Meet Oshus and Shelly

Thanks to funding from the Mills Corporation and Baltimore Gas Electric, and sponsorship by the Severn River Association (SRA), two fictional oyster siblings, who learn their role in reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, are being introduced to Maryland students.

The oysters are the main characters in "Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay," a whimsical tale that teaches children basic facts about oyster recovery.

Written by Jennifer Keats Curtis, a Marylander for more than 20 years, the book has become part of the SRA's Oyster Recovery Program for kindergartners through 5th graders, and includes the following components:

• Illustrated Children's Story, "Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay"
• Lesson Plan
• Author and Volunteers who Visit Schools to Teach Children about Oyster Recovery in the Bay and its Tributaries
• Business Partnerships
• Funding of Additional Oyster Recovery Initiatives through a Portion of the Book's Proceeds (the SRA receives $3 from each book sold)

The book was written to get children excited about an important topic that is often perceived as boring-oyster recovery. Ms. Curtis developed likable characters to teach the very young that oysters are important to the Bay and its tributaries. Though the book and lesson plan are self-contained and can be taught by teachers and parents, the author often takes the books, along with her Taylor float and "live characters"-oysters, mud crabs, and other critters-into area classrooms to teach children that they are not too young to help save the Bay.

In October, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education's Language Arts Materials of Instruction Review awarded the book its top rating of "highly recommended" and approved it as supplementary text for 2nd-5th graders since it complements the curriculum in so many diverse ways. For Science, the book was approved in the media category for 2nd and 4th graders.

Ms. Curtis hopes that "Oshus and Shelly Save the Bay" will be the first in a series of "Chesapeake Bay curriculum" books for elementary school children. Each fictional tale will bring a local species to life and help young children understand important ecological issues and what they can do to help. Her next book will be about Maryland terrapins.

The book is available in a select number of stores and through the author. For more information, please visit the website, www.oysterbook.com, send an e-mail to the author at jcurtis@toad.net, or call (410) 626-8904.

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/msgsnn/msgsnn02_3/oysters_curtis.html