Follow the Moon: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles

In a gently empowering story about grassroots activism and facing problems head-on, environmentalist Cousteau and author Hopkinson (Knit Your Bit) introduce Viv, a shy girl who gets to know her new South Carolina schoolmates and environment though a class assignment. Viv and her peers are asked to find a problem facing the community, make a plan to fix it, and take action. After finding a dead baby sea turtle on the beach, Viv learns that turtle hatchlings instinctively follow the moonlight to the water, and the bright lights from beachfront vacation homes can lead them inland. Viv takes the lead on the project, calling it "Lights Out for Loggerheads," canvassing residents and requesting that they shut off outside lights and close curtains after dark. The operation is successful, and the children watch the turtles "scurrying, scurrying over the sand and into the shimmering sea." So's (Otters Love to Play) airy watercolor, pencil, and ink artwork creates a distinctive sense of place, bringing the essence of breezy, coastal evenings to the pages. Ages 5%E2%80%938. Authors' agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: Sally Heflin, Heflinreps. (Apr.)