About the Story

Sea Change is a wordless picture published April 22nd 2015. The protagonist is a 12-year-old girl and her discovery of pollution while enjoying a day at the beach––She has an aha moment and decides to pick up trash littering the beautiful beach and coastline she loves so much and create artwork out of the trash and inspire her classmates to follow her lead!

“Forgive me for the delay in writing you to express my immense gratitude in the gift of your inspirational , important, and moving stories. My favorite part was actually the anatomical drawings of the creatures of the sea. When I opened the book , my breath was taken away with the confirmation that we are all one. I keep Sea Change open to these two drawings at all times for everyone to see; and with great curiosity they continue to turn each page. Every school library should have both books on their shelves for all ages to turn a negative into a positive. Emerson defined the word success:”To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded. “You sir, have accomplished this. Thank you for making this world a better place ; I will be a mere subject always supporting your great gifts by spreading awareness, purchasing , giving, and reading your books when opportunity is before me. ”
– Donna Dixon Aykroyd

“With beautiful and sensitively drawn images, Sea Change tells the motivating pictorial narrative of one girl’s activation to save the ocean of plastic pollution. Like the book’s girl hero, this artful book will become a tool for social change, its beautiful empowering message spreading positive ripples outward to readers and their friends, until the waves of change grow and travel far. I highly recommend this book for all young people, ocean and art lovers you know.”
– Pamela Longobardi

“One of the most wonderful children’s books I have seen… There are dozens if not hundreds in my house at the moment and this one stands alone. You’ll see! Great for all ages, but my 10 year old and one year old granddaughters are going to love it. The older granddaughter can lead the little one though the vivid artwork, all the while both of them learning, albeit subtly, life enhancing values. Those who love kids, appreciate art and environment, owe Joel Harper a debt of gratitude! Another hit from the author of ALL THE WAY TO THE OCEAN.”
– Michael Bever

“The illustrations make the book! They tell the story in a beautiful and fun way! Love Erin’s style of illustration… fun, colorful… a picture says a thousand words!!! I highly recommend this book for every school and every library!”
– Barbara Young

“A refreshing delight, beautifully conceived and illustrated! Sea Change tells or shows I should say, as the story is wordless–told only by pictures, the story of a young girl who, horrified by the refuse she finds on her trip to the beach, is inspired to create art from the marine debris she collects and colates. In turn, she inspires her classmates, teacher and eventually her entire school to join the effort to clean up their beachfront. If his previous work, All the Way to the Ocean, didn’t convince you, this one certainly will: Mr. Joel Harper is a capable, passionate advocate for marine conservation. This book solidifies his place in that arena as an author and powerful force for change. The real beauty of this book is it’s ageless message made so accessible, through pictures alone, for very young readers and old.”
– J. Berryhill

“A wonderful book! My 3 year old daughter has asked to read this every night since we got it. And, I’m happy to say that she is been inspired by it as well – we’ve done several impromptu trash pick-ups in our home town now! A must for every parent who hopes to instill a sense of environmental stewardship in their child, and a fun read!”
– E. Steiner