The Boy and the Manta Ray

Leo carries his sketchbook and three sharp pencils everywhere, and his class trip to the ocean research center promises to be a day of drawing. He expects to see giant fish, but nothing prepares him for Pearl, a manta ray gliding silently past the huge window like a kite through water. Dr. Maya, a friendly scientist with a wave logo on her shirt, introduces the children to the gentle giant and answers Leo's endless questions about how Pearl eats plankton, why her fins curl, and how far she travels across the sea.

As Leo learns more, he discovers that manta rays face real dangers: fishing nets, plastic rubbish and hunters. Troubled, he decides to act in the way he knows best. With Dr. Maya's help and his own careful drawings, he begins to create a guide that will teach other children about manta rays and how to protect them. The story follows his work from first sketches to a finished booklet and shows how curiosity, observation and a little determination can turn a school trip into something that matters. Written by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL, this tale can be read on Masal İzle.