Kobee Manatee: Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard
Author: Robert Scott Thayer
Illustrator: Lauren Gallegos
ISBN: 9780997123999 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 9780997123951 (eBook)
32 Pages and 4th Installment in the Award-Winning Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational Picture Book Series
Publish Date: September 28, 2021
Publisher: Thompson Mill Press
Kobee Manatee Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard is the fourth installment in the award-winning Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational Picture Book Series. The story follows the beloved Kobee Manatee and his seafaring friends on an adventure to Belize in Central America. Kobee wants to help his cousin Quinn with her new all-veggie underwater bistro called Quinn’s Seagrass Café. However, they quickly encounter several obstacles along their 500-mile Caribbean journey from the Cayman Islands. The sea friends confront a strained loggerhead turtle, a giant Portuguese Man-of-War, and a venomous scorpion-fish along the way. Then their venture takes an unforeseen turn as Pablo the hermit crab plunges into the abyss of the Great Blue Hole! A Caribbean adventure loaded with facts about climate change, and the danger plastic pollution is having in our oceans and on our coral reefs.
Like the previous books in the Kobee Manatee series, Thayer collaborates with experts in their chosen fields. In his newest installment, Robert teams up with Dr. Tracy Fanara, Inspector Planet & NOAA Scientist. Dr. Tracy appears on The Weather Channel as an expert, on Weird Earth and previously on the Science Channel’s Mythbusters and What On Earth? for her expertise on climate change and plastic pollution. Previous collaborators lending a fin to Thayer’s tales have been aquanaut Fabien Cousteau, oldest grandson to legendary ocean pioneer, Jacques Cousteau.
This past year, Florida has reportedly lost 750 manatees at the Indian River Lagoon – due to climate change (warming water), along with increased human generated fertilizer runoff, which flows into the lagoon. These circumstances have created unprecedented killings of seagrass – the main food source for manatees, who are herbivores.
Thayer hopes to help children see the connection between our climate choices and the world around us. This is a call to action to make children more aware of the harmful effects of climate change and how it can affect the threatened Florida manatee. Each Kobee Manatee title has its own teacher’s guide and song.
The series is beautifully illustrated by Lauren Gallegos (Illustrator) and will be published September 28, 2021 by Thompson Mill Press.
Since the spring of 2014, the Kobee Manatee books and CDs and the Kobee Manatee plush toy have been sold within Jimmy Buffett’s – Save the Manatee Club (SMC) through their online store.
“Kobee Manatee is a lovable and magnetic host, leading readers into the waters that cover 70% of the earth while opening young minds to the connections between human actions and marine ecosystems. Creating opportunities, which inspire love for our marine animals can cultivate an environmentally responsible conscience that can last a lifetime.” — Dr. Tracy Fanara, Host of Inspector Planet
About the Author
Ever since he was young, Bob had an interest in manatees – which might seem a little odd, given his upbringing in Philadelphia. His admiration for these endangered marine mammals continued into adulthood and inspired him to create a beloved children’s series: Kobee Manatee®.
Robert has a degree from Temple University, is a member of the Authors Guild, SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Florida, and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). Robert currently resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Review
Author Q&A
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Or what first inspired you to write?
I was in third grade when I wrote my first song. I enjoyed writing in school. And Iater in life I moved from writing copy to writing children’s educational books.
Where/When do you best like to write?
I find I do my best writing during the morning.
Do you have any interesting writing habits or superstitions?
I always keep my outline/plot arc in view while I’m writing.
When you are struggling to write/have writer’s block, what are some ways that help you find your creative muse again?
I’ll head outside and clear my head by walking and gardening.
What do you think makes a good story?
A good story is when the writer puts plenty of “conflict” in the plot arc.
What inspired your story?
This is my fourth installment in the Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational Picture Book series and this title’s focus is on climate change. Hearing all the sobering news on record-breaking temperatures, sea level rise, stronger hurricanes, more intense wild fires and longer droughts, I wanted to have our youngest generation become more aware of the environment around them and how they can play an important role in the climate change solution.
How does a new story idea come to you? Is it an event that sparks the plot or a character speaking to you?
Stories come to me as a result of my interest in manatees, the oceans, earth sciences, geography, and climate change. It’s definitely the protagonist, Kobee Manatee® who speaks to me as we decide which next adventurous voyage to tackle.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I’d have to say the most surprising thing I learned in creating each title to the series is the amount of time each title takes to complete. With my writing, the 30 plus edited drafts, and my illustrator’s rendering of each brilliant spread, bringing the characters to life, I’m looking at 2 to 3 years to complete each installment.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Stephen Covey, Mo Willems, Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss.
What is the one book no writer should be without?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
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