
Title: the blue giant
Author & Illustrator: Katie Cottie
Publisher: Pavilion Children’s books, UK, 2020
Ages: 4-8
Themes: conservation, the ocean, plastic waste, ecology, care for the earth, pollution
Synopsis:
Meera and her mom are enjoying a break at the seaside. Until a creature emerges from the waves! It’s a giant. A blue giant. It is made of water, fish, and sea plants and has a stirring plea to help clean up the ocean.
Meera and her mom agree to help, donning their scuba-diving outfits and setting off to sea. But they can’t do it alone…can they?
Opening:
Meera and her mom are going to the ocean.
Why I like this book:
This is a timely and strong eco-tale introducing children to the issue of ocean pollution, with ideas to help the world become a better, cleaner place.
It introduces children to the issues of pollution, waste management, and the oceans, with suggestions of lifestyle changes to help clean up our seas through an allegorical tale, and the narrator, an imaginary Ocean Giant, who grieves for all the destruction we humans have done. I like the emphasis on how big the problem is and how much we need many involved in the solution. The illustrations are bright and bold, and enhance the Giant’s challenge to action as well as our tiny place on this planet, out of corporation to our influence!

Resources/Activities:
Great Earth Day choice.
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and/or activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
I love the cover! The wave looks so huge in comparison to the child. Quite a metaphor for the issue. Thanks for sharing this with us, Joanna. I’ll see if the SFPL has it on order. Cheers!