Ripple
A tiny turtle. A very big world.
A story of courage, curiosity and finding your way.
THE STORY
Every journey begins somewhere.
Beneath a star-filled sky, Ripple emerges from her nest and begins the journey every loggerhead sea turtle must make.
The beach is wide, the ocean is unfamiliar, and the world suddenly feels very big.
Along the way, Ripple meets a few unexpected friends who help her discover that courage doesn’t always mean knowing exactly what to do. Sometimes it simply means trusting yourself enough to keep going.
And step by step, Ripple begins to find her way.
We're excited to share that Ripple Finds the Sea is expected to be available in early December 2026!
Looking for Ripple's free printable activities?
MEET RIPPLE
Small shell. Big heart.
Ripple is curious, thoughtful and just brave enough to keep going—even when she isn’t completely sure what comes next.
Like many little adventurers, she has questions. She hesitates. She sometimes wishes she knew exactly where she was going.
But Ripple is learning that finding your way doesn’t require having all the answers. Sometimes you simply have to trust yourself, accept a little help along the way and take the next step.
INSPIRED BY THE REAL WORLD
A journey that happens every year.
Every nesting season, loggerhead sea turtles return to Florida’s beaches to lay their eggs. Weeks later, tiny hatchlings emerge and begin an extraordinary journey toward the sea.
Ripple’s story was inspired by that real journey—and by the coastal places and wildlife that make Southwest Florida so remarkable.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A STORY WITH PURPOSE
Inspired by nature. Giving back to it.
Sea turtles have an important role in healthy coastal and marine ecosystems, helping move nutrients between ocean and shore and supporting the balance of the habitats around them. Yet their journey is incredibly fragile—only an estimated one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood.
That reality is part of why Ripple’s story matters. At Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, teams monitor nesting beaches, protect vulnerable nests and track hatching success, building knowledge that supports the long-term conservation of sea turtles along Southwest Florida’s coast. Friends of Rookery Bay helps make that work possible by funding resources, supplies and sea turtle interns who assist with nest monitoring and protection.
For every copy of Ripple Finds the Sea sold, Drift & Wonder Books will donate $1 to Friends of Rookery Bay, supporting sea turtle research and conservation efforts along Southwest Florida's coast.
Keep Ripple's Adventure Going!
Explore free printable activities filled with coloring, playful challenges, and simple ways to help protect sea turtles and the beaches they call home.
A little courage goes a long way.
Ripple Finds the Sea is an illustrated children's picture book for ages 4–6 about a young loggerhead sea turtle discovering the courage to make her first journey to the ocean.
Inspired by the shores of Southwest Florida, this gentle story celebrates friendship, perseverance, and finding your way—even when the world feels very big.
Ages 4–6 | 32 pages | Picture book
Coming Early December 2026
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