Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Underwater, friendship, conservation, artefacts, dishonesty.
Children’s book title: Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing.
Children’s author: Martin Stewart.
Children’s illustrator: Santy Gutierrez.
Genre: Children’s Fiction.
Published by: Zephyr.
ISBN: 9781035913855.
Recommended for children aged: 8+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback June 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: Reading alongside classwork concerning the importance of marine and coastal conservation.
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Our review:
Sandy Fin’s hometown is called Portwhistle Bay – it’s where he and his mum live at the Museum of Seaside Stories, and he sleeps in a hammock! With his best friend, Lily, he is learning about ocean exploration from an expert: his late dad’s friend, Emile du Pont.
Unfortunately, the museum is struggling and, shockingly, has been bought by a conservationist called Albo Start. Sandy is absolutely determined to save the only place he has ever called home, and so, with Lily alongside him, he begins to gather evidence to prove that Start is not the man he claims to be!
Their adventure isn’t without danger, however. But Fin, with his scaly skin and ability to remain underwater for almost twenty minutes, is sure he is perfectly suited for the task ahead! Start has his own allies, eager to change Portwhistle Bay to their own advantage – but no jumped-up strangers are going to stop Sandy and Lily from protecting their home. At least, that’s what they’re hoping!
Our verdict:
Sandy Fin is the type of hero who has no doubt he can save everyone and everything! He has the ability to hold his breath for an extraordinarily long time and is just a little bit scaly! Lily, on the other hand, can’t swim and is allergic to moonlight – both of which are a bit of a hindrance on nighttime patrols with their two-person Coastal Rescue Team!
When Sandy’s home is threatened, he is immediately on the defensive. But Albo Start describes himself as a conservationist, and the three curators of the museum – Emile du Pont, along with Sandy and Lily’s mothers – are convinced he is the right man to buy them out. Obviously, he isn’t, and as Sandy and Lily investigate, they find themselves dealing with issues such as conservation, coastal management, pollution, and illegal fishing.
This is a lighthearted, fantasy-based, and easy read, with no reference to the Internet, mobile phones, or social media – all of which would have made things much easier if they were available! There is plenty of scope for future books, and the two main protagonists are written in such a way that, even with Sandy’s unexplained abilities, they are both relatable and likeable.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Sandy and Lily have a very strong friendship and rely on each other. Lily is Sandy’s wingman – what does this mean, and how does she support his various plans to save his home?
- There is no mention of social media in this story. How could the curators have used it to preserve the museum? Do you think it would have worked?
- In a cross-curricular activity with IT, design a poster to highlight fundraising events that could be arranged to save the Museum of Seaside Stories.
- The Deepitydeep Trench was a very important part of Sandy’s story. The Mariana Trench is the world’s deepest oceanic trench. What types of very special but strange creatures live there? Do the descriptions of the animals Sandy sees sound similar?
- It looks as though the museum has been saved. What type of activities could be set up to ensure it remains popular?
Many thanks to Zephyr for the review copy.
Martin Stewart is also the author of Bridget Vanderpuff and the Baked Escape, Bridget Vanderpuff and the Ghost Train, Bridget Vanderpuff and the Great Airship Robbery and Bridget Vanderpuff and the Monster Mountain Mystery.
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