Book Title:  Lulu and Malek Sail Off to Sea! by June Foster and Rob Scheer

Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 32 pages

Genre:  Children's Book

Publisher:  Hubble & Hattie

Release date:   August 23, 2022

Content Rating:  G.  The book is designed for children between 3-7 years of age.

Adventurous friends Lulu and Malek make fantastic discoveries, take care of our planet, and meet new friends as they explore the wonders of the world under the sea. With vibrant illustrations and endearing characters, this fun-to-read rhyming book is sure to be a children's favorite that they will want to read over and over again! Add this fun-filled and inspiring book to your home or class library! It will be enjoyed by children who love adventure, a good laugh, and want to learn more about the sea and conservation.

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My Review
Lulu and Malek Sail Off to Sea is an adorable children's book with an important message. The story follows Lulu and Malek as they head off to the beach to meet up with their whale friend. But when they arrive at the beach, they see it's covered in garbage. Instead of shrugging it off and ignoring it in favor of spending time with their friend, Lulu and Malek decide to tidy up the beach. And when they finally get to hang out with their whale friend, Lulu and Malek discover just how wonderful and magical a place the earth really is.
This is a cute story that teaches kids about the environment and keeping the earth free from pollution. Even the smallest thing, like picking up trash on the beach, can be beneficial in the grand scheme of things. 
The story itself is easy to read, with a fun rhyming scheme that young readers will enjoy. The illustrations are beautiful, as well, and really capture the majesty of the ocean. Very bright and colorful, and young readers will find themselves drawn in by the beauty of it all. 
A 5 star read for me!

Guest Post
Natural Habitat Along the Coastline of KwaZulu-Natal

By June N. Foster

The story of Lulu and Malek Sail Off to Sea is set in South Africa, along the coastline of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The views and underwater settings are breath-taking. As Rob and I researched the area, there were many interesting facts that we learned. One interesting fact is that the South African coastline is approximately 2,800 kms, 150 km of which is coral reef. The long coastline influences much of the climate. Along the west coast is the cold Atlantic Ocean, while conversely, the warm Indian Ocean lies on the east and south coast. In Africa, the summer season lasts from October until March, and winter from June until August.

Due to acidification, overfishing and pollution the majority of coral reefs on the planet are under threat; however, in South Africa, 100% of the coral reefs are in a Marine Protected Area. The “Seven Mile Reef” located at Sodwana Bay boasts crystal clear water with thousands of vibrantly colored fish, coral and unparalleled topography.

Our illustrator, Gill Guile superbly captured the beauty and abundance of the coral reef highlighting schools of fish, turtles, manta rays, and dolphins! Ragged Tooth Sharks can be seen in the area. Each year, a natural phenomenon takes place known as “The Greatest Shoal on Earth.” Thousands of sardines travel along the coast during the cold winter months of June and July in search of the warmer waters of KwaZulu Natal to birth their young. The sandy beaches along KwaZulu Natal’s northern stretch provide vital nesting sites for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. For several hours each November, on bright moonlit nights, female turtles will drag themselves high onto the beach, dig a large hole with their front flippers, lay around 50 - 100 eggs, cover their nests and head back to sea. Due to natural predators, only a small percentage (one or two for every thousand) of the hatchlings survive. Across the globe, nearly all sea turtles are endangered. As they venture in the sea, entanglement in fishing gear, loss of feeding sites, poaching, and ocean pollution have left them in a vulnerable state.

As our story of Lulu and Malek Sail Off to Sea began to take shape, it was important for us to add a few, gently introduced scenes that addressed pollution. Cherishing and preserving our earth’s wildlife is a passion we all share. Rob, Gill and I were thrilled to be able to capture the beauty of northern KwaZulu-Natal’s coastline and its abundant and beautiful coral reefs. We hope you and your littles ones will love the vibrant colors and diverse sea life our story captures.

 

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