"Time Traveler Kreta" is a science-fiction children's book that tells the effects of our consumption habits on the climate crisis to children aged 8 and above, through the adventures of two alien friends, Kreta and Shiva. While the text is based on the climate crisis, topics such as sustainability, how the world works, time and space, exploration, scientific and technological progress are also covered. The adventurous Earth journey of Kreta and Shiva progresses in a fictional reality that emerges with the narration of scientific data about the climate crisis and ends with proposals for solutions.
Kreta, an inquisitive and excited time traveller, want to embark on every adventure without thinking about the end and thus become an experienced time traveller. Once Kreta gains enough experience, they will find their profession and acquire new skills. On the other hand, their friend Shiva is a mature, somewhat lazy, poet alien cat who tries to rein in Kreta in every adventure.
Kreta and Shiva travel to the planet Earth to meet humans, but they encounter strange creatures that are not human-like: dinosaurs! Yes, they find the Earth, but they are at the wrong time to meet people. They don't get along well with the dinosaurs and leave Earth, but Kreta is determined to find humans. When they try their luck once again, this time, they go to the 2070s of the world. Despite technological progress, they encounter a dark and hot planet where oxygen and water are scarce. In the world of the 2070s, among robots and other strange creatures, they finally find a human being: Omer. What they learn from Omer, an engineer specializing in climate research, surprises Kreta and Shiva. In the 2070s, the world is struggling with the effects of a big problem called climate change, and this problem cannot be solved. In the light of this information, a brand new task comes before
Kreta and Shiva. This mission is to go back to the 2010s, the deadline when the climate crisis can be averted, and deliver a video message to the people.
When Kreta and Shiva reach the world of the 2010s, they accidentally land in the middle of Omer's birthday party. Their aim is to deliver the video message to Omer, but during the party, they fail to do so, and they start following Omer. Both at the birthday party and while they follow Omer, Kreta and Shiva witness the culture of waste in the World of the 2010s: huge vehicles designed for people's tiny bodies, aeroplanes, plastic packaging used to present gifts, decorations, single-use plastic serving plates and glasses and vast amounts of waste food... Kreta and Shiva understand why they have been teleported to this date when problems of the 2070s could have been prevented.
Kreta and Shiva eventually find Omer in an enormous hotel where his Youtuber mother is visiting for a launching event. They have funny moments when they introduce themselves to Omer. Yet, they manage to deliver the video to Omer and tell him about the problems that will happen in the future. However, when he watched the video, Omer realizes that the problem cannot be solved immediately. He thinks that he cannot persuade other people, either alone or as a child; he cannot change their consumption habits. He tries to ask his mother for her support, but he can't make his mother, who is always busy, listen to him. Kreta and Shiva decide to stay a little longer and help Omer, and they achieve their goals in the launching meeting of Omer's mother. They manage to show the video to thousands of people. The fact that most of the viewers are children is a great advantage because they understand the climate change problem best. Children do not remain silent to the call of the message and take action for the Earths future.
The book's pedagogical structure and the scientific data on which it is based were established with experts in these fields. The reading of scientific data was done by the engineer members of the Sustainability Steps Association. The reading in the pedagogical context was carried out by PCG Teachers.
The video mentioned in the story is embedded in the book via QR code and can be watched with English subtitles on Youtube.
