New children's book urges care for environment

Michele Cempaka, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Bali

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba (Turtle and Dolphin) by author Maggie Dunkle and illustrator Margiyono is a new children's book featuring a turtle, dolphin and seagull who teach us about the devastating effects plastic has on our environment, especially with regard to the mortality of marine life.

The book is one of the Clean Bali series written in three languages -- Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Bali and English -- making it accessible to virtually everyone living in Indonesia.

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba is filled with 24 beautiful color illustrations of the animals that are certain to capture the reader's imagination.

The story begins with a hungry dolphin that can't find any food. He thinks he sees a fish and ends up bumping into a sea turtle. They are both after the same fish.

"I need food. I need fish. I do not know where the fish have gone, do you? It is so long since I had enough to eat -- and I didn't see you, the water is so hard to see through these days," the dolphin says to the turtle.

The two marine creatures head off in search of food, and together they discover plastic floating on top of the water -- along with a seagull that is crying for help because she is choking on something stuck in her throat.

Turtle pokes his leg in her throat and discovers a strip of plastic.

The three friends continue their story until the end, when children begin cleaning up the beach. The animals feel hopeful that maybe things will finally change for the better.

While the story has great merit in how it teaches children about the importance of caring for their environment, some of the writing does not quite flow.

It begins as a book for younger children, but then goes into a very detailed explanation about the dangers of trash that would be better suited for teens.

Every book in the series comes with a game and a song that help to reinforce the concepts within, about not littering on our beautiful beaches. A detailed recycling diagram appears at the back that clearly explains the appropriate methods for disposing plastic items and cans.

The book will be distributed for free to hundreds of schools throughout Bali -- and later, throughout the archipelago -- with the idea that teachers can incorporate recycling and other environmental issues into their curriculum.

Penyu dan Lumba-lumba was released on Nov. 25 at Semawang Beach, Bali.

For more information, visit www.cleanbaliseries.org.

Turtle and Dolphin
Story by Maggie Dunkle
Illustrations by Margyono
Saritaksu Editions (November 2007)
52 pages, Full color, hard cover, Rp 55,000