This is an uplifting story about a little Black girl who imagines that she is a mermaid and the ultimate protector of the deep. During a beach day with her mother, Kenzie notices everything about the beach and water, from caves and waves to tide pools and lantern fish that light up the water. As she snorkels past sea creatures, she is distressed to find more plastic than fish in the water. Feeling the urgency to keep the beach clean, she announces that it's "Beach Do-Up Day" and walks the shore collecting litter. Poetic writing is accompanied by bright illustrations that are welcoming and reflect Kenzie's sense of wonder. Children who have spent time at the beach will identify with many of Kenzie's experiences, while teachers will appreciate the book's STEM connections, perfect for lessons on recycling or Earth Day storytimes. Pair this with books such as Carole Lindstrom's We Are Water Protectors (2020), Tony Hillery's Harlem Grown (2020), and Mélina Mangal's Jayden's Impossible Garden (2021).

A curious, young Black girl embraces her role as a protector of aquatic life.McKenzie, or Mermaid Kenzie as she prefers to be called, is a bright, adventurous child with a big Afro who enjoys everything the seashore and ocean have to offer. When not at the beach, she uses her vivid imagination to re-create the serenity of the sea in her messy bedroom that she refuses to clean because "mermaids don't clean up." Day and night, the girl and her mother spend time at the shore building sand castles, skipping stones, collecting seashells, exploring sea caves, going on boat rides, and more. Mermaid Kenzie loves interacting with the organisms that call the beach and ocean home, including a seal she has named Cocoa. The more she explores, the more she realizes just how much pollution has affected the marine ecosystem. Her mother tells her of a time when the ocean was "an underwater zoo," but now there are "more plastic bags than fish." Dubbing herself Protector of the Deeps, Mermaid Kenzie breaks her own injunction against cleaning and begins picking up trash and encouraging her friends to do the same. This inspiring picture book shows the positive impact even the youngest of us can make. The text, written in African American Vernacular English, teems with evocative, often lyrical descriptions of the marine setting. The cartoony, digital illustrations use a palette dominated by the bright greens and deep blues of ocean water.An understated yet unambiguous call to action for everyone to do their part to protect the oceans. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture book. 5-9)

Combining dialogue with songlike poetry, Sherman centers a young Black child named McKenzie who enjoys visiting the beach, donning a mermaid tail, and playing in the water with a seal buddy named Cocoa. McKenzie, also known as -Mermaid Kenzie, Protector of the Deeps,- stages a beach cleanup after encountering plastic bags while snorkeling: -This mermaid cleans up for my sea pals.- Digital art by Bowers renders glossy, big-eyed characters of varying skin tones against vividly colored, thinly outlined backdrops, while poetic lines (-Mist silver the water,/ briny taste on our tongue./ Seaweed perfume the air./ Gray, the heron, drift past,/ wing almost blocking the sun-) lead to a feel-good ending with an inspiring message. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)