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Our Earth

How Kids Are Saving the Planet
32p. 978-1-89718-784-5.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4—6—If there is to be any hope of saving what is left of the Earth's natural beauty and resources, it will be as a result of the next generation's awareness and activism. In the profiles included here, young people from around the globe have seen a problem and worked to bring about a solution. From creating overhead migrating routes for monkeys in Costa Rica to cleaning beaches and planting billions of trees, they have shown the way through both idealistic and concrete actions. Each spread includes a painted portrait, a photograph, and a quote from the featured individual as well as a short description of the environmental problem tackled. These youngsters have had some remarkable successes, but some follow-up to their stories would have provided interest as to the final result of their efforts. Many of them would now be adults, and readers may wonder what they have made of their lives and if their commitment to environmental activism has been sustained. Readers may also want to know how the families, teachers, and mentors of these young activists aided their efforts. The stories included here may be inspirational to young readers and could be used as a basis for class discussion and class action.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY
This book profiles kids who have created organizations dedicated to helping the environment, such as twelve-year-old Adeline, working to save coral reefs in Indonesia. Though the author's description of the children as "Rainbow Warriors" and her saccharine art threaten to derail the project into "We Are the World" sappiness, the stories and photos of the young activists are truly inspiring.

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