildwhalemina.