Ducks Overboard!: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans

by Markus Motum

Discover the pollution crisis in our oceans through the eyes of one lost plastic duck in this engaging and stylish picture book.

When a shipping container filled with thousands of plastic ducks spilled into the Pacific Ocean, where did all those ducks go? Based on a true story, this innovative take on the plastic pollution crisis follows one duck as it travels on ocean currents to meet sea life and discovers the rubbish from humans that endangers our oceans. A highly accessible and stylish picture book with a positive message about environmental issues, from the author-illustrator of Curiosity, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Environment, Childrens, Juvenile, History

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2021

About the author

Markus Motum studied illustration at the University for the Creative Arts in England, where he rediscovered his love of picture books. Curiosity is his first book for children. Markus Motum lives in Brighton, England.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ducks Overboard! was an adorable book that details the true events that led to 28,000 rubber ducks ending up in the Pacific ocean.

In 1992, a shipping container holding 28,000 rubber ducks and assorted bath toys fell into the Pacific Ocean during a storm. When the container broke open, it spilled those 28,000 ducks into the ocean leading them on a journey around the globe. Following a single duck, this book spans the world detailing environmental issues along the way.

I once read an article that talked about these ducks ending up in the ocean after a shipping container was lost and I was fascinated by the story. When I saw this picture book detailing that incident, I immediately picked it up. Told by following the journey of one duck, this book presents the events in a child friendly way. The illustrations are well done with a lot of use of bright colors. The ducks themselves are quite adorable and I actually felt bad for the duck we followed after it spent most of its' journey alone. As we follow the duck, we see the impacts plastics and other garbage have on the ocean. At the end of the book, the author includes a map showing where some of these ducks have popped up over the years. It was interesting to see how far they traveled in some cases.

Overall Ducks Overboard! was a cute book detailing real events in a fun, child-friendly way.

[Michelle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ducks, Overboard: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans by Markus Motum was found on Dr. Quiroa’s Wakelet on the USBBY 2022 Outstanding International Books List. This is the book I chose to read for grades K-5 and the author is located in the UK. I read this book in a digital format. In addition to the stunning illustrations in this book, this colorful picture book teaches young readers about water pollution in our oceans around the world. The author takes a known object, a rubber duck, and tells a story from the duck’s perspective. The duck tells his story about how he was created in a factory, then loaded onto a ship. The duck, along with many others, fell off the ship during transportation, and shares his experience in the deep, vast ocean. The duck shares a story about a whale swallowing a plastic bag, and how a sea turtle struggled to swim out of a net. The duck’s journey ends when he is washed up onto a beach shore, along with a lot of other trash, and recycled by family to be used for play in a bathtub. My favorite quote comes from page 22 and states “For miles, all I could see was trash: toothbrushes, bottles, cups, shows, and more.” Overall, this story sends a powerful message that even the smallest items have an impact on our earth. The book reminds us to take a closer at everyday objects and how their creation and disposal affects our environment. This book would be beneficial in pairing with a science unit on the environment or pollution so students can listen to a book and see visuals of what trash in our oceans looks like. This book definitely meets the criteria of international literature described in chapter 6 of our textbook. One of the criteria is that the words and pictures have a similar meaning in other countries than the audience the book was originally written for. Because the ocean is a universal part of our world's geography, it is relatable to everyone!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a nonfiction book that reads like a story, you’ve found it! Narrated by a rubber ducky, this picture book by Markus Motum, Ducks Overboard!: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans, explains how 28,000 ducks ended up in the middle of the ocean. The reader adventures along with the ducks in unknown territory as they encounter sea creatures and garbage. Viewing it from the duck’s perspective reinforces how animals are endangered by plastics in their environment, eating them or becoming entangled.

A world map clearly explains how the ducks traveled on ocean currents to various destinations. Our duck, however, becomes stuck in the swirling Great Pacific Garbage Patch—a mass of trash about twice the size of Texas—until, finally, freed. Though this duck’s story has a happy ending, much is learned in the process that gives us cause to think about how our everyday choices are hurting our planet.

Back matter includes “Lost at Sea” (about other missing shipping containers) and “Ocean Currents” (explaining ocean movement and gyres). “Plastic Facts” and “How You Can Help” reminds us that 40 percent of plastic is single-use and, because most cannot be recycled, those items break down into smaller and smaller pieces causing far-reaching damage. I appreciate how this book handles such a dire topic in a manner that feels as lightweight as your bathtub ducky.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book talks about a shipping container filled with plastic toys like ducks that was lost in the Pacific Ocean in 1992. Those ducks have been found around the world. This book talks about what the ducks may have seen or been through on their journeys. There is a main narrative that weaves the story with smaller additional sentences that give additional facts on various spreads. Through this story you will learn about ocean currents, where plastic is found in the ocean and the impact that it is having on our wildlife. At the time of publication there are still more than 2,000 plastic ducks out at sea. The title ends with discussions of what the reader can do to help the planet and save our world from the plastic that we throw out. The illustrations in this book are colorful collage and mixed media. They go from being highly detailed to vast depending on the topic of the spread. This is a beautiful way to share nonfiction materials with younger readers. I would utilize this book with elementary students and use it as a conversation starter about plastics, the environment, and ways to keep our world safe. I would recommend this book for purchase. This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Markus Motum begins this story with a view of plastics themselves, why so much? It's useful for toys, medicine, tech, and food storage. He immediately returns to 1992 when thousands of plastic ducks were loaded into a container, then a ship, on its way to the US. Disaster strikes, this specific container sweeps overboard, thus one of those little ducks tells what happened next. The duck explains tides and waves, with small print extra facts also 'waving' along in the journey. Scientists tracked these ducks for years and they have been found all over the world. Within the story, there is a map showing the way currents work through and around the continents, plastic bag use and dangers shown, along with the sad statistics of the 'great garbage patch'. With few words and extraordinary information added by the illustrations, the book can be a support for those studying the environmental concerns and impact of plastic in our oceans. It's informative and an important addition for young readers.

