OCEAN SOUP

Ubiquitous use of plastics has produced oceans of plastic soup left for a new generation to clean up.

Rhyming couplets use an extended cooking metaphor to introduce the problem of plastic pollution before calling on “new chefs” to follow the recipe for solving it. The playful tone of the text and illustrations belie the sad facts they convey. Pincus points out that close examination of ocean water reveals “a confetti-like brew” of tiny plastic specks. Plastic trash ends up in the ocean and is “puréed” by ocean currents, ending up concentrated in gyres. Her soup metaphor works well. This unhealthy brew is then eaten by sea creatures, large and small. Humans who eat fish are also eating plastic bits. She suggests readers call on plastics producers to stop and that they change their personal habits, as well. Semple’s animation-style illustrations feature a diverse group of children throughout. Cartoon seascapes show plastic at every depth as well as creatures who eat it. A world map with continents and oceans shows the locations of major gyres. A final spread of backmatter offers more detailed information at a higher reading level than the primary text. Altogether, this is an engaging, informative package aimed at an audience who will, alas, probably be familiar with the problem of ocean degradation but not powerful enough to do much about it. Fortunately, the writer’s suggestions are doable.

A lighthearted approach to a sobering truth.