Marina - by Jesse Byrd (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Discover the eye-opening journey of a single piece of plastic in Marina: A Story About Plastic and the Planet, a thought-provoking picture book that introduces young readers to the impact of plastic pollution.
When Marina tosses away the plastic wrapper from her sandwich, she never expects to see it again. But the ocean has other plans. Swept by the wind and carried by the waves, the wrapper disturbs sea creatures, including a shrimp who mistakes it for a UFO, before washing up on a beach--right at Marina's feet.
This engaging and accessible environmental story helps children understand the consequences of single-use plastics and inspires them to take action. With humorous yet insightful storytelling, young readers will follow Marina's realization about how plastic never truly disappears and explore simple, actionable ways to protect our oceans.
Key Features & Benefits:
- An engaging and relatable environmental story that shows how one small action can have a lasting impact.
- Humorous and thought-provoking storytelling makes complex topics approachable for young readers.
- Educational backmatter, including "Ocean Plastic Facts" and "Ocean Plastic Solutions," providing real-world knowledge and actionable steps for reducing plastic waste.
- Encourages eco-conscious habits such as using reusable bags and reducing single-use plastics.
- Perfect for classrooms and home learning to spark conversations about sustainability and protecting marine life.
Ideal for children ages 5-8, Marina: A Story About Plastic and the Planet is a must-read for young environmentalists, teachers, and parents looking to inspire the next generation of ocean protectors.

Review Quotes

"Byrd's enthusiastic descriptions of a child eating lunch take a serious turn when the sandwich's plastic wrapper drifts out to sea. Marina, who's portrayed with tan skin in Meissner's animation-style art, responsibly disposes of her trash, but when the wrapper flies free from a garbage truck and lands in the sea, it disturbs various ocean creatures enacting human-like activities. "It scared a turtle taking her/ nap, and once she was woke, / she couldn't go back," and bothers others including a singing, bow-tie-clad clownfish and racing penguins. Throughout, the wrapper, which bears the label "Marina," provides a searchable visual amid spongy underwater scenes. When Marina makes the unlikely discovery that the wrapper has washed ashore nearby, the teachable moment resounds with a declaration from Mom ("Plastic doesn't ever really go away") and family attempts at change. Back matter includes pollution statistics and light suggestions for ways kids can help."
- Publishers Weekly

"This picture book drives home the reality that plastic never really goes away by having a discarded sandwich bag return to the little girl who threw it away in the first place. The story starts with little Marina's mother making her a sandwich for school and putting it in a plastic wrapper with Marina's name on it. Once Marina throws away the plastic in a trash bin, the wrapper's adventures begin, moving from bin to truck to trash dump--and then, when the wind picks up, into the sea. Byrd opts for the comical when showing the effects of plastic in the sea (for example, an old shrimp thinks the floating plastic is a UFO). Eventually, the plastic floats to the surface and drifts to the edge of a plastic-choked beach where the little girl is shocked to find the bag with her name on it. The resolution includes advice like starting small by using paper bags, while two ending sections, 'Ocean Plastic Facts' and 'Ocean Plastic Solutions, ' add information to this relatable title."

-- Connie Fletcher

About the Author

Jesse Byrd is an international award-winning children's book author and the youngest NPR Board member. At 6'8", Jesse pivoted from playing basketball at UCSB to pursue his passion for storytelling. After working at Google in Silicon Valley and later EY in Dubai as Director of Communications for Middle East and North Africa, Jesse turned all of his energy toward his deepest love: making stories for youth and families with a focus on supporting diverse creators and #own voices material. He's written six children's books and helped produce over 40 others as an editor, art director, and publishing consultant. Jesse is based in Los Angeles, CA.