Grades 6-10. Co-written by Jacques Cousteau’s grandson, this broad-reaching call to action introduces basic concepts about global water protection and what teens can do to help. Through stories of young people around the world, the chapters define service learning and delineate the stages of this interactive approach to education: investigation, preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration. Designed for browsing, each packed spread combines clearly explained scientific concepts with lists, diagrams, and eye-opening statistics, such as a chart that lists how much water is required to make everyday items, from a sheet of paper (2 gallons) to a cotton T-shirt (700 gallons). Despite their small size, the color photos deliver a high impact; for example, with contrasting images of a coral reef, first bursting with vibrant color, then bleached by rising ocean temperatures into an underwater ghost world. With a balance of sobering facts and inspiring accounts of communities creating real change, this welcome title will attract a broad range of student researchers, casual readers, and committed activists, who will particularly benefit from the extensive resource lists.
Gr 7 Up-Kaye organizes her informative and lively presentation about threats to Earth's waters in terms of five stages of service learning. From investigation to demonstration, she follows Oklahoma teens working to educate others about polluted Tar Creek, a Superfund site. Offering additional examples of teen actions worldwide, she urges readers to get involved. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.