The next generation will be vital in helping us mitigate the threats the ocean is facing. There's a pressing need to educate children about issues like plastic pollution, overfishing, and climate change, to foster awareness and stewardship.

I am proposing to write a chapter book (ages 6-9) about Hugo, a young beaked whale who got separated from her mother when he got scared by the noise from a military sonar. He goes on an underwater journey to the deep ocean, encountering various marine creatures and confronting real-world ocean threats, like a turtle stuck in plastic and a sperm whale hit by a ship strike. The fictional story would be integrated with educational sidebars about real-world facts, as well as a back matter with a 'What can you do' section, empowering children to help the ocean and grow up to be sustainability-conscious adults. I have a background in marine biology and journalism/science writing, so I believe I could bring this story to life in a way that is both accurate and engaging.