Book Review: ‘Bella Saves the Beach’ by Nancy Stewart

Award-winning author Nancy Stewart has done it again. Her book, Bella Saves the Beach, is another masterpiece. As a parent, I like the idea of teaching kids the importance of taking care of the environment. It is in my opinion, a good idea to teach that lesson early on.

In Bella Saves the Beach, Bella wants to help clean up the litter left by people. She is quite upset that people are not using the trash bins. At first, she is not very successful in getting others to help her pick up the trash.

Goal-oriented and very determined, Bella comes up with many ways to achieve her desire to clean up the beach.

It is very refreshing to see a child put out a concerted effort to make a difference. Bella Saves the Beach is a story that teachers, parents, grandparent, and guardians can use to teach young children about helping make a difference.

There are many lessons children can learn from this inspiring story. Here are the lessons that stand out:

• Goal-orientation: Bella is determined to find help and does not give up even though she encounters a few setbacks.
• Being environmentally aware: It is a shame that people do not use the trash receptacles to dispose of trash. The author explains that trash can harm land, air, and sea creatures. It then becomes the responsibility of humans to keep the beaches safe for all to enjoy.
• Children have the power to make a difference too: This angle of the story is my favorite. Too often, children are not considered mature enough to make a difference. Bella Saves the Beach shows that kids and adult have the power to make a positive change that everyone can benefit from.

The illustrations bring the story to life. The soft watercolors transport me back to my favorite place, the beach. They serve a twofold purpose. Children can enjoy the beauty of the beach while learning the value of helping keep our environment a safe place for everyone to enjoy.

To learn more about Nancy Stewart visit her website.