Cindy Freland’s story, Jordan the Jellyfish: A Chesapeake Bay Adventure, begins with two sisters, Alyssa and Andrea, playing on the beach at Sandy Point State Park in Maryland. They were having such fun in the sun and then Andrea was stung by a jellyfish! Jordan the Jellyfish accidentally entangled herself in Andrea’s swimsuit.
After she managed to get free, Jordan realized how far from home she was, and she needed to figure out how to get back to her home in Mayo Beach. Jordan looked for other animals to help her find her way back home. Jordan ran into Oakley the Oyster, but he was unable to help Jordan.
Along came a school of anchovies. Arthur the Anchovy introduced himself to Jordan. They had to swim quickly and hide from a striped bass. Jordan heroically distracted the bass and the anchovies got away.
A few more adventures later, Jordan found herself caught in a fisherman’s net! Somehow a little boy slipped on the pier and managed to knock the net loose and free Jordan. Later, Curtis the Crab came across Jordan and showed her how he slept in the mud.
Curtis and Jordan talked for a while; Curtis went on to explain that sea nettle stings are not dangerous, just a little bit uncomfortable and the girl on the beach would be fine. Jordan and Curtis rested on the bottom of the bay and in the morning, they said goodbye to each other.
Jordan didn’t realize it, but she was just on the other side of the beach from her home! But Jordan then noticed Curtis was caught by crabbers and she had to help her friend right away. She spotted Olivia the Osprey and managed to get her attention. Olivia flew close to the crabbers and they dropped the traps. Curtis was free but Jordan still didn’t not know how to get home.
Olivia looked around and saw that Mayo Beach was right here! Jordan’s brother, Jeremy, saw the commotion and found his sister. Jordan found her way home and made many friends along the way.
Jordan the Jellyfish was the first story in a children’s series of nine books in which animals native to the Chesapeake Bay find themselves in peculiar adventures. This book also adds tidbits of educational information throughout along with facts and ways to help the Bay.
Anyone who goes to the beach in Maryland knows that if you choose to go to the Chesapeake Bay, you may be sharing the water with jellyfish. But you may be surprised to learn that these simple creatures are important to the Bay ecosystem and related fishing activities.
Take a swim with Jordan the Jellyfish and explore what’s beyond the beach. We’ll find our way back, it’s a promise! It’s a fun story as well as providing a glimpse of the wonders of the Chesapeake Bay.
This story is intended for children 6-10 years old. This book, along with many others written by Cindy Freland, is available in paperback and hardback on Amazon, www.cbaykidsbooks.com, or by email at cindy@marylandsecretarial.com.
