Families who loved Consider the Octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child expresses frustration about big world problems like climate change or pollution and feels like their voice is too small to count. This shipboard adventure follows two very different kids: Jeremy, the son of a high profile scientist, and JB, a stowaway who ends up on a research vessel by mistake. Together, they navigate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and learn that while one person cannot fix the planet, a well timed message can spark a movement. It is a perfect choice for middle grade readers who enjoy humor and lighthearted antics but are also beginning to engage with environmental ethics and social responsibility. The story balances the gravity of ocean conservation with a fast paced, funny mystery that empowers kids to find their own unique way to contribute to a cause.