Oil Spill!

From Booklist
Ages 5-8. Beginning with the events and effects of the Exxon Valdez disaster, Berger introduces children to the causes of oil spills, the ecological damage they cause, and the ideas and technologies developed to deal with them. Although the text is simple and clear, it's sometimes choppy: "Chemicals make the oil less harmful. But they add poisons to the water." Does cutting the sentence in two and treating the subordinate clause like a sentence really make it easier to read? Subtle in texture and deep in tone, the colorful artwork effectively illustrates marine animals and oil tankers; there are also diagrams of cleanup operations, maps, and fanciful ideas (the "1,000 big swimming pools" that could be filled with oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez). The book ends with suggestions for preventing oil spills, from conserving energy at home to writing letters to members of Congress requesting better oil transport legislation. From the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, a good introduction to the subject. See Lauber, below, for another series title. Carolyn Phelan


Book Description
Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Berger and Mirocha focus on one of the worst spills in history—the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill—to explain in simple terms and with bold, full color illustrations why oils spills happen, how experts clean up after them, and what effect spilled oil has on ocean plants and wildlife. "A good introduction to the subject."––BL. 1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1995 (NSTA/CBC)


Card catalog description
Explains why oil spills occur and how they are cleaned up and suggests strategies for preventing them in the future.


About the Author
Melvin Berger is the author of more than 200 books for children. Among his Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science titles are Germs Make Me Sick! illustrated by Marilyn Hafner, and Chirping Crickets illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Mr Berger lives in East Hampton, New York, with his wife.


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Children who are learning to read can learn about their world with the "Lets-Read-And-Find-Out Science" series. The series is well conceived such that the developmental reading and interest level are matched. Many outstanding nonfiction writers and illustrators are contributing to the series. Stage 2 for ages five to nine handles meatier issues with more complicated ideas and vocabulary like those found in Berger's Oil Spill! Kids will get a lot of general information about oil spills, clean up and the impact on marine life, and will get specifics about one of the worst in recent history-the Exxon Valdez oil spill.


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