Tuamor the Turtle has a topical message in new children’s book

Plymouth illustrator Mark Hannon has joined forces with East Devon-based author Jo Earlam to produce a children’s book which aims to highlight the issue of ocean plastic.

Tuamor the Turtle tells the story of how a single turtle in the Pacific Ocean takes on the might of the plastic peril. He's helped by two children, Abbie and her younger brother Charlie. But is it too late for Tuamor, who dreams one day of having youngsters of his own? Or does his message in a bottle lead to a happy ending?

Jo, from Tipton St John near Sidmouth, was originally inspired to write the story as part of a marine conservation project and read it to Year 3/4 children at Bassetts Farm Primary School, Exmouth, where she is a volunteer reader.

It was their response and feedback that led her to bring Tuamor to colourful life in a 28-page book.

Mark, who lives in Mannamead, Plymouth, has provided the book’s full colour illustrations and a number of cleverly detailed black and white drawings: “Bringing Tuamor to life was great fun,” he said.

“Reading Jo’s charming and emotionally poignant storyline helped me to see into the character of a gentle Pacific turtle, who just wants a happy, simple life. Some real characters emerge from the words, and I just sketched them as I saw them.

“The pencil sketches were then redrawn, refined, and scanned into the computer for final colour treatments. It was important to keep a naturalistic, watercolour feel to the illustrations, and to retain the cartoon feel and humour of the drawings, which appeal to young children.

“Jo’s story delivers a strong environmental message in a gentle, emotional way and I think children will love it,” added Mark, who also created the popular children's character, Boris the Blob (www.boristheblob.co.uk).

Jo, a former BBC and newspaper journalist, wrote the story to highlight the topical issue of plastic pollution in a way that can be easily understood by young children, whether reading alone or with an adult. This is her first published children's book.

Jo says she’s always been interested in the natural world and our human connection to it: “I came up with the character of the turtle and the main body of the story two years ago, for a short story I wrote for the school children. He’s been sitting in my head and my computer ever since, nagging away to do something more with him.

“But I’ve been so busy on other projects that it wasn’t until this summer that I began to rewrite the story and look into how I could get it illustrated and published.

“Mark’s artwork is absolutely stunning,” she added. “He’s brought Tuamor to life in such a memorable way and his pictures helped me when it came to developing and tweaking the story. I’ve also very much enjoyed reading it with the children and watching their reaction, which again has influenced the final version of the book.”

The book really is ‘Made in Devon’ as it’s published by Plymouth-based Brilliant Autobiographies (www.brilliantautobiographies.co.uk) and printed on environmentally friendly paper by Significant Signs, Plymouth.

Part of the book’s proceeds will benefit local charitable causes and an environmental charity. Jo revealed: “I’m talking at the moment to potential beneficiaries and they have connections with the marine environment.”

Tuamor the Turtle (ISBN 978-0-9931883-1-2) has a recommended retail price of £5.99 and is on sale in Plymouth at Rockpool Trading in the House That Jack Built on the Barbican’s Southside Street.

It’s also at a number of independent Devon bookshops including Torbay Bookshop in Paignton, The Curious Otter Bookshop in Ottery St Mary and Paragon Books in Sidmouth, Honiton Toy Shop.

And the book is also available through Tuamor’s own website, www.tuamortheturtle.com

There’s more information on book signings and where to buy the book on Tuamor’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/tuamortheturtle