Lumi Reef is a graphic novel about three underwater friends—Lula, Pip, and Kiko who come together to share the importance of marine conservation, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship for children of all ages. The book is written and illustrated by ocean wildlife photographer and videographer, Aaron Lit, further ensuring the project’s educational quality.
The world’s oceans are home to the largest amount of life on the planet. Sadly, climate change and overfishing have depleted 90 percent of the ocean’s big fish population and damaged 50 percent of its coral reefs. Scientists agree that overconsumption remains the biggest threat to ocean biodiversity. This fact is not just limited to overfishing, but also to how marine debris, such as plastic litter, harms the ocean’s ecosystems. Hence, Lumi Reef is a crucial tool to educate young children, future leaders and movers on how to care for the world’s oceans. This is why Lumi Reef by Aaron Lit is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life Below Water.
Lumi Reef follows the tale of two underwater kingdoms that clash due to their very different approach in coexisting with their environment. On one end is the titular metropolis of Lumi Reed, a peaceful land filled with sentient ocean species, namely the Sea Angels, who study science and medicine; the Squids, who are agriculturists; and the Crabs, who are builders and engineers. On the other end, in a reef faraway, lived the Wyrms of Quartzkeep. These ocean dwellers are belligerent and technologically advanced; they have taken so much from their environment to the point that it now lies on the brink of collapse.
Hence, the tale told in Lumi Reef mimics reality. Both Quartzkeep and Lumi Reef are two potential futures for today’s environmental conditions, where it is still not too late to make concrete changes for the better. This setting in Lumi Reef is brought to life by its array of adorable characters, who are based on real sea creatures. Take, for example, Lula the Pink Sea Angel, a Clione limacina (Sea Angel), who are free-swimming pelagic slugs often found in the Arctic Ocean. Or its antagonist Tipli, whose character is inspired by the Bobbit Worm (Eunice aphroditois), a fearsome predatory worm that lives in the sand bed.
Through Lumi Reef, Aaron Lit combines vibrant storytelling with stunning illustrations to create an engaging graphic novel that teaches children the importance of marine conservation. The adventures of Lula, Pip, and Kiko, highlight the critical issues our oceans are facing, such as climate change and overfishing. Hence, by contrasting the sustainable practices of Lumi Reef with the habits of Quartzkeep, the graphic novel offers its young readers a powerful message about the consequences of unchecked human activity on marine ecosystems, calling for them to do better.
Find out more about Lumi Reef comics and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @lumi_reef or check their website at www.lumireef.com.