The Mess That We Made - by Michelle Lord (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Mess That We Made explores the environmental impact of trash and plastic on the ocean and marine life, and it inspires kids to do their part to combat pollution. Simple, rhythmic wording builds to a crescendo ("This is the mess that we made. These are the fish that swim in the mess that we made.") and the vibrant digital artwork captures the disaster that is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Children can imagine themselves as one of the four multi-ethnic occupants of the little boat surrounded by swirling plastic in the middle of the ocean, witnessing the cycle of destruction and the harm it causes to plants, animals, and humans. The first half of the book portrays the growing magnitude of the issue, and the second half rallies children and adults to make the necessary changes to save our oceans, before it is too late. Facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ocean pollution, and how kids can help are included in the back matter.

Review Quotes

"Great book! Inspires a love for stewardship of the ocean in today's youth so that the next generation will not repeat The Mess That We Made. There is always hope in the next generation, a hope that they will create a healthier, more sustainable ocean." --Anthony Saner, Director of ReefCI (Reef Conservation International)

"This outstanding story superbly visualizes pollution problems with art that hits the spot....It is sure to inspire our young conservationists-in the-making to work toward a sustainable ocean environment." --Briggette Dusart, Cleaner Ocean Foundation

"Our lives depend on the ocean. Fish consume our waste and then end up on our dinner plates. I hope that this beautifully illustrated book will serve as a tool to pass on the importance of the ocean to future generations and beyond." --Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and founder of Change for the Blue

"Kathryn Hahn's heartfelt and engaging reading of The Mess That We Made .... not only brings this powerful story and its characters to life, but it illuminates the consequences of neglecting our planet. We are proud to release a read-aloud that promotes literacy, and underscores the importance of environmental stewardship."
--Courtney B. Vance, SAG-AFTRA Foundation President

"What I love so much about this book is that I love how they capture the ocean, the colors, the magic of being close to the ocean, and that it also tells you how serious it is that our ocean is hurting."--Kathryn Hahn, Actress and comedian (WandaVision, Parks and Recreation)

"A beautifully illustrated book to show children, and remind adults, about the impact trash can have in the ocean. It then shows the positive change that can happen when we all work together to clean up our mess."--Christina Dankert, 2nd grade teacher and picture book author

"I adore this book.... The craft of the script and the illustrations work together perfectly.... It's funny and relatable for both parents & children.... We have read this hundreds of times and it never gets old!"--Melissa Robinson, author

About the Author

Michelle Lord has written several books for children, including A Song For Cambodia, Nature Recycles, and Animal School: What Class Are You?, which received a starred review from Kirkus.

Julia Blattman has worked as a visual development artist for animated feature films and Disney mobile games. This is her first picture book.