Oceana the Home of Beauty (eBook)

Anthony Covington (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
181 Seiten
The Good Child Bookstore (Verlag)
978-0-00-081240-7 (ISBN)

Infos

In the vibrant underwater world of Oceana, a young sea turtle named Tessa discovers a heartbreaking reality: her beloved reef is fading. Joined by her playful friend Cleo the clownfish and gentle Bella the seahorse, Tessa embarks on a grand quest to save their home. Along the way, they confront tangled plastic, learn inventive ways to repurpose trash, and team up with everything from clever crabs to singing whales. Through bravery, laughter, and teamwork, Tessa's band of friends shows how every creature can make a difference. Dive into a colorful, comical, and uplifting tale about protecting the ocean we share.

Textauszug

CHAPTER 2: New Friends in the Current

Tiny rays of sunlight glimmered through the glassy water as Tessa glided past the familiar coral archway. The reef stretched out before her like an underwater neighborhood full of secrets, and her heart pounded with hope and apprehension. This morning felt different than any she had experienced before—more urgent, somehow, as if the ocean itself was urging her to keep going. Cleo, the clownfish, bounced playfully at her side, already sharing stories about the silly crustaceans they might bump into.

“What do you think we’ll find today?” Cleo asked with a dramatic flourish of her fin. “Sunken treasure, hidden passageways, a giant underwater circus?”

Tessa smiled, her worries momentarily lifting. “I’m not sure about circuses, but I know we’re going to see how bad things really are. Old Marlow’s words keep echoing in my head. If there’s trash or fading coral, I want to see it up close. Then we can figure out what to do next.”

They navigated through a labyrinth of tall coral spires. Once known for their rainbow hues, these corals seemed duller now, as if a gray haze had settled over the once-vibrant surfaces. Parrotfish that normally swam around scraping algae off the coral looked uneasy, darting in and out of hidden crevices.

Cleo’s eyes flicked in all directions. “I know a few nooks in these parts,” she said in a hushed tone, almost like a tour guide revealing forbidden secrets. “Follow me!”

Turning sharply, she led Tessa to a narrow passage between two coral heads. They squeezed through, stirring up tiny bubbles and scattering a cluster of baby shrimp. On the other side, a wide clearing appeared—once bright with sea anemones that waved like flags in the gentle current. Today, those anemones drooped, their colors muted.

A wave of unease rippled through Tessa. “I remember coming here as a hatchling,” she murmured. “This spot used to be so full of life. It felt like a carnival, with swirling fish and dancing plants.”

Cleo poked at a patch of bleached coral with her nose. “Looks like everything’s lost a bit of its cheer. Maybe my clownfish jokes aren’t enough after all.” She tried a short, goofy laugh, but it didn’t brighten the dimmed anemones.

They continued onward, weaving between clumps of seaweed and gliding around swaying coral fans. One corner of the reef stood out because of an unsettling sight: a tangle of plastic nets snagged on a once-beautiful sea whip. The swirl of colorful coral fronds was now wrapped in an ugly, crisscrossed mess. Small fish pecked at the netting, trying to free themselves or perhaps pick off bits of algae.

“Let’s see if we can get that net loose,” Tessa said, determination shining in her eyes.

Cleo nodded eagerly. “I’ll poke at the loose strands, you try tugging with your flippers. We don’t want to hurt the coral any more than it’s already damaged.”

Working side by side, they pulled and prodded. Now and then, Cleo told a silly joke to lighten the mood. “Why did the angelfish join the orchestra? Because it had the best scales!” Tessa giggled, but her mind remained focused on the job. After some careful maneuvering, the net finally slid free, leaving behind a few shredded pieces that clung stubbornly to the coral.

“Argh, get off!” Cleo complained, batting at a piece stuck to her dorsal fin. She managed to flick it away, but her body trembled with frustration. “Where is all this coming from?”

Tessa placed the net in a gap between coral boulders where it would do no further harm—at least until they found a better solution. “Could be from fishing boats above the water,” she answered. “I’ve heard stories about broken nets drifting for miles.”

The pair soon became aware of a faint sound, like a soft swishing that grew louder with each flick of their fins. Tessa paused, perked her head, and gestured for Cleo to remain still. The sound inched closer until a long, slender shape drifted into view. A young stingray glided gracefully, its wings undulating like elegant drapery in the current. The stingray’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Hey there,” Cleo greeted, flashing her trademark grin. “We’re, uh, checking out this part of the reef. Kind of investigating all the weird stuff that’s happening.”

