Earthwatch: Earthcycles And Ecosystems

Earthwatch: Earthcycles and Ecosystems

This book doesn't just tell kids to build birdfeeders and recycle, but why healthy animals and better use of resources will preserve our ecosystem. Award-winning journalist and ecologist Savan explains such vital ideas as habitat destruction, groundwater, food webs, and soil erosion. Printed on recycled paper. Illustrated.From School Library JournalGrade 3-7-- Simple activities and interesting facts are combined in this introduction to the Earth's ecosystems. Specific problems like acid rain and oil spills are discussed in terms of their harmful effects on the delicate earthcycles, which include those of water, air, and soil. Descriptions of various conditions are clear, with the seriousness of problems balanced by hopeful suggestions and possible solutions. Use of examples, statistics, and relevant facts help to clarify and enliven the conversational text. Black-and-white watercolor and pencil illustrations match the optimistic tone without trivializing the subject. Most of the activities are designed to simulate environmental problems so that readers can see firsthand how they come about; creating an oil slick and measuring the effect of smoke on plants are among the more intriguing examples. A few projects, such as building a composter, allow youngsters to take a more active : role in actually affecting the environment. Some activities, such as measuring the resources utilized by one family using marbles and sand, are too obvious and unexciting to involve most children. Despite this and an occasional grammatical error, Earthwatch effectively communicates the importance of ecosystems in terms young readers will understand. --Steven Engelfried, Pleasanton Library, CACopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.