I wrote The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide for Kids close on the heels of my first book, The Science and Spirit of Seaweed: Discovering Food, Medicine and Purpose in the Kelp Forests of the Pacific Northwest. Both books are underscored by a deep, genuine and curious love for seaweeds, as well as reverence for the ocean where they grow. In The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide for Kids, children will delight in discovering the myriad shapes, colours and sizes of seaweeds from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. They can do activities that range from seaweed recipes to bath bombs to seaweed gel and take a deep dive into the emerald sea to explore a kelp forest and all the creatures that call this underwater forest their home. The curiosity of children will be sparked as they learn about the “superpowers” of seaweed: the phenomenal ways seaweed contributes to both the health of our environment and to the health of people. With photos of dozens of seaweeds, kelp forests and charming, detailed illustrations, kids will become captivated by the wonders of seaweed…I know I am.

In this list, I have selected some other books for kids that offer both information about our environment and that demonstrate the pleasures and benefits of living in harmony with the natural world.

*****

High Tide, Low Tide, by Gloria Snively, illustrated by Karen Gillmore

This book is a phenomenal resource on the creatures and seaweeds that live in the rocky intertidal zone of the Pacific Northwest. It did not come as a surprise to me after reading it that author Gloria Snively is both an accomplished scientist and educator. Her attention to detail is wonderful, including a colour chart that guides kids to colour the creatures and seaweeds in the colouring activities their accurate colour. This is a vibrant, fun, interactive and very informative book that will teach kids—and their parents—about the dynamic intertidal ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. Learn all about blennies, broken-back shrimp, seaweed, anemones and much, much more in High Tide, Low Tide.

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No More Plastic, by Alma Fullerton

I love this book! It is an inspiring story about a little girl named Isley who loves the ocean more than anything. Isley experiences heartbreak after a right whale washes up dead on the beach near her home. When she learns that the whale starved to death because it had ingested so much plastic, Isley harnesses her strong emotions into action to protect the ocean. Filled with practical ways that kids can have agency in protecting the environment and complemented by charming diorama art by author-illustrator Alma Fullerton, this book instills hope and shows that a deep love for our natural world is the greatest inspiration to help protect it.

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Down at The Seaweed Café, by Robert Perry, illustrated by Greta Guzek

When my two daughters were little, I really wanted to find a book that included seaweed. I was thrilled when I found Down at The Seaweed Café! This fun book exemplifies the Pacific Northwest, with orcas, a driftwood stump table and even an arbutus tree adorning the cover. Written in cadenced, rhyming stanzas, seaweed is spotlighted throughout. From seaweed tea to dried seaweed snacks to cups made of bull kelp, kids are introduced to the many ways seaweed can be used and enjoyed. Young kids will be entranced by tales of whales, lighthouse keepers and treasure from Spanish shipwrecks, and may be inspired to make their own chairs and tables out of driftwood and decorations made from treasures found at the beach.

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I Hear You, Ocean, by Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok

This enchanting book, with its beautiful, soothing illustrations, introduces children to the sounds and sights of the beach. It gently encourages children to listen to all the different sounds of the ocean: the sounds of crabs, seals, birds and even seaweed and sand. This lovely book describes a deep love for the ocean, and all that can be experienced at the beach by watching and listening. I love how it creatively illustrates a receptive way for children to interact with their environment.

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Wolf Island, by Celia Godkin

This important book introduces children in an accessible way to the concept of balance in an ecosystem. In Wolf Island, Godkin tells the true story of what happened to the ecosystem of an island that used to have wolves after the wolves no longer lived there. She does a wonderful job of using story-telling to show how the disappearance of the wolves affected the health of the forest and the food source of many different types of animals, including deer, rabbits, foxes, owls and mice. The book ends on a happy note, with the wolf family returning to the island, food supplies being replenished and balance being restored to the ecosystem.

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Learn more about The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide for Kids:

A middle-grade and family-friendly introduction to the enchanting world of seaweed.

Young readers will be delighted to learn about the wonderful, watery world of seaweed, where emerald-green kelp forests grow as tall as trees and rainbow seaweeds shimmer like gemstones in the sunlight. Seaweed can be fun too, providing tasty snacks like nori crisps and cool things to do: hunt for dead man’s fingers to squeeze like a squirt gun, have a popping contest with rockweed or make seaweed art. Seaweeds are also critical to the health of the planet—they produce most of the oxygen we need to breathe, help to keep the earth cool and provide habitat for sea creatures. And they're full of healthy vitamins and have more minerals than any other food!

This colourful, activity-packed book explores the science of seaweed while showing how to sustainably harvest and use it, and providing many fun facts about marine plants and animals. It is a unique field guide, featuring seaweeds from both Atlantic and Pacific oceans and showcasing the beautiful and vital ecosystems of the coasts, and is sure to inspire curious beachcombers of all ages.