Elspeth Lorraine

An underrated gem! I picked up the Ocean Gardener based entirely on the front cover. Clara did such a beautiful job showing the whirling, twirling freedom swimming gives you. Ayla, the cover star, and her mother live on a beautiful island where her mother works as a marine biologist. One day Ayla notices the once vibrant coral are bleached and look dead. The fish who used to live in the coral have disappeared. Ayla’s mom shares about the rising temperature of the ocean and the impact that has on the climate. The mother and daughter pair up to try and save the coral and bring back the fish. Mom has the idea to grow new coral at home and once grown, plant it in the ocean to attract the fish again. When the time is right, the pair carefully place the coral in the ocean and tend to it until it’s thriving. A hopeful story showing that everyone has the power to make positive change. 

Bits and Pieces: Clara’s agency’s website says she uses a mixture of traditional techniques, ranging from monoprint to pencil. The book was also printed using waterless printing, an offset lithographic printing process that eliminates the use of water or the dampening system used in conventional printing. It prevents harmful VOCs from being related into the air. Mom and daughter’s relationship was engaging and respectful. It’s nice to see parents treating their children like people and really listening to them. This backmatter was so good! Tons of interesting facts and tidbits to share. 

Not Sure About: This is based on the true experiences of marine biologist Chloé Pozas, and the backmatter is as good as the book, but I was left wondering how often coral had to be grown and planted.

Favorite Part: Mom’s messy bun and shortall fashion lewk. Of course. 

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