4 stars
A beautiful story that examines ocean pollution from the perspective of a turtle. The reader follows Little Turtle as she traverses her ocean home, noting the changes that dampen its colors and the silent creatures (plastic bags, bottles, and other garbage) that quickly multiple. Though she experiences great darkness, there are those ready to help and brighten the ocean once more.
The story it simple yet lovely. It pairs perfectly with Poh’s illustrations, demonstrating the changes to the environment.
The story also shares interesting details about the lives of sea turtles such as the initial struggle after hatching, ocean predators, and the migration back to where they were born.
The backmatter includes additional information such as a glossary, ways garbage ends up in the ocean, why plastic is harmful to marine life, how long it takes for plastic items to break down, further resources, and simple ways to help reduce waste.
Simple, yet powerful with lovely illustrations and a heartfelt message of hope. A great introduction for young readers to learn about the harm of plastic in the oceans and habits to reduce waste. Though the problem goes far beyond simply reducing plastic use, this is a nice place to start.