Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill by Lynda Deniger

Since my mom lives in the Gulf Coast and was affected by the Oil Spill last year, I wanted to check out this new book called Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill, with my kids. Lynda Deniger’s new environmental children’s book was a quick and easy read for the kids. Last year, we went to visit my mom a few months after the oil spill in Destin Florida. Now, I remember how worried she was and how hard she said everyone was working to keep the beaches clean. When we were there there wasn’t really any oil on the beaches. Every now and then you would see this oil ball, I can’t remember what it was called, but you had to keep your eye out for that as you walked along the beach, but our trip was wonderful and the beaches were still in tip top shape.

I still thought that since my kids had a connection with actually visiting the beaches in the gulf that they would have a connection to the book. It’s been 1 year since the oil spill, in fact, the anniversary is April 20th and in honor of the anniversary Lynda has released this easy to read and beautifully illustrated story that teaches children about the importance of taking care of the environment. It also highlights what each and every one of us can do to help each other and the world.

I remember last year seeing pictures of the animals affected by the Gulf Oil Spill and that is the story that Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill tells us. Patti Pelican is a pelican that is friends with Sammy Seagull and the captain of the Salty Seas. One afternoon when Sammy and Patti were missing from the dock they are usually seen at, the captain goes off to find them. He finds them covered all in oil and takes them to be rescued. The animals telling the story of what happened to them is what captured Zoe and Miles.

Patti Pelican and the Gulf Oil Spill, teaches children that animals sometimes need our help. Before reading the book Zoe didn’t even realize that people helped animals. We had a dog and Zoe went with me to take the dog to the vet but she never realized that was there job. At the end of the book there are some questions to help you engage with yoru children about animals and things that children actually did to help out the animals along the Gulf Coast. I asked Zoe if she would sell her toys to raise money for animals and she came up with a few things she might be willing to part with. It was interested to see that she actually understood the story and how she could help animals when the time comes.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation