Marine Science for Kids: Exploring and Protecting Our Watery World
Foreword H i all you animal lovers Ever since I was a kiddo I felt a strong connection to ani mals and nature My journey started with fun and engag ing books about science and wildlife just like this gem you’re holding today I remember seeing the pictures and reading the stories and becoming instantly obsessed with diving in the world’s oceans Eventually my passion took me diving all over the world to places like the Florida Keys the Hawaiian Islands Thailand Africa Aus tralia’s Great Barrier and Ningaloo Reefs and all around the remote islands of Papua New Guinea diving with cuttlefish manta rays and my personal favorite whale sharks Each dive and travel experience opened a new door to the secrets of how humans and animals depend on each other for survival The more I studied the ocean the more I saw how everything is con nected Whether you are a biologist photographer farmer fisherman Stephanie Arne host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Courtesy of Mutual of Omaha
Foreword or kid from South Dakota like me your daily actions or creations can positively or negatively impact the health of all living things on the planet Today I get to share my knowledge and experiences with the world by hosting Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom an online video series about wildlife and conservation By reading Marine Science for Kids you are starting your very own journey I hope this book sparks a new passion in your heart and inspires you to use your specific talents and skills to help make our planet a healthier happier place for generations to come Your friend Stephanie Arne Host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Founder of the Creative Animal Foundation v
Authors On my 29th birthday I was free-diving near a coral reef off the coast of Kauai an island in the Pacific Ocean Suddenly I noticed a sea turtle gliding toward me I tugged on my hus band’s leg to get his attention Josh turned just in time to snap a couple of pictures as I swam alongside the graceful turtle It was an unex pected moment that became one of my favorite birthday memories Some people say we know more about the moon than we know about our very own oceans If you’ve ever wanted to be an explorer or an adventurer then this is good news There’s so much left to explore right here on Earth If you’re a fan of cool cute or creepy creatures then here’s some more good news some of the coolest cutest and creepiest creatures live just offshore in Earth’s oceans and other watery places Sea turtles and other marine life deserve our appreciation In some cases they also need our help I help by writing about science and conservation and educating the public about the issues facing our vi
Authors Notes natural world How about you How will you use your talents to make the world a better place As you read this book we hope you will have some fun discovering just how much you have to offer Happy exploring Bethanie Hestermann coauthor of Zoology for Kids and Marine Science for Kids For as long as I can remember I have tried to surround myself with water Growing up in Arizona I loved the way the desert smelled after it rained I loved swimming in my backyard pool and I loved visiting the beaches in California I even ended up marry ing a swimmer In college I began researching sea lions on a tiny island off the coast of Mexico During those trips it was just me my fellow researchers a
