Hi I'm August! My pronouns are they/them. 

Welcome to our book! I hope you enjoy it. 

Hi I'm August's dad! My pronouns are he/him.

Here is how to read the book: If there are multiple speech bubbles on a page, follow along with the numbers to read them in the correct order!

August and their dad live in Santa Barbara, California and they go surfing everyday. Today they are going surfing at their favorite beach, Goleta State Beach. 

Hey Dad, do you have the surf boards and everything we need?

After August grabs the reef safe sunscreen, they get into the car and start their drive to the beach. August is excited for their day of surfing because it's their favorite thing to do! 

Yes! Just make sure you bring the reef safe sunscreen.

August and their dad are driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, listening to their favorite artist Jack Johnson. 

August loves singing with their dad because he is always getting the words mixed up and it makes August laugh so hard! 

...make you banana pancakes, pretend like its the weekend now...

August and their dad finally get to the beach. They can't wait to start surfing. However, August can't help but notice all the trash that is covering the beach. 

Hey dad, has this trash always been here? 

August feels sad that their favorite beach is covered in so much trash, so they begin to think hard about what their dad said. What can they do to help? Who can they ask? 

I think it has gotten worse in the last few years, I don't remember there being this much last time. It's sad really, but what can you do? 

August decides that they don't want to surf until they can come up with a solution. Who do they ask about helping with all the trash at the beach? 

August disagrees with their dad, they know that they can always do something to help. 

Then, out of the corner of their eye, August sees a sea turtle. Of course! Why not ask someone who lives in the ocean and at the beach, and is most affected by the trash! 

I'll be right back dad! 

Hello! My name is August James. Are you okay? I noticed there is a lot of trash around the beach, and I was wondering if you knew what I could do to help? 

Hi August, my name is Squirt the Sea Turtle. Yes, I am okay now. I was choking on this plastic bag. I thought it was a jelly fish, but thank you for asking. There are many ways you can help!  

*cough*

Great! What do you suggest? 

August is so happy they found Squirt. They are going to listen carefully so they can share the news with their dad and even their classmates! 

1

   hello

Wow! that sounds easy enough, thank you Squirt. 

3

People can help by picking up the trash at beach when they go, and also by limiting plastic bag use. Even just ten minutes of walking around the beach and picking up trash can help limit the plastic that animals mistake for food. Additionally, use reusable bags when shopping and switch out trash bags for compostable bags! 

2

August is happy with the information they gathered from Squirt, but they think they can still do more. August sees a seal and wants to ask them what they can do too! 

Hello! My name is August James. How are you doing? I was wondering if you knew of any ways I could help clean up the beach and help animals like you! 

Hi August, my name is Sammy. I just got this plastic soda container off my neck. It was squeezing my neck so tight! I can breathe again now, but thank you for asking. 

August feels horrible that Sammy had this plastic container around their neck, especially because Sammy doesn't even drink soda. This is another way August can see that human trash is affecting animals day to day life.

Oh no! I am so sorry Sammy, please tell me how I can do better and help stop situations like this! 

People can help by cutting their plastic soda ring containers before throwing them away.
People can also try to limit their plastic use in their day to day lives, because unintentionally trash ends up in the ocean.

No one throws their trash in the ocean but yet so much trash is at the beach. Please be conscious of what you are using and think about where it will end up! 

After August leaves Sammy, they began to think about all the single use plastic they use, as well as their family. August knows they can do better. Items like reusable water bottles, reusable bags, and reusable straws are all easy changes! So is cutting the plastic soda containers before they throw them away. August is excited about making these changes and sharing this information with their friends and family. 

August is almost ready to go back to their dad to share all this information, but they want to talk to one more animal. 

Luckily, they see a pelican over on the rock and start to walk over to ask their opinion!  

Hello!