Parents of young readers, this is for you!
The wonders of the Salish Sea never fail to amaze, and it’s always a treat to read about the creatures that live and play there!
Published by separate authors, we wanted to highlight two recently released children’s books that provide both fun and educational insights into our surrounding ocean.
The first, published by Victoria-based author Alex Chen, is the book The Adventures of Kelp Creature, illustrated by Lis Xu.
Introducing a charismatic cast of undersea friends, this picture book sheds light on Pacific kelp forests and gives readers the opportunity to explore the fascinating happenings among the swaying of kept fronds.
Young readers will learn who lives there, the sights and sounds of ocean ecosystems, and how we can all help protect the wild and wonderful ocean we consider our neighbour.
Plus, it draws inspiration from the real-life famous humpback whale, KC!
The Adventures of Kelp Creature is available as a digital picture book and a musical audiobook, making this free story perfect for classrooms, seaside reading or quality reading time with loved ones at home!
The second book is titled, Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas by Zachariah Ohora.
Although Ohora isn’t a Vancouver Island-based author, the story gives us up-close insight into the orcas living in captivity at Sealand of the Pacific, an old aquarium that existed in Victoria up until the early 1990s.
Based on a true story, we follow Paul Horn, a musician who communicated with orcas through the power of music, and Dr. Paul Spong, a cetologist studying the orcas at Sealand of the Pacific.
As described, the two men join forces in order to learn more about these mystifying creatures and set into motion an entire anti-captivity movement dedicated to protecting these intelligent and majestic animals.
Happy reading!