Not-so-fun fact: "More plastic has been produced since 2004 than during the whole of the twentieth century."
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is about a single container that fell off a cargo ship and the contents, plastic animals, spread with ocean currents all around the world. The duck telling the story is saved by a man who is collecting plastic from a beach in his community. Throughout the main story of the ducks and other plastic toys, there are facts throughout that are about issues with non recyclable or single use plastics. The illustrations are adorable and interesting as the subject is a bath toy that is known by many, especially if they watched Sesame Street in the 70's, like me. I do wish there was backmatter giving information to the readers that will directly connect them to environmental protection programs and ways kids could help in their own communities.

I see this as a first purchase for all schools with Green Teams or working toward Green or Emerald status in their community. I would like to say every library selecting for elementary school students should have this book in their collection, but I know most libraries, especially school libraries, are underfunded. I definetely will add this book to my two school collections!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of what happened when a cargo ship container from China that was carrying 28,000 yellow plastic ducks intended to be sold and provide bath time fun for children here in the US emptied into the Pacific Ocean. Just what happened to all those plastic ducks? This is one little yellow plastic duck's story and what he encountered while traveling his ocean journey. The story shows the grave situation that garbage, fishing nets, plastics and other debris has caused to endanger marine life. The ducks lost at sea is only part of the story the journey but, the book itself with its moving illustrations and seriousness of our environmental crisis. Hopefully, our youngest generation will see the importance of doing something and encourage them to ask adults to join the campaign to become a change agent.

The book has fabulous illustrations, lots of facts about plastics and how children can help. This is definitely a good conversation starter for educators and parents alike. I loved that we also learn where some of the places other ducks from the cargo container were spotted. A great addition to libraries and personal collections.

[John Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intriguing and fun picture book about what happened when a shipping container loaded with thousands of plastic ducks and other plastic toys fell overboard off a container ship crossing the Pacific Ocean in 1992. It is at heart, a humorous story of one such duck (it is told from his point of view) who traversed throughout the ocean and found himself washed ashore and eventually recovered during a beach clean-up - ironically he ends up as a bath toy. However it is an awesome environmental story about plastics and pollution. There are sidebar notes throughout with facts about oceans and currents and how plastic is manufactured and in best scenarios recycled. As an Earth Day read aloud, this book will be well-received by all ages; of course there is no need to keep it solely for Earth Day as it can be any day of the year.

[Yuki (Le’a) Fujisawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ducks overboard… I thought it is something fun and cute book and I was interested with reading this book from cute illustration. this book has lots of reality/true story from what you discover from the book cover. Sometimes, I honk it is hard to tell what is actually going on with your point of view. But this book tells about what is going on with the things you might have seen at everywhere (about rubbish) with casual ways. But this isn’t something heavy when you read them. I think this book is one of the greatest material to tell/show your children what is good for nature or what will happen to our lancet. and it is one of the great way to save our planet and creatures we have in this world

[Ami Schroder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrative Nonfiction: Ducks Overboard: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans by Markus Motem.

This book is inspired by the true story of what happened when a shipping container of 28,000 rubber duckies got knocked overboard and into the ocean. Through this nonfiction story our youngest readers will learn from one rubber duck about how plastic travels around the world in the ocean and what can be done to help. Included is a great map that shows how the ducks (and plastics) ended up all over the world. At the back of the book it tells young readers what is being done to help. This book has great kid appeal and teachers/librarians will enjoy sharing it with them!

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plastic bath toy duck’s journey is followed from being manufactured and shipped from China, to a spillage in the ocean, to being carried away by ocean currents for many years, until it finds land. Book makes reader aware of the pollution hazards of single use plastic in the ocean. Larger text for reading aloud is accompanied by smaller text for more info on the topic. Would be really good to use this book in conjunction with David Wiesner’s book Flotsam. (Especially as “flotsam” is defined in this nonfiction book. )