The stingray tilted its body in acknowledgement. “Name’s Ripple,” it said, voice echoing softly through the water. “You two are quite brave, rummaging around here. A few days ago, I saw a big swirl of human garbage drifting by this area.”

Tessa inhaled sharply. “We just found a net caught in the coral. Is there a bigger patch of trash around?”

Ripple’s wingtips fluttered as though in agitation. “Yeah, not far. I tried to push it away, but stingrays aren’t exactly built for lugging around bags and nets. If you’re looking to help, head toward the seagrass meadow. There’s more rubbish messing things up there.”

Gratitude and concern mingled in Tessa’s expression. “Thank you for letting us know. We’ll see what we can do.”

Cleo nodded. “Keep an eye out for trouble, okay, Ripple?”

The stingray offered a goodbye wave of its wing before disappearing into the darkening waters. Tessa felt her resolve tighten. Each new discovery made it clear that the reef needed a serious rescue effort. She could no longer just swim around, feeling sad about the situation—action was the only option.

They set off for the seagrass meadow, where Tessa was used to finding her favorite breakfast. The path took them by a rocky overhang that sheltered schools of bright-blue damselfish. Usually, these little fish flitted in and out, chattering away. Today, only a few lingered, sporting worried expressions. Cleo tried cracking a quick joke—something about how damselfish worry too much for fish so small—but they gave half-hearted smiles, preoccupied with a subtle tension in the water.

A wide bed of seagrass appeared up ahead, waving softly like rows of tiny green flags. Tessa remembered this place as peaceful, rich with tasty morsels to nibble on. But as they drew closer, her eyes caught sight of something that did not belong there at all. Plastic bottles and wrappers lay scattered among the grass blades, and small pieces of what looked like shredded paper bobbed in the current. A few hungry sea turtles might have mistaken it for seagrass.

Cleo darted forward, her fin on her forehead as though she were about to faint. “This is terrible! Everything’s just… trashed.”

Tessa sighed, pushing a bottle aside gently with her flipper. “I can’t believe there’s so much garbage here. I used to come every morning to snack on fresh grass. If we can’t clean this up, the poor fish and turtles who don’t notice might swallow plastic.”

A hush descended, filled only by the gentle rustle of the grass. In that quiet moment, Tessa understood how gigantic this problem truly was. Still, despair lasted only a heartbeat before she found a core of determination again. She turned to Cleo, steadying her voice.

“We’ll pick up what we can,” Tessa said, “and then figure out who can help us remove the rest. We can’t do this alone.”

Cleo flicked a piece of wrapper away. “Right. Even the best comedic clownfish in the world can’t clean an entire reef solo.” Then, forcing a wry grin, she added, “You might have the brawn, but we need more than that.”

They spent a while collecting every bit of trash they could manage. Tessa scooped plastic bottles into the crook of her flipper, while Cleo tackled the smaller bits, pushing them into a larger container fashioned from a broken shell piece. Before long, they had a small mountain of debris stashed in a coral nook. The effort left them drained, but also oddly satisfied at having made a difference—however small—right then and there.

A crab with prickly legs emerged from the seagrass to see what the commotion was about. Its carapace was the color of an old penny, and it clacked its pincers with suspicion. “Who’s messing with my turf?” it demanded.

Tessa explained, “We’re trying to clean up the trash. If you or your crab friends can help, we might make even bigger progress.”

The crab’s fierce expression softened into a grudging nod. “Garbage is a real nuisance. My neighbors have been complaining about it, too. Maybe I can pass the word along, get some help from other crustaceans.”

Cleo beamed. “That would be amazing. Thank you!”

Without further protest, the crab scuttled away, mumbling that it would rally help. Tessa felt a flicker of triumph. “Looks like we’re building a network,” she said.

“More like a band of ocean crusaders,” Cleo corrected with a comical twirl. “But a network is good too.”

They both gazed at the large mound of collected trash, sensing that this was merely a droplet in the vast sea of challenges ahead. If the reef was truly losing its color because of factors like warming water and pollution, cleaning up surface trash was only the beginning. That knowledge was sobering, yet Tessa refused to let gloom overshadow her optimism.

Cleo sighed, then perked up. “You know, we should talk to more elders and see who’s actively doing something. We can’t be the only ones who care.”

Tessa agreed wholeheartedly. “Yes, and maybe there are some sea creatures with special skills. An octopus with multiple arms could help gather trash faster. Or a whale who can push large piles of debris.”

Cleo snapped her fin as if having a eureka moment. “If we gather enough creatures, maybe we could even break up that giant floating...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.5.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-10: 0-00-081240-4 / 0000812404
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-081240-7 / 9780000812407