The Last Seaweed Pie
by Wenda Shurety, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly
Interest age: 4 to 6
Reading age: 7+
Published by Storyhouse, 2021
About this book
The Treeple live in the forest canopy, industriously building and making, inventing and shaping. The Seeple reside in the sparkling sea, relaxing and swimming in colourful reefs. These contrasting communities exist in harmony for a time, enjoying seaweed and papaya pies. However, the more the Treeple build and make, the more they take away from their natural home. Their industry strips the land of its beauty, and they run out of space for new creations. When their island is finally full, they dump their waste in the sea – straight into the Seeple’s home.
Seeing their beloved coral destroyed and their precious fish endangered, the Seeple are forced to flee to the Treeple’s island. It is there, with some communication and compromise, that the Treeple learn how to change their ways. They begin to reuse, recycle and rethink their attitudes and ultimately, learn to live in harmony with nature.
This poignant book introduces environmental issues and attitudes in a tender and approachable way. Donnelly’s illustrations bring the story to life with vibrant details and children will love exploring the variety of nature depicted in the underwater scenes! This book works excellently as a springboard into learning about recycling and climate action.
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