Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

Congratulations to Martha Johnston on the release of Iki and the Ocean Protectors

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

We knew we wanted to do another book in the Iki series, and as a board member of Regenerative Education Centers, which is a Hawaii based nonprofit, we’ve been working with the sea trees program for seven years, and it's been a really wonderful organization to partner with. Sea trees are native and restorative plants that can be planted along waterways and coastlines to protect the oceans and reefs from erosion, soot runoff and chemicals, so that we can keep our marine life safe and our ocean ecosystem safe.

With our regenerative agriculture projects on Maui, we've been planting 10s of 1000s of square feet of sea trees. Which includes Our Mighty Ocean Protectors, mentioned in the book, Milo, Naupaka, and Vetiver and also coconut and other native plants. We wanted to teach families about how we can keep our oceans safe.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

Readers will take away inspiration and hope that we can protect our planet and ally with plants and animals to make the world a better place, and even little kids can play a part in this, and this can be an adventure for the entire family to bond and get closer and take part in a bigger mission. Also that many kids may not see underneath the ocean, they'll just see the surface and they don't realize there's a whole other world underneath the water. We think about trees on the land, and we are taught to plant trees. And under the water, there's a forest of seaweed and coral a variety of sea life. So the awareness hopefully builds empathy.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

The most difficult part of writing this book was making a more complex scientific process friendly for our littlest little ones, and to also frame something that can be sad with the things happening on our planet and show that there are actually solutions, so that we don't lose hope for the future.

 For illustrating the book, at first I was thinking the dogs would need snorkels and oxygen tanks, but because it's a children's book I took a little artistic license and pretended the pups were able to breathe underwater. I wanted to include animals that were both land animals and sea animals to transition the pups into the water. We chose playful mudskippers and puppy-like baby seal that could play on the land and ocean with the pups. The baby seal was shy so the mother nudged the baby other to meet Ulu. Iki was acting a little shy too, hanging back behind the surfboard. The Coral reef needed to be highlighted since they are dying off due to global warming. So we created a queen ending with a celebration ala Esther Williams water ballet.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

One of our big marketing plans for the book, from the beginning, was partnering with a larger organization to help with the marketing for every book sold of Iki and the Ocean Protectors, we are planting one square foot of Sea Trees. And having an established relationship with this organization definitely made things easier. And we are really excited to be able to have this book be a way that the organization can get even more donations and be supported by a new group of people, because we are mentioning them directly, and because we're donating with every book, we're going to be included on their website and in their holiday guide that is sent out to their email list, which is much larger than ours. We're also publishing it on Amazon and sharing on our social media so that more people can be reached. You can find it here: https://shop.thedirtyalchemy.com/collections/iki-and-his-mighty-friends

What's next for you?

We plan on continuing our Iki and his Mighty friends. There's talk of Maui land mammals. Or a kid’s cookbook. Since the character Ulu is named after an Ulu tree, which we plant here on Maui, produces breadfruit. There are many Hawaiin culture breadfruit recipes.

And if luck will have it, our little dogs will have puppies, and then there'll be a whole new cast of characters.

More about the book . . .

When pollution threatens the sea, it’s time for Iki and his friends to step up and protect their ocean home!

Iki the curious little dog, his friend Ulu, and regenerative farmer Eddy embark on an underwater adventure. As they explore the magical world of sea creatures, from playful pufferfish to gentle whales, they discover a big problem: pollution is harming their ocean friends!

With the help of Milo Tree, Naupaka Shrub, and Vetiver Grass—strong and heroic plants called "SeaTrees"—Iki and his friends learn how to protect the ocean. From planting SeaTrees to making eco-friendly choices on land, they show us that even small actions can make a big difference.

Through this beautifully illustrated story, children will discover the magic of the ocean and how they can help keep it safe and healthy for all its inhabitants. Join Iki and his mighty friends as they become Ocean Protectors!

Dive into a magical underwater world where tiny actions make a big difference.

This book supports SeaTrees, a program of Sustainable Surf, that helps protect and restore coastal ecosystems. SeaTrees works with communities to plant mangroves, restore kelp forests, and more, helping reverse climate change by protecting our oceans. Learn more about the power of SeaTrees, visit their website: https://seatrees.org/

For every book purchased, 1 square foot of SeaTrees will be planted, helping restore these critical ecosystems and safeguard the ocean for future generations.

Publisher: Dirty Alchemy Inc

More about the author and illustrator . . .

Martha Johnston is an artist, graphic designer, and dog enthusiast. Inspired by her dog-grandchild, Iki, and their Maui farm, she created the Iki series to share the wonders of nature with young readers. Martha lives in Michigan with her husband and three dogs. You can find her at www.MarthaJohnstonArt.com.

Samantha Garcia is an author, digital marketer, and certified permaculture design specialist. She co-founded the non-profit Regenerative Education Centers with her husband, Eddy Garcia, in 2015. They live on their Maui farm with 2 dogs (Iki and Ulu), cat, sheep, peacocks, and a vibrant ecosystem of plants and animals.

Martha Johnston Instagram: @marthajohnstonart

Samantha Garcia Instagram: @thedirty alchemy