Lila and the Mermaids Fight Rising Seas
A curious girl sails to an underwater kingdom to help the mermaids calm the rising sea.
From “Rising Sea Levels Across Africa” · ages 6–10
Ayana and the Rescue of Seashell Bay
Ayana and Granny Zuri use dunes, fences and seagrass to keep the cheeky sea away.
Read the story
Deep in a magical land of grassy plains and bright green forests, there was a village by the sea called Seashell Bay. The villagers had a secret. They only whispered about it when the moon was high and the stars twinkled. The sea was getting cheekier every day. It sneaked closer to their homes while everyone was asleep. Each morning, the water tiptoed a little closer to their doors. It giggled, as if it was playing hide-and-seek.
In Seashell Bay lived a curious young girl named Ayana. Her heart was as big as the endless plains, and her eyes sparkled like the sea. Ayana loved exploring the beach. She collected shells that whispered stories of faraway lands, and she loved diving into the waves and feeling the salty sea all around her.
One day, as she walked along the shore, Ayana noticed something strange. Out at sea, there were huge, scary waves. The beach used to be wide, but now it looked smaller. The sea was creeping closer to the village.
Ayana was worried. She ran to Granny Zuri, the village elder, who knew all the secrets of the land. "Granny Zuri, the sea is creeping up on us! What can we do?" cried Ayana, her eyes wide. Granny Zuri smiled kindly, and her face crinkled like the pages of a well-loved book. "Ah, my dear Ayana, the sea is being a bit too nosy. But don't be afraid. We have a plan."
Granny Zuri explained how they would all work together, and she drew pictures to show them. Her words were as calming as the gentle wind blowing across the grassy plains.
They would plant dune grasses at the top of the beach. The grasses would grow into fluffy sand dunes that would tickle the wind and catch the sand it blows around.
Sand fences would stand tall like guards. They would help the sand settle and pile up into strong dunes. "To keep the sea away, we will build our homes further back from the water," Granny Zuri said. "It's like drawing a line in the sand. Our homes will have room to breathe, and the sea can't come too close."
But that was not all. Granny Zuri told them about the magic of the underwater world. "We will plant seagrass under the water. The wise seagrass holds the sand and mud in place, like holding hands with the land. It stops the shore from washing away, and gives it a big, strong hug."
Ayana's eyes shone. She was ready to work hard. She got her friends to help, and soon the whole village was as busy as bees. The children planted dune grasses. The grasses slowed down the wind, so the sand stayed in place.
Divers from the village planted seagrass under the sea. The seagrass slowed down the water, so the sand and mud could settle on the seabed. This made the water clearer, and stopped the sea from washing the shore away. Seagrass is also a safe home for sea creatures. And it helps our planet, because it stores carbon in the mud, so it does not go into the air and make the Earth warmer.
All the villagers helped to build the fences. The fences slowed down the wind and caught the blowing sand, so it piled up into little dunes. Over time, the dunes would grow bigger and help to stop floods.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The dunes grew tall and proud, whispering secrets to the wind. Under the waves, the seagrass swayed gently, doing a magical dance that charmed the sea.
The sea saw how hard the villagers had worked. It stopped its cheeky game and slowly moved back. Seashell Bay was a safe place again! Ayana and the villagers cheered. Their hearts felt as light as sea foam, because they had saved their beloved home. The end!
Words to learn
- Carbon
- Something found in all living things. Too much of it in the air as a gas makes the Earth warmer.
- Divers
- People who swim under the water, often with special breathing equipment.
- Dune grass
- Tough grass that grows on sand dunes. Its roots hold the sand in place.
- Dunes
- Hills of sand made by the wind. On a beach they act like a wall against the sea.
- Elder
- An older, wise person who is respected in the community.
- Floods
- When lots of water covers land that is usually dry.
- Plains
- Large, flat areas of land, often covered in grass.
- Sand fences
- Fences on the beach that slow the wind, so blown sand piles up into dunes.
- Seagrass
- Grass-like plants that grow under the sea. They hold the sand and mud on the seabed.
What would you do?
Ayana's village kept the cheeky sea away with dunes, fences and seagrass. If your beach was getting smaller, what would you do?
- Plant dune grasses to hold the sand Just like the children of Seashell Bay! Grass roots keep the sand where it belongs.
- Build sand fences so the dunes grow bigger Clever! Fences slow the wind, and the sand piles up into strong dunes.
- Plant seagrass under the sea Like the village divers! Seagrass holds the seabed and is a home for sea creatures.
- Build new homes further back from the sea Very wise, just like Granny Zuri said! Giving the sea some space keeps homes safe.
More stories from this book
Amani and Nia Defend Africa's Shores
A brother and sister bring their whole village together to hold back the sea.