Bloom

by Julia Seal, Julia Seal (Illustrator)

Overview

Once, the ocean was full of friends. But lately, a little jellyfish named Luna has noticed that things are changing—friends are disappearing! When she sets out to find them, she discovers that everyone has a part to play in protecting the careful balance of the ocean. In this beautifully illustrated and timely tale, little Luna comes up with a powerful way to deliver a message that inspires helpfulness and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781503762848
Publisher:	Phoenix International Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	03/22/2022
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.25(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Julia Seal knew from the age of five what she wanted to do for a living-draw pictures! After earning a degree in Graphic Design and working in the greeting card industry (where she got covered in glitter every day!), she finally moved onto her dream job, illustrating children's books. Always passionate about environmental issues, she was inspired to write "Bloom" after reading that disposable masks would soon outnumber jellyfish in the ocean. Her hope is to help children understand and appreciate the delicate balance of life in our waters.

Editorial Reviews

This beautiful picture book invites young readers to dive into the ocean and experience a world of aquatic information. Jellyfish Luna enjoys the time she shares with Turtle, Stingray, Octopus, Hermit (crab), and many vibrant fish. She notices, though, the patterns and rhythms of the water changing; soon, she spots changes among her friends. Hermit fashions a plastic cup, Turtle begins to eat plastic, and Octopus notices the temperature of the water becoming warmer. Luna's friends in the ocean are replaced by garbage, leaving Luna to wonder how she will carry on alone. This book is an excellent starter for discussion of cause and effect, as Seal reminds us that human behavior is directly linked to animal behavior. Educators can use this book as a springboard for further research into oceanic pollution, and students will learn the real cause behind a jellyfish bloom. Readers will fall in love with the whimsical sea creatures and their pastel colors and expressions as the story unfolds. A must-read for young environmental activists.

Children's Literature

Luna is a lively jellyfish with a zest for life. She likes playing with her friends, going off to explore her watery world, telling stories on her return. She's also observant. She notices the changes that are happening around her which, at first, confuse and then greatly trouble her. Perhaps, when she finds why and where her friends have gone, she'll understand why the ocean is changing so. She finds Hermit who tells her that 'the waters are warming and the waves are carrying things that don't belong here'. The problem is too big for a little one to solve, but for a bloom... This book has a potent message: if together we care for the environment, beauty and balance will be restored. Read it to a key stage 1 class any time, but use it, too, when looking at humanity's impact on the natural world. Julia Seal's writing is uncomplicated, and her illustrations are gorgeous. She even manages to inject some humour and emotion into the subject of climate change and ocean degradation. Jane Rew

https://www.sla.org.uk/the-school-librarian - The School Librarian

Again, there isn't actually a mermaid in this picture book but it's full of jellyfish! Beautiful, colourful, adorable jellyfish who go on a mission to let humans know that the ocean is in danger from pollution and needs to be saved. A great eco message and I was just really drawn to the cute character design of the main character jellyfish called Luna.

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2023/may/ten-terrific-books-about-mermaids-and-the-underwate - Booktrust

Julia Seal's Bloom will make a bright and colourful addition to the climate literature classroom shelf. Luna the jellyfish reminisces about a time 'when there was a perfect rhythm to the waves and a perfect balance to the ocean' but 'things were changing' and one day she returns to the reef to visit her colourful friends only to be met with grey plants, plastic bottles and toothbrushes. After an encounter with her friend the hermit crab who explains that 'The Ocean is in trouble' Luna gathers together the jellyfish and begins a campaign, including weighing down fishing nets and blocking power stations to ensure humans begin to take note. The text is clearly aware of its young readers and although it covers the dangers of climate change it is cautious not to add to readers' anxiety. My eyebrows raised a little at the opening few pages which talked of how all the animals on the reef were 'friends', including an image of a shark who 'liked to play chase' as I quickly looked up food chains, but it was clear that the text's focus was on the disruption of the natural balance caused by humans and what might be done to remedy this. Bloom reminds readers about the power of teamwork and numbers when it comes to activism observing that 'One little jellyfish can't do much but a huge BLOOM of jellyfish can!' and importantly it offers a sense of hope that we can come together to make a difference. The final information sign, pictured on a shoreline full of people busily engaged in a beach clean, gives food for thought and indeed classroom discussion, as it explains that jelly fish 'thrive in rising sea temperatures' and are 'known as an indicator species' warning us that 'something is out of balance'. This is a book that offers young readers the opportunity to discuss the effects of climate change in an empathetic way, research the science behind it in relation to the warming of the oceans, and to consider what we can do to help.

https://justimagine.co.uk/review/bloom/ - Just Imagine