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

No real story, but rather a narration (based on a true story) from the point of view of a rubber duckie who falls off a cargo truck on its way from China to the US. Basically, this lets the reader know, on a very broad scale, what happens to plastic and trash in the ocean and how harmful it can be to marine life. It's "light", though, because it's aimed at kids, no real detail of the horror that can result from humans screwing up the oceans. There's a spread in back of the book with suggestions and ways people can help.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topics of ocean currents and the plastic pollution plaguing our oceans are cleverly revealed in this true story of a shipping container filled with 28,000 plastic ducks that spilled into the Pacific Ocean as narrated by one of the adrift toys. A compelling odyssey and an alarming message engagingly presented. End matter includes a map documenting the widely scattered journey of the real-life plastic ducks, showing where they have been foundfacts about ocean currents, information about the dangers of plastic waste, and practical advice for hoow people of all ages can help the environment.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember the shipping container of bath toys that were lost at sea in the early 90s? Eve Bunting wrote a picture book from the perspective of a rubber duck based on that event. This book tells the tale of the same incident with the added context of ocean and plastic pollution as the duck's journey takes him through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and past animals in danger. A great title to start a conversation with young kids about these important topics!

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a duck made at a factory in China as it is boxed and loaded in a container and loaded on a ship. The container breaks when it falls off the ship and the duck (and other plastic toys) float out through the vast ocean. This great non-fiction book shows how important it is to clean up our planet. The simple and vibrant illustrations bring the story to life as the duck travels along. Recommended for children ages 5 - 10 years old.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the "great rubber duck spill" of 1992 has been fascinating us for decades, but this book takes a fresh perspective by writing from the point-of-view of one toy duck adrift in the Pacific. It educates about the seriousness of plastic in our oceans without being too scary or dark for the intended audience. It also points the way to those who are helping, and things we can do to ourselves. This is an engaging book that would make a great classroom resource.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative nonfiction book is told by a plastic duck, who in 1992, fell from a spilled shipping container into the pacific ocean. Based on actual events, the book teaches about single-use plastics, ocean currents, and water pollution is this interesting and entertaining tale.
Tie-in with celebration of Earth Day, conservation, and ocean life.
ELA: compare with 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle, and Ducky by Eve Bunting.
Highly recommended for all elementary readers.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A plastic duck is packed away in a shipping container with thousands more just like it. On the trip across the ocean, the container breaks open during a storm, and the ducks spill out. As they drift away, the duck narrates the sights it sees, including a heap of trash in the middle of the ocean that is twice the size of Texas.

This is a great book for inspiring environmental awareness among children.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A plastic duck takes us on an adventurous ride across the oceans. A wonderful way to teach the little ones that garbage doesn't vanish by throwing. It stays around us, even if we can't see it. The duck is lost at sea accidentally in this story, so there isn't much we can do about this duck. But there is a lot we can do in the other areas. The garbage doesn't vanish, one day, the sea and the planet will throw it back at us.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the tale of a rubber duck in the ocean after the famous container ship lost thousands of them in a storm. It pairs the fictitious tale with factual information about plastics, ocean currents, and how plastic damages our environment.
It was informative without being preachy or patronising, which is a hard combination to find these days.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Motum uses the real incident when a container of rubber ducks fell of a cargo ship. Readers see one duck's journey across the ocean as well as where the other ducks traveled. Informative text also shares about plastic in the oceans. The illustrations are realistic. Further information on plastics is provided at the end of the book.

[Amanda Howsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this book can be brought into a science lesson, and possibly a social studies lesson. The narrative is from the perspective of the rubber duck. I think kids would enjoy learning from this book about how rubber ducks can be made, and this book also provides a realistic look at how plastic can impact the ocean. I think 1st-5th would be a good age for this book.

[Kacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.
Basic tale is good and keeps kids' attention. The additional facts could be better associated with the story and worked into the book.
Good launching point for talking about reducing plastic use and protecting our oceans. Also for talking about scientific research process and ocean currents!

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your friendly, every day, rubber ducky falls out of his shipping container en route from China to USA. He tells the many things, most notably the amount of plastic trash in the oceans. Energetic illustrations and plastic facts accompany his narrative. Back matter includes more information and tips to help reduce plastic use. Add this to your earth day units.

[Brenda Kahn]

Remember when Eve Bunting wrote that cute picture book about a container of rubber toys that fell overboard? Who knew then about the plastic pollution in our waterways? This updated version provides young readers with the facts about the dangers of plastic pollution in our oceans.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice book about ocean pollution, it follows a yellow plastic duck that is swept up in the ocean when its boat crashes. it finally washes up on a beach and is taken home to take a bath with a little boy. facts in the back

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It makes me sad when recycle companies won't help us out. Hopefully more companies will use less plastic in the future to slow the problem down as well.

I hope there are sea otters and dolphins somewhere out there playing with the rubber duckies that haven't made it to land yet.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST informative picture books I have ever read. If you want anyone (child or adult) to have a better understanding of why our single-use throw-away plastic society is detrimental to our oceans, show them this book.

[Alek Pasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fun, cute, and educational. It's non fiction but it follows the story of the duck along as if it were fiction. It teaches kids about plastic ducks being dumped into our oceans and I find it to be a great read for a younger audience.

[Brianna Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for student to learn more about plastic and what it does to the environment. The main character is a rubber duck who has ended up in the middle of the ocean. The map provides a clear journey in which over 28,000 rubber ducks took. Highly recommend for young readers!