The Fin-tastic Cleanup

by Laura Mancuso

Overview

Sara, Alix, and Lucy are happy mermaids living in their quaint coral village . . . until, one day, the three mermaids are forced to face the pollution riddling the sea that surrounds them. With the help of some friends, the mermaids jump into action! The Fin-tastic Cleanup will transport young readers to an imaginary world while they explore a real world problem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645436713
Publisher:	Mascot Books
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Pages:	38
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Laura Mancuso grew up loving the beach and marine biology in St. James, New York. After graduating from the University of Buffalo, she continued to live and work in Buffalo with her husband. However, she missed the ocean, her friends, and her family, so she moved back to Long Island. Inspired by her daughters, Laura decided to start writing children’s books. She wanted to bring joy to reading for young kids, but hoped to draw awareness to our waters and what we can do to preserve them. This is Laura’s first book. She currently resides in Hampton Bays, where you can find her with her family at one of its many beautiful beaches.

Editorial Reviews

2021-05-11
Mermaids and humans decide to clean up the ocean in this picture book.

White mermaids Sara, Alix, and Lucy are disturbed that trash accumulates in their beloved undersea home. A sharp, plastic bottle injures their fish friend Fin, and Sally, a seal, almost eats a plastic bag. Sara nearly chokes “on an old fishing lure” while swimming to shore, where she meets Beth, a medium-brown-skinned, dark-haired girl, who explains that she and her friends are cleaning up the coast. Sara proposes that the mermaids “grab the garbage from the sea” and take it to Beth and her crew to “dispose of it properly.” The mermaids sweep for trash and help animals “entangled in debris.” A week later, they offer the crew “over one hundred bins.” The mermaids and the crew plan to continue their efforts. Lucy concludes: “Together, we can create a solution. Our planet should be free from this endless pollution.” Delivering friendly characters and relatable examples, Mancuso’s tale addresses the dangers of ocean pollution in an accessible way. The mermaids’ and crew’s dedication here will inspire youngsters to take action. Guidi’s charming, colorful illustrations supplement the text nicely. They include lovely elements like calm seas and undersea depictions of sweet-looking animals and pleasant characters with large, expressive eyes. The images feature striking scenarios, as when a mermaid frees a fish trapped in plastic rings. Signs on the beach boast slogans like “POLLUTED WATER H2-OH NO.”

An entertaining and effective aquatic tale that emphasizes the importance of environmental efforts.

Kirkus Reviews