“I wanted to give facts, but make it fun,” Peckels said. “I found that when kids have fun, the learning just happens.”
Also included in each illustration is at least one piece of hidden trash that the child must find.
The book was recently awarded first place in the Comics/Graphics category at the 2009 Green Book Festival, a Los Angeles-based event that honors books that contribute to greater understanding, respect and positive action on the changing worldwide environment.
“Winning this award is so exciting for us,” Peckels said. “We saw a need for this book because so many other [educational] books for kids are too scientific.
“It is so gratifying that others have found value in our project.”
Peckels, a former elementary school teacher from Knoxville, Tenn., who grew up loving the ocean, said her inspiration for the book came from volunteering in the tide pool docent program at Treasure Island and Heisler parks after she moved to Southern California.
“I joined the program to learn about the coastal environment, to do something useful and to make new friends in California,” she said. “I had so much fun docenting, but I also saw how much damage occurred, mostly because of the lack of knowledge by the general public visiting the tide pools.
“Through these experiences and my teaching background, I saw a saw the need for a comprehensive approach to sensitize the public, starting with children.”
Strickland, a friend of Peckels who co-founded the children’s writer group the Sand Scribes and works for the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, said she was thrilled when Peckels asked her to contribute to the book.
