An Iowa State University professor has teamed up with the Nahant Marsh Educational Center for a comic that helps bring the lessons of the marsh to young readers across the state.

“Captain and Blue: A Story of Wetland Wonders” stars Captain, a Blanding’s turtle who’s been displaced from home. Blue, a great blue heron, helps lead Captain to Nahant Marsh. During the journey, readers learn about the wetlands and the environment’s many plants and animals.

Katherine Richardson Bruna, an ISU education professor, worked with Nahant Marsh staff in a workshop to come up with the idea.

“Our team worked hard to keep the story fun and engaging to a young reader, while also packing in as many educational materials on the marsh as we could,” said Madeline Kull, a natural resource crew member at Nahant Marsh.

Nahant Marsh officials hope to use the comic in their educational programming and eventually offer printed versions to school classrooms.

“Kids can read the comic and say, ‘This looks like Davenport, and this is a real turtle,’” Richardson Bruna said. “What really excites me is that it makes the science feel close and real and possible.”

You can read “Captain and Blue” for free here.