Make Waves for Wildlife this Winter! 

MAKE WAVES FOR WILDLIFE THIS WINTER!

The perfect gift for young animal lovers and environmentalists this festive season.

Children’s author Jay Vincent shines a light on the world’s oceans, their weird and wonderful inhabitants, and the threats they face in his latest book ‘The Shark Who Barked’, which is raising funds for international wildlife charity Born Free.

• Beautifully illustrated children’s story book, raising awareness of the threats facing our ocean and its wildlife
• A percentage of profits from the book goes to support international wildlife charity Born Free, who work to protect wild animals around the world and keep wildlife in the wild
• Available now for Christmas 2022 from your favourite major bookstores

Take a magical journey beneath the waves with your little ones this Christmas, whilst helping to conserve wildlife. Jay Vincent’s latest children’s publication, ‘The Shark Who Barked’, aimed at youngsters from 3 to 8 years old, raises funds for the Born Free Foundation, helping to ensure a future for wildlife. It’s a gift that gives back, perfect for aspiring young conservationists or those interested in the oceans.    

Adorning each page are charming illustrations created by Stew Wright. No matter how many times you look, you’ll spot something new hidden in and amongst the corals and shipwrecks, meaning children will want to revisit the story time and time again.

The story follows a young boy called Ben and his dog, Ted, who discover a shark, named Bluey, washed up on the beach. Following the dramatic rescue of Bluey, the trio set out on a journey to uncover amazing facts whilst meeting all sorts of exciting characters and marine creatures along the way. But just like the real world, all is not well in the ocean. During their adventures, Ben, Ted and Bluey discover the truth about the huge impact humans are having on the ocean.

Some scientists estimate that up to 85% of the world’s fish populations have already been overfished, and that by 2050, there’ll be more plastic in our oceans than fish. This not only spells disaster for the ocean and the wildlife found there, but also for people who rely on the ocean for their food and livelihoods. Working closely with the Born Free around key messaging, Jay Vincent explores the hard-hitting issues in this rhyming story in a fun way, with plenty of laughter and positivity.

As well as raising funds for Born Free, the book leaves a lasting legacy through education. Highlighting issues including plastic pollution and overfishing and educating children from an early age means that they will grow up with tools to make a difference and protect our ocean. What may start as a love for ocean wildlife, driven by reading The Shark Who Barked, could ripple out and lead to youngsters making positive changes for the planet as they grow older.

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift that inspires youngsters, and makes waves for wildlife, look no further than ‘The Shark Who Barked’.

Author Jay Vincent says: “The biggest privilege of my life has been to swim on coral reefs, the idea for this story came when I encountered my first tiger shark and saw a plastic bag drift past. Never have I been so ecstatic and so sad at the same time.”

“I’ve wanted to work with Born Free for a while. I started to follow them when I saw the amazing work they did freeing animals from captivity. As all of my books involve animals, its crucial children understand that animals should be free in natural habitats, and it’s our job to protect them.”

Born Free’s Education Officer, Charlie Baker says: “Learning doesn’t always have to happen in the classroom. Young children learn through exploring the world around them, with stories being a key part of this and one of the oldest art forms. It’s vital for us all, no matter how young, to understand that we have an impact on the world around us and The Shark Who Barked gives children, and indeed their families, the knowledge and the tools to make a difference, reduce their impact and protect our oceans.”

Sir Robert Swan OBE and polar explorer says: “This fantastic children’s book inspired youth to make sensible decisions about litter by showing the impact that single use plastic can have on our ocean. The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. To our young people – you all have an incredibly important role to play. Be the change in your family and communities.” [CB1] 

The Shark Who Barked is available now for £7.49 direct from Meze Publishing, or from major book retailers.