The Blue Giant

By Author / Illustrator

Katie Cottle

Genre

Environment

Age range(s)

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN

9781843654513

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-08-2020

Synopsis

An entertaining and beautiful eco-tale from the winner of the Batsford Prize

Meera and her mum are enjoying a break at the seaside. Until...a creature emerges from the waves. It's a giant. A blue giant. It has a stirring plea to help clean up the ocean and save the sea creatures from the menace of plastic waste. Meera and her mum agree to help. But they can't do it alone... can they?

A poignant and timely picture book that introduces children to the issues of pollution, waste management and the oceans, with suggestions of lifestyle changes to help the world become a better, cleaner place.

Reviews

I read The Blue Giant as an introduction to the COP26 Glasgow meeting which started this week. We had a lot of discussions about the huge amount of rubbish which ends up in the sea. It was important that the book showed what a small change made by just two people, Meera and her mum, could make to so many others.

My class began to make the connection that, even the small things we do in school or at home can also make a big difference to the whole world. Katie Cottle's vibrant illustrations support those children who are new to English, while her text is precise in describing the issue, whilst being hopeful that we can still make a difference.

This is so important for our children to hear, that it isn't too late to change things and our earth, if treated kindly and with respect, can recover. This is a great book for an introduction to a climate change or environmental topic in school. It's a powerhouse of a picture book which packs a very important message.

Picture book / Reviewed by Sharon Porter, teacher