Marina: A Story About Plastic and the Planet written by Jesse Byrd and cutely illustrated by Andressa Meissner is a story about how our plastic use has consequences for the planet and ourselves. The story itself is short: Marina’s mother always packs a sandwich in plastic, with her name on it. Marina tosses the plastic when she is done. But one day a gust of wind takes the plastic on the very uncool adventure of going through the ocean and to the beach where Marina finds it again. It is the extras of the book that are the real draw.
Now, that’s not to say the story is not interesting, after all, seeing how the plastic is interfering with nature, on a younger level, is clever and a good story, but the bigger picture allows for the book to grow with the reader. These extras allow the reader to find ways to help the environment with activities, resources and more.
The only drawback for me is that the illustrations are too “computerized” for my personal tastes. They are polished, overly colorful and minimalistic with the details. The modernization of them is not to my usual tastes. However, this allows for the younger reader/listener to have that more “flashy” look to things. I appreciate the work and effort that went into them, I just wish they had been more illustrated. I read this picture book via an online reader copy, but the hardcover edition is available and the paper edition will be available around February 2025.