What if one of the most important guardians of our waterways was small enough to fit in the palm of your hand?
Meet Marty, a freshwater mussel with an important job.
Tucked into the riverbed, Marty spends his days quietly filtering water and helping keep his ecosystem clean. It’s not the kind of work that usually gets attention, but it’s essential. Healthy rivers depend on creatures like Marty doing their part behind the scenes.
But something isn’t quite right.
A “green problem”, eutrophication, begins to change Marty’s home, affecting the water he depends on. Through his story, young readers get a closer look at what’s happening beneath the surface and why it matters.
Turning Science into a Story Kids Can Follow
Explaining environmental issues to children isn’t always easy. Concepts like water quality and nutrient pollution can feel abstract at first.
Marty the Mussel makes those ideas more approachable by introducing them through a relatable character. Marty becomes a guide, helping readers understand what a healthy river looks like and what can happen when that balance is disrupted. Instead of presenting facts in isolation, the story encourages curiosity and invites kids to think about the environment around them.
This book, written by Ashley Ruiz, is a great fit for children interested in wildlife, science, and the natural world. It works well at home or in the classroom when introducing topics like ecosystems, conservation, and environmental responsibility.
To support learning, the book includes a glossary of key terms and a reading comprehension section to reinforce understanding and encourage critical thinking.
Stories Like This Matter
Freshwater ecosystems often go unnoticed, yet they play a critical role in our daily lives. By showing how even a small organism can make a big difference, Marty the Mussel offers a simple but meaningful takeaway: healthy environments depend on many parts working together.
Marty the Mussel offers an engaging way to introduce young readers to environmental science while building awareness of the natural world. You can find it at the UF/IFAS Bookstore.
Reading age: 8 to 14 years old, Number of pages: 41 pages, Language: English, Dimensions: 8.25 x 0.1 x 8.25 inches, Publication date: September 29, 2025
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