Book excerpt: A girl named Sukara is at the beach and discovers a mermaid who is upset about the damage that plastic is wreaking on her home. She is distraught and crying. Then, to her horror, the mermaid discovers that even her tears are plastic. She shows Sukara what is happening in the ocean because of plastic pollution. Sukara starts crying, and they discover something magical about humans that can save the oceans. Sukara embarks on a quest to share what she knows. A Cry for the Ocean was written 5 years ago when I read about the plastic collecting in the ocean in the gyres. I was shocked to see what we were doing to our ocean. I researched the subject more, and wanted to write a story about what I discovered. The spark that created this story was when I read that 'Mermaids' Tears' is a term beachcombers use to describe the tiny pieces of plastic that result from weathered, larger pieces of plastic. Recently, the sad situation in the oceans has become much more publicized, and I'm happy to see the momentum gathering to prevent plastic from being produced and thrown away at the current rate. I hope this story inspires everyone to know that once we care enough about saving the ocean, we are one step away from making that a reality. And yes, we should shed a few tears along the way! I hope this book will raise awareness of the plight of the ocean, and create more hope that we have it within ourselves to repair the damage we have done. Working with incredibly talented illustrator Tamara Piper, this is a beautiful picture book with colourful and touching illustrations. Accompanying the book is a collection of teaching resources and activities for teachers and parents.