Tidal Flats Expedition is poet Kim Isak’s second book of environmental nursery rhymes after Sea Expedition. The book introduces the reader to the invaluable natural heritage that are the tidal flats and the many creatures that live in them. The first part ‘Hustle, Bustle Tidal Flats Class’, introduces creatures that live at the bottom of the sea such as rockfish, grasshopper and tidal flats crab and birds such as steller's sea eagle, raven and cattle egret. 

The second section, ‘Tap, Tap, Fauna Class’ is about salt plants such as sea bells, sweetbrier and nore. By reading the poems, we learn how moon snails eat their prey, about terek sandpiper’s prey, how the roundleaf chastetree looks, etc. Every poem is accompanied by an academic explanation regarding the subject. 

Vibrant and colorful pictures made by beach sand, colored paper, and collage allow one to get familiar with different creatures inhabiting the tidal flats at a glance. The inviting pictures help the children experience the tidal flats and its creatures in the comfort of their own homes. 

One of the poems in the book is “Nordmann's Greenshank’s Letter” where the Nordmann's Greenshank bird writes a letter to a grandpa fisherman living in Sinan. On the Red List of Threatened Species, the Nordmann's Greenshank begs grandpa fisherman to leave some fish in the sea be as prey for birds, and weeps over the fast-disappearing nesting areas. In this way, the poet brings children’s attention to the destruction of nature and its dangers by tailoring it to their tastes. Having read the poems and formed a bond with the creatures in it, children become aware of the importance of preserving tidal flats. 

Tidal flats: packed with nutrition and home to different creatures. The poet hopes that the children become friends with the Tidal flats creatures by reading this book, and work to protect the natural treasure that tidal flats are and conserve environment.

In July 2021, Seocheon Tidal flats, Gochang Tidal flats, Shinan Tidal flats and Boseong-Suncheon Tidal flats were named as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Korea after Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes. This collection of poems relays information and knowledge about these tidal flats.

Korean tidal flats are one of the three major tidal flats in the world. It took more than ten years for these precious tidal flats to be officially recognized as natural world heritage. We must treat tidal flats as precious in order to protect and preserve them. 

Through his poetry, Kim Isak captures the essence of why tidal flats were recognized as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and introduces creatures inhabiting these tidal flats in a manner familiar to children and helps them understand the importance of preserving these. _GyeongsangIlbo