Mr. Tate’s class gather on the beach to help on Clean-up Day.  They meet Captain Ned, who explains how important the ocean is to the health of the planet.  They listen to the ocean and become aware of the animals who call the ocean home and depend on it being clean: one whale, two giant sea turtles,… to 10 bottlenose dolphins.  On shore, they collect 10 bags of trash as they think about the water cycle and pollution.  Plants and animals that live in the ocean provide food for people, resources for medicines, and clean air for all.  The class also goes out on Captain Ned’s boat to scoop up floating debris.  The message that everything in the natural world is connected and that people need to be responsible for their actions is repeated throughout.  A final page gives more in-depth information on how the world’s climate and weather rely on a healthy ocean.  Sarah Snow’s digital collage illustrations are colorful and full of texture and light.  They provide strong visual images to accompany the message of protecting our ecosystem.  Good resource for explaining the importance of being responsible care-takers of our world.