Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper

Linda Thornburg, Katherine Archer

Belles Lettres, Incorporated, Sep 20, 2021 - Juvenile Fiction - 114 pages

Action adventure! Ten-year-old, eco-warrior Snorkel McCorkle is determined to fix the unfixable in her life-a manatee's missing flipper, the school bullies, the endangered environment...even her mom's disappearance at sea.

Snorkel McCorkle is a bi-racial ten-year-old with a mass of unruly curls that are always tangled in her snorkel and mask. She's been wearing them and her flippers 24/7 since she learned that her mom, a marine biologist, was lost at sea while measuring water quality off the Florida Keys three months ago.

Snorkel is the only person who believes her mom is still alive drifting in the ocean. Every night Snorkel charts how far her mom could travel that day on a map of ocean currents-up the Atlantic coast, to Newfoundland, across the Atlantic, possibly past England and Scotland to Norway. By now she could be as far as the Canary Islands.

Snorkel's best friends are Matilda the Manatee (Sea grass gives her sea gas! Yes, there's a fart song!) who's missing a flipper but has a tracking device, and Figaro the opera singing pelican, who does two shows a day at the local fishing pier.

When Snorkel's kayak is pulled out to sea in a storm, Matilda and Figaro rush to her aid. During the trio's time in open water, Snorkel learns first hand the dangers facing the creatures of the sea as they: rescue an endangered sea turtle trapped in ghost net in an island of plastic; encounter a Mama Right whale who thinks Snorkel is a whaler; and are surrounded by a pod of dolphins racing away from seismic testing. Snorkel learns just how difficult humans have made life for creatures of the oceans, and she learns how a person could survive floating on the currents.

Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper is an environmental action adventure story with music! Sing along with Snorkel and her pals with QR code links to 7 songs! Plus, QR code links to marine science web pages. Songs feature the vocals of Duffy Bishop, Chris Carlson and Katherine Archer with sax riffs by Fox Hillyer.

What people are saying

User Review -

As I look out my window in Maine I see the dull haze from the climate change fires in the west carried to the East coast on the Jet stream. I marvel at the audacity of a small girl taking on the ocean and trying to save it and our planet. Brilliantly written by Linda Thornburg to be able to see all of this through the eyes of a child. It is such an important book for kids to read who will readily identify with the heroine and her acts of kindness and her sense of duty to the planet. The format takes full advantage of our digital age allowing the child to immerse themselves in the characters, the visuals and the playful music. And if you are an adult your inner child is going to love Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper. Gwendolyn O’Guin, retired physician.  

User Review -

Snorkel McCorkle remains one of my son's all-time favorite books, mind too. He never wanted it to end. The multi-media mix of music, beautiful illustrations and wonderful storytelling captivated my 8-year old. Incredibly beautiful, magical and exciting story. We loved it! Can't wait for the next. 

About the author

Linda Rose Thornburg is an award-winning filmmaker, playwright, producer and author.

The songs of KATHERINE ARCHER take us on journeys of the human heart, honoring our connection with each other and with our precious planet. She has led children's songwriting workshops in NYC and Florida. Several songs from workshops were featured in the songbook Safety Makes Sense, commissioned by New York City's Board of Education and Young Audiences of New York.Katherine has shared the stage with Peter Yarrow, and Tom Chapin; she has also been a featured Family and Kids musician at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She performed with Pete Seeger on a leg of the Sloop Clearwater, Pumpkin Sail Tour. Since moving to St. Augustine, FL, her mission has been to bring attention to and protect Florida's environment-particularly the endangered manatee population. She has written music for film and video. Her partnership with filmmaker Traci Colson was crucial in preserving 3 Sisters Springs in Crystal River, FL. Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper combines Katherine's strength as a children's music writer with her passion for saving the planet and all the criters on it.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Snorkel McCorkle and the Lost Flipper; Volume 1 of Snorkel McCorkle Books
• Authors: Linda Thornburg, Katherine Archer
• Illustrated by: Michelle Lodge
• Publisher: Belles Lettres, Incorporated, 2021
• ISBN: 0578717913, 9780578717913
• Length: 114 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General