A World of Possibilities
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Now that spring is here it's the
perfect time for kids to see the wonders in these special books about the environment,
ocean, adventure, and self-discovery.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and
Patti Kishel have just the books to keep the pages turning and open the door on
a world of possibilities.
All the Way to the Ocean, by Joel Harper, tells how best friends Isaac and James
discover that the city's storm drains are sending toxic runoff into our oceans,
lakes and rivers. With colorful drawings and an important message, this book
shows that when all of us do our part we can have a cleaner environment to enjoy.
Elmore, by Holly Hobbie, is about a porcupine who's desperate to
make friends, but it's hard to get close to the other animals in the forest
when he's covered in prickly quills. With ingenuity he finally comes up with a
way to win them over. The book's charming artwork and heart-felt story will
make everyone want to be Elmore's BFF.
The Great Barrier Thief, by Dr. Sue Pillans (AKA Suzie Starfish), takes kids into
another world under the sea at Australia's Great Barrier Reef. When feisty fish
Anthea notices that the colors are being bleached from her coral reef home she
sets off to find the thief who is stealing them...and get the colors
back!
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen, a Newbery Award-winning book, is a fun
read with a middle-school hero, endangered, pint-sized burrowing owls, bullies
and buffoons in a quirky Florida beach setting. Called "A rollicking,
righteous story" by the Miami-Herald, its off-beat humor and
engaging characters are a winning combination.
Indi Surfs, by Chris Gorman, a surfer dad and photographer, captures
the joy of a young girl's quest to ride the waves. Written for the littlest
groms with vivid black & white and turquoise illustrations and spare text,
it conveys the essence of surfing and the beach culture vibe...just right for
getting young surfers on board.
Oliver: The Second-Largest Living
Thing on Earth, by Josh Crute, is a playful book
about being in someone else's shadow – the shadow cast by Sequoia National
Park's General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth. Wanna-be #1 tree Oliver
does everything to grow taller – stretching his limbs, lifting logs, soaking up
the sun. Kids will "root" for Oliver.
Sea Bear, by Lindsay Moore, follows the travels of a lone polar bear
in the Arctic as she traverses the melting ice searching for food and shelter
for herself and her cubs. Beautifully illustrated with a moving environmental
message of survival, the story takes readers along on the polar bear's
journey.
Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon, a multi-award-winning book that's sold
over 500,000 copies, is the story of a fruit bat who's accidentally dropped by
her mother and lands in the middle of a bird's nest. Taken in by the occupants,
Stellaluna tries to fit in and behave like her bird "siblings." Both
an adventure story and one about accepting others, this little bat will charm
readers.
Surf Zone, by Pam Withers, puts teen-age tour guides Jake and Peter
into more adventure than they bargained for when they take a surfer girl scuba
diving and their boat disappears, stranding them on a remote island. With a
storm approaching their only escape is to surf to the mainland...fighting
thirty-foot waves. The action and realism give readers a fast-paced ride.
Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, combines prose, haiku poems and
beautiful illustrations in this story about a cat's journey to find out the
meaning of her name. Following along, readers learn about the Japanese culture
of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in things that are simple, imperfect, natural
and mysterious...flaws and all. A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's
Book award-winner.
With so many stories and adventures
waiting to be explored, these books are sure to get kids stoked on reading.
Please post your comment below. Comments
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti
Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications
wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com
Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites
as long as credit is given.
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