The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide for Kids

One word in the title of this book may raise eyebrows: who knew seaweed has superpowers? If you’ve visited the seashore on either the Pacific or Atlantic coasts, you’ve seen seaweed, maybe picked it up to feel the texture, and you’ll remember the smell of any decaying plants. If you thought, ‘It’s just seaweed’, you will be amazed and intrigued by what you are about to learn from a professional seaweed harvester.

The “Introduction” shares the author’s discovery of her passion for seaweed and prepares the reader for some of its superlative qualities, e.g. kelp in underwater forests can grow longer than a blue whale while other seaweeds are so tiny they are hard to see. The chapter, “What is Seaweed?” gives facts about appearance, locations (with graphic to show what grows at different levels of tidal zones) and roles. Seaweeds are full of vitamins and minerals, produce up to 80% of the planet’s oxygen and absorb one-third of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. The section on seaweed as a healthy food is comprehensive; you’ll understand why some call it ‘sea vegetables’ and why adding it to compost or garden soil is extremely beneficial. Not hard to be passionate about these watery weeds!

What can you do with seaweed? The chapter on harvesting has a focus on safety and sustainability (a key concept stressed repeatedly throughout the book). You’ll learn the tools needed, how to avoid poisonous seaweeds, how to preserve it, and ways to give back to the sea in exchange for removing any seaweed—ideas to help protect the plants for the animals that use it, and for future harvesting. The next section deals with three groups of seaweed: brown, red and green. For each group, a description is followed by specific details on various kinds of seaweed. For example, there’s a list of neat facts about Bull Kelp, a brown seaweed, and a recipe for seasoning to use on popcorn. Other brown seaweeds make healthy additives to soup or can be used to make tea. Among red seaweeds, nori and dulse make popular snacks….toasted or dried until crispy. Another called Turkish Towel can be used...well, like a towel. Green seaweeds include sea lettuce (delicious in salad), and sea grapes (like caviar).

The last chapter describes how vital a kelp forest is to marine animals for food and habitat, right from the bottom to just under the canopy created by leafy blades of the plant. And some even live on top ‘islands’ as the blades float, held up by the gas-filled bulbs. It is a life-sustaining ecosystem, mostly growing out of our sight.

Interspersed in the chapters you’ll find stories of the author’s experiences with sea creatures while she dove to harvest seaweed—an encounter with a giant Pacific octopus, watching river otters feasting on fish caught among the seaweed, eyeing a bear rummaging for a meal in the rotting seaweed on the beach, and enjoying the mermaid-like feeling of swimming among so many kinds of marine life while using snorkel or scuba gear. These anecdotes add a fun personal perspective to the content, and validate the expertise found throughout the text.

Take time to study the many, great captioned photos of the various seaweeds and settings and of young people engaged in observation and harvesting activities. Clever icons indicate which oceans seaweeds are found in and which activities can be done at home. Six pages of “Glossary” help with new science terms, and an “Index” will guide readers to specific items.

Loaded with fascinating facts, The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide for Kids uses accessible language and well-spaced text that is easy to read. It makes entertaining reading as well as being an excellent reference guide. Once you realize the superpowers of seaweed—and its value to both humans and animals—you’ll enjoy your next trip to the seashore on a whole new level.