ST Mary Manatee - A Tale of Sea Cow

Mary Manatee - A Tale of Sea Cow is a children's book written by Suzanne Tate and illustrated by local artist James Melvin. The book follows Mary, a gentle mother manatee weighing over a thousand pounds, and her calf, Mikey. The story describes how Mary eats floating plants with her bristly lips and uses her broad tail to swim. Mary teaches Mikey essential survival skills, such as how to surface for air and the importance of staying away from dangerous boat propellers. In a climactic moment, Mikey becomes trapped on the other side of a canal gate, but helpful humans hear Mary’s distressed squeals and open the gate to reunite them. The book is designed to promote environmental awareness and teach children about the characteristics of endangered manatees. Part of Suzanne Tate's nature series, the book combines a factual narrative with colorful illustrations to teach children about marine biology.