Greta Green
Builds A Submarine
by Sue Fliess
illustrated by David Elmo Cooper
Two Lions
ISBN-10: 16625510052
ISBN-13: 978-16625510052
Coming March in 2026
Coming March 2026!
"Energetic rhymes describe a youth pursuing dreams of ocean exploration in this buoying story from Fliess and Cooper...With mottled coloring, action-packed animation-style scenes underscore the text’s themes by presenting Greta with alternating expressions of awe and determination as she navigates an ocean teeming with aquatic creatures and found resources. Back matter includes notes about female pioneers of the sea. Ages up to 7."
"Enthusiastic engineering steers a young environmentalist to a sea success. Greta loves to dive into the ocean—and into projects. While picking up trash along the shore with her sidekicks—a pompom-beanie–wearing parrot and a crab in a conch—she’s inspired to build a one-person submarine from her recycling finds...She returns to a “Save the Ocean” celebration with a small crowd of shore supporters. Greta is so moved by her experience that she says, “It’s difficult to find the words,” but Fliess seems to have had no difficulty hitting upon the right ones, conveyed in rhythmical rhyming quatrains. Cooper’s bright, saturated, and slightly stylized illustrations depict a brown-skinned, curly-haired, bespectacled youngster, both determined and joyful. The book’s final pages introduce four real women who contributed meaningfully to oceanography and offers information on subs and shipwrecks.
Sure to empower young scientists entranced by the sea. (Picture book. 3-7) ~Kirkus Reviews
reviews:
about:
Meet Greta Green: pint-size pioneer of the sea!
Greta Green adores the ocean and spends her time cleaning the shoreline with her trusty bird and hermit crab. She can only dream of diving below the surface to discover the wonders hidden beneath…until the day that Greta gets a big idea: She and her pals will build their own submarine!
And that’s exactly what they do. But the underwater world brings both hidden treasures and dangers. What will Greta and her crew discover along their journey? And can they find a way to continue helping with ocean conservation?
With cheerful rhyming text and whimsical artwork, this is a story about dreaming big, protecting our oceans, and staying true to your heart. The book includes information on submersibles and submarines, famous shipwrecks, and real-life female pioneers of the sea.








