Clean Up!

What more timely a book to inspire us all, from tinies to grandparents! The message comes loud and clear: ‘When you work as a team, you can change the world.’ Little Rocket is full of excitement as her family sets off on holiday, visiting her Jamaican grandparents. The family arrives at their animal sanctuary and whale watching tours, and Rocket is fascinated by all the creatures her grandparents are nursing back to health. She listens attentively as Grampy tells her they never touch wild animals unless they need to be rescued or cared for. {Big bro Jamal appears on every page, his nose and eyes focused solely on his phone…} When Rocket finds a baby turtle trapped in plastic, she is saddened as Grampy tells her that plastic is ruining their islands. Many creatures, including whales, no longer come to their seas. A following spread shows a beach devoid of humans but littered with plastics. Hooray for Rocket! Next day she is fired up, and begins a clean up of that beach, telling visitors that almost half the rubbish in the sea comes from careless people. She states that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean! Soon lots of new friends join in, collecting plastic from every corner of the beach. What a clean up crew. For everyone on the island wants to save the sealife and bring back the whales. The book closes with three simple ways each and every one of us can help clear up the world’s seas and beaches, here and everywhere. This inspirational story is illustrated throughout with humorous yet thoughtful depictions of Rocket and her extended family. Adeola’s pictures are full of movement and purpose, and his Rocket becomes an endearing character. Readers will want to follow big bro’s participation through the story, humorously depicted! Children will relate to the fact that they, like Rocket, can make a difference. It starts with just the determination to make that difference. A splendid, inspirational book.