The Girl and the Sea Urchin

Mia loves the rocky shore near her home, and every morning she races to the tide pools in her yellow rain boots, canvas bucket hat and fish-print shirt. One day she finds a purple sea urchin in a shallow pool and quietly watches it, wondering what it does all day. When her teacher Mr. Hale explains that sea urchins are grazers that scrape algae off rocks and keep the tide pool healthy, Mia begins to understand that even small creatures have important jobs.

Inspired, Mia and her best friend Priya decide to build a tide pool model with their class. The children shape clay rocks, paint a blue pool, and make seaweed, crabs, snails and several sea urchins, including one they name Spike. As they work, Mr. Hale explains the role of each animal: crabs are scavengers, snails scrape algae, and seaweed makes oxygen and gives shelter. When the seaweed keeps falling off the rocks, the class solves the problem together, and on presentation day the children proudly show their families what they have learned. This tale by Çınar BİBER can be read on Masalcı Baba.