Say no to plastic by Ned and Shane Heaton. Illus. by Tamzin Barber

The overuse of plastic and the long-term environmental damage to sea life created by this usage is beautifully presented in this rhyming picture book with gorgeous illustrations.  Young Australian Entrepreneur of the Year and environmentalist Ned Heaton along with his dad Shane, founders of The Turtle Tribe, have written an entertaining and clever story that will provide young readers with an easy-to-understand look at the damage plastic is causing in the marine environment.

The main character Roy, his Nan and Heidi the Peidy, share their concerns about the danger the sea creatures face from plastic at their local beach and take them all the way to New York to where the world nations meet. The message of the story is that leaders from all over the world are responsible for caring for our environment, but we also can all play a part in restricting our use of plastic. The book includes a Turtle Tribe logos search, as well as a double page asking the reader to find out how many ways there are to reduce plastic, with answers provided on the final page.

A visit to The Turtle Tribe website Bamboo Toothbrushes - The Turtle Tribe adds another important and impressive layer to the story and is well worth viewing for both children and adults.

Kathryn Beilby