Mark Leiren-Young

About seventy percent of our planet is ocean, and over 250,000 species call it home. But most of the animals that live in it--from the biggest whales to the smallest plankton--are being affected by the climate crisis. In One Ocean, learn about practical ways to keep the ocean clean, the effects of the climate crisis, how to get political in your community and how small actions can have a big impact. Meet young activists and discover what inspires them, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, a singer-songwriter and actor from the Tla'amin Nation, and Finlay Pringle, who fought to stop raw sewage from being dumped in the ocean near his home in Scotland. Come away with actionable steps to take because protecting the ocean is up to us. And, since all oceans connect, there is really only one ocean for all. Praise for Mark Leiren-Young: ★"Vivid and fascinating... Budding scientists and animal lovers will keep this stellar title in full circulation as they learn the mysteries and history of octopuses."--School Library Journal, starred review for Octopus Ocean "Mark Leiren-Young is the kind of author who produces trustworthy works of nonfiction that will both entertain and educate children."-CM: Canadian Review of Materials

★"Vivid and fascinating... Budding scientists and animal lovers will keep this stellar title in full-circulation as they learn the mysteries and history of octopuses."--School Library Journal, starred review With their blue blood, big brains and eight arms, octopuses are dramatically different from any other being. Octopuses are masters of camouflage and known for their incredible escapes from tight spots. New research shows that they are highly intelligent creatures, and while they prefer to be alone, they will interact with humans and display unique personality traits. In Octopus Ocean, discover the mysteries and histories of octopuses big and small--their biology, habitat and habits--and explore the top threats to their future, including warming oceans, over-fishing and pollution. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Explore the latest science about sharks. Did you know that some sharks have friends? Or that there are sharks small enough to swim in a soup can? There are sharks who can walk on land and others who make their own light. There are ancient sharks who lived in the oceans millions of years ago, and new species who have just been discovered. Most importantly, did you know that most sharks are fighting for their survival? Sharks Forever takes a deep dive into the lives of sharks--their habitat, biology, habits and personalities. It also looks at the biggest threats to their existence, from marine pollution and overfishing to bycatch and shark-fin soup. It goes beyond the bites and shares stories about people who swim with sharks and call them friends. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

"A magnificent journey alongside orcas, bringing these beautiful creatures to life." —Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation Spirits of the Coast brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists, and storytellers, united by their enchantment with the orca. Long feared in settler cultures as "killer whales," and respected and honored by Indigenous cultures as friends, family, or benefactors, orcas are complex social beings with culture and language of their own. With contributors ranging from Briony Penn to David Suzuki, Gary Geddes and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, this collection brings together diverse voices, young and old, to explore the magic, myths, and ecology of orcas. A richly illustrated literary and visual journey through past and possibility, Spirits of the Coast illustrates how these enigmatic animals have shaped us as much as our actions have impacted them, and provokes the reader to imagine the shape of our shared future.

In Big Whales, Small World you will meet whales from around the world. This rhyming photographic board book visits the oceans of places like New Zealand, Russia and South America. Writer, filmmaker and orca activist Mark Leiren-Young introduces young readers to blue whales bigger than dinosaurs and tiny vaquitas who swim close to shores.

Orcas are found in every ocean on the planet, but can they survive their relationship with humans? Orcas Everywhere looks at how humans around the world (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) related to orcas in the past, how we relate to them now and what we can do to keep cetacean communities alive and thriving. The book deals with science, philosophy, environmentalism and ethics in a kid-friendly and accessible way. Writer, filmmaker and orca activist Mark Leiren-Young takes us back to when killer whales were considered monsters and examines how humans went from using orcas for target practice to nearly loving them to death. If you know a young person who loves Free Willy or Finding Nemo, they will fall in love with these whales.

The fascinating and heartbreaking account of the first publicly exhibited captive killer whale ? a story that forever changed the way we see orcas and sparked the movement to save themKiller whales had always been seen as bloodthirsty sea monsters. That all changed when a young killer whale was captured off the west coast of North America and displayed to the public in 1964. Moby Doll ? as the whale became known ? was an instant celebrity, drawing 20,000 visitors on the one and only day he was exhibited. He died within a few months, but his famous gentleness sparked a worldwide crusade that transformed how people understood and appreciated orcas. Because of Moby Doll, we stopped fearing ?killers” and grew to love and respect ?orcas.”

The fascinating and heartbreaking account of the first publicly exhibited captive killer whale -- a story that forever changed the way we see orcas and sparked the movement to save them Killer whales had always been seen as bloodthirsty sea monsters. That all changed when a young killer whale was captured off the west coast of North America and displayed to the public in 1964. Moby Doll -- as the whale became known -- was an instant celebrity, drawing 20,000 visitors on the one and only day he was exhibited. He died within a few months, but his famous gentleness sparked a worldwide crusade that transformed how people understood and appreciated orcas. Because of Moby Doll, we stopped fearing "killers" and grew to love and respect "orcas."

Like all great adventures, this one starts with someone trying to get a girl. After all, King Meneleaus didn't go to Troy for the baklava. Playwright, journalist, comedian and bestselling author Mark Leiren-Young recalls his teenage escapades in this hilarious memoir and coming-of-age story. A geeky bully-magnet, Mark was seventeen and wanted to be a playwright, but even more than that, he wanted to impress Sarah, the girl he'd pined for since elementary school. It's 1980 and, thanks to Doug Henning, magic is hip, so Mark hooks up with Randy, a stoner magician, and Kyle, an ambitious young actor, to chase fame--and the women of their dreams. Seeing a chance at having all of their desires come true, they risk everything to create a show they know will be like Star Wars on stage. But is getting a date worth having your head cut off?

This is a collection of true-life tall tales about a rookie reporter's adventures in Canada's still-very-wild West. The night Mark Leiren-Young drove into Williams Lake, British Columbia, in 1985 to work as a reporter for the venerable Williams Lake Tribune, he arrived on the scene of an armed robbery. And that was before things got weird. For a 21-year-old from Vancouver, a stint in the legendary Cariboo town was a trip to another world and another era. From the explosive opening, where Mark finds himself in a courtroom just a few feet away from a defendant with a bomb strapped to his chest, to the case of a plane without a pilot that crashed, "Never Shoot a Stampede Queen" is an unforgettable comic memoir of a city boy learning about -- and learning to love -- life in a cowboy town.

'Shylock' is an award-winning play about a Jewish actor who finds himself condemned by his own community for his portrayal of Shakespeare's notorious Jew.

'Articles of Faith' is a play designed to promote understanding of the controversial subject of the blessing of same-sex unions. The play is based on a series of interviews conducted by the author in a Pacific Northwest community where the issue of formal condoning and blessing of same-sex unions divided and eventually split an Anglican parish. "Intended to "spark a dialogue" regarding the Anglican Church's internal battlesover same-sex marriage, the play examines the case of a Port Alberni, BC parish that voted to "disaffiliate" from the church in 1996 in protest against its perceived openness toward blessing same-sex relationships. ... The result, if rarely dramatic or compelling, is a work that succinctly and earnestly voices a representative range of opinion on the issue." - Canadian Literature