Book Description Review “Our lives depend on the ocean. Fish consume our waste and then end up on our dinner plates. I hope that this beautifully illustrated book will serve as a tool to pass on the importance of the ocean to future generations and beyond.” —Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and founder of Change for the Blue“This outstanding story superbly visualizes pollution problems with art that hits the spot….It is sure to inspire our young conservationists-in the-making to work toward a sustainable ocean environment.” —Briggette Dusart, Cleaner Ocean Foundation“Great book! Inspires a love for stewardship of the ocean in today’s youth so that the next generation will not repeat The Mess That We Made. There is always hope in the next generation, a hope that they will create a healthier, more sustainable ocean.” —Anthony Saner, Director of ReefCI (Reef Conservation International)”In an informational picture book about oceanic pollution, Lord and Blattman present a clear and realistic message to young readers in a surprisingly enjoyable package. The rhyming text is in the style of The House That Jack Built, with each of the stanzas ending with “the mess that we made.” This phrase refers to enormous garbage patches made up largely of plastics and caused entirely by human beings. The “we” in the text is important, as Lord does not shy away from our collective responsibility to the earth’s oceans and its animals. However, she ends on an uplifting note. Comprehensive back matter elaborates on each of the repeated phrases, describing how each animal is affected by pollution, why plastics are particularly problematic, and ways that children can make a difference. This includes individual acts such as using reusable bags, but also collective actions toward systemic change. Blattman’s digital illustrations bring beauty and brightness to an otherwise heavy topic, without making light of the severity of the situation. The pieces of plastic look like neon-colored confetti, clearly standing out against the swirling natural blues and greens of the sea. Through vibrant and immersive underwater views, readers can see a boat full of children observing the scenes below and, finally, working to clean up the waters. VERDICT A successful addition in a growing genre of engaging picture books about pollution and environmentalism.” Clara Hendricks, School Library Journal “In a world full of beauty and such promise, Lord sends a gentle message to a young audience about the damage taking place in the ocean – caused when trash is dumped in the waters by us humans. The Mess That We Made is an educational children’s book. The first half of the book explores what happens to marine life when the waters are polluted and the devastating ripple effect it causes in the world. But the second half of the book shows how meaningful changes can still save the day and how we can all do our part to create a clean and healthy place for everyone. This message will not scare children as the author chooses her words wisely and creates a rhythmic and fun pace. And the colorful images will captivate readers with the turn of every page. The bright and tasteful artwork will educate little ones (and big ones too) and inspire young minds so that when they grow up they can help lead the way to protect and preserve our waters. It is a brilliant way to help start a conversation about ocean pollution and encourage such needed change in the world. This book deserves a spot on every library, classroom, and home shelf. It teaches children important facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and about calls to action. It will hopefully shape the minds of our future leaders. If you are considering a new book for your children or your classroom in the new year, please consider getting a copy of this powerful picture book.” —Christa McGrath, EBC Reviews “With one turn of the page, [the] heavy feeling of deep-sea despair quickly becomes a promise for a healthier, happier tomorrow… Use this ocean gem to springboard not only a discussion but also to ignite goals for actionable ways to reduce our landfills and conserve our resources.” —Barbara Gruener, Corner on Character Read more About the Author Michelle Lord has written several books for children, including A Song For Cambodia, Nature Recycles, and Animal School: What Class Are You?, which received a starred review from Kirkus. Julia Blattman has worked as a visual development artist for animated feature films and Disney mobile games. This is her first picture book. Read more Customers Review: This book is very well written and I liked the illustration. I will be buying more books written by this author.
I will use this book with my young students to teach of pollution, recycling , and climate change. Great illustrations! Thanks to the authors.
Through rhyme and beautiful artwork of the sea, awareness of the problem trash has caused hits a clear note before gliding in with several solutions.This is a book with a purpose: to raise awareness of the large trash problem currently ruining our oceans and seas. The author uses a repetitive (and very familiar) rhyming to bring the point home. It’s not only easy and catchy for young listeners to join in on, but cleverly builds…much like the garbage situation. But simply showing a problem doesn’t round things off. This book also ends with hope and offers solutions along the way.The illustrations are beautiful…if not bitter-sweet, since they do clear drive the point of ocean pollution home. While the rhyme makes each moment clear, the illustrations really touch the heart. Especially the sea life is wonderfully depicted and invites for gazing, among the garbage, of course. It’s a well-balanced mix, which makes sure the message hits with full strength.Not only does do the last pages of the book show a light at the end of the tunnel and illustrate that it’s not a lost situation, but there are extra pages at the end, which give more detail. Each scene (or poem line) is give more information on how it affects the environment. Then, a suggestion is offered as to how each specific problem can be helped.For anyone wanting to raise awareness concerning ocean pollution, this is a wonderful book to grab up and use.I received a complimentary copy and found the book beautifully done. So, I’m leaving my honest thoughts.
Do you know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? More importantly, do your kids know about it? Children are so refreshing in their approach to pretty serious world problems, as they often genuinely believe that they can help. When they learn that smoking is bad or that bees are important, they’re likely to tell anyone who will listen or make fliers to hang up around school or town. Teach them about pollution and just watch as they go crazy picking up trash! So what does this have to do with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Written in the pattern of The House That Jack Built, The Mess That We Made tells the story of the effects of trash in our ocean, starting with the fish that “swim in the mess that we made” and working down to the “landfill, growing each day” and the “people at work and at play.” The Mess That We Made isn’t all dark and dismal, though, as it ends with a community coming together for a Beach Clean Up Day and showing the positive impact that we can have on our ocean and its resources.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Almost more than the words, Blattman’s illustrations tell an incredibly powerful story. We see fish eating trash, seals caught in nets, turtles trapped in plastic 6-pack rings, landfills spilling into the bay, and so much more. These images struck my children in a way that words can’t. Every single time we read it, we notice another way Blattman has shown that our trash affects sea life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Our four-year-old has been requesting this book on repeat for the last few weeks, which shows you just how appealing this is to little ears and eyes. And, she’s both intrigued and inspired by the content, asking all sorts of questions about pollution, trash, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Be sure to check out the special section at the back includes facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ocean pollution, and calls-to-action. I’ll definitely be adding this to my list of “Earth Day Books to Read Year-Round.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If you liked this, check out:One Plastic BagGreta and the GiantsSpring After SpringWangari’s Trees of Peace⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A big thank you to the publisher for sharing this book with our family in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
This is an important book, a need to know book, because it shows a serious problem, pollution of our oceans, a problem that needs to be addressed. It makes children cognizant of the problem with the hope that as they grow older, they will help to resolve the problem.By means of rhythmic and poetic language that kids like and colorful eye-catching drawings, the book shows children how people have made a mess, a garbage patch, out of the beautiful seas that destroy the beauty and harm the fish and other creatures in the ocean.The book also explains in three pages each of the ideas in the story which parents can use to explain the mess in more detail
Michelle Lord doesn’t sugarcoat the consequences of “the mess that we made”: plastic pollution in the ocean. Structured like The House that Jack Built, readers follow the detailed illustrations by Julia Blattman that show how prevalent and dangerous plastic is in the water. As this cumulative tale builds, so does the tension of this ecological disaster and chain reaction until … HOPE. “We are the ones who can save the day.” My spine tingled as I read these words and followed the final spreads to a brighter future. The final end papers show Ocean Garbage Patches on a world map. |
7 reviews