by Ella Schwartz
Illustrated by Lily Williams
4 stars
An interesting read that tackles some of the questions we’ve all thought about at one time or another. Each chapter deals with a different question related to pee, bodies of water, and what does and does not harm them. From whether it’s okay to pee in the ocean, pools, and other waterways to what does pollute them. This was a nice text for answering questions about science, biology, ecology, and environmentalism.
Is it okay to pee in the ocean? I loved that Schwartz used this relatable question as a starting point and branched off into related areas. Who hasn’t wondered it at some point? The results were fascinating and presented in a way that didn’t talk down to the reader. Even as an adult, I learned a lot from this book. It made for a really interesting read.
Includes hands-on experiments throughout that relate to the lessons (many of which can be done with common household items). These include how kidneys clean blood, how much salt is in sea water, how temperature causes ocean currents, how ocean acidification affects wildlife, the difficulties of cleaning up oil spills, and how similar plastic bags look to jellyfish in the water.
Also includes an Ocean Protector pledge at the end with easy ways to help protect oceans.
Nice mix of humor, relatability, and fun facts. This was an engaging, entertaining, and educational read.
A great way to engage children’s interests and show how science effects their day-to-day lives and decisions.