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THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

Name: THE PLASTIC PROBLEM
Author: Rachel Salt
ISBN: 978-0-2281-0223-6

by Rachel Salt ; illustrated by Jackie Roche ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019

A well-paced, current look at a major global issue with high visual interest and reader appeal.

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This nonfiction book for middle graders covers everything from how plastic is made to its environmental impacts.

The “plastic problem” itself is a big, sticky one, but this well-organized and concise approach makes the topic digestible. Salt conveys a sense of urgency without bias, beginning with a simple explanation of how plastic is made—complete with a helpful chart comparing a paperclip chain to polymers—and ending with a call to action. She makes the topic accessible to young readers by including information about such topics as Lego bricks and a fascinating section that answers the question “Is there plastic in me?” Salt discusses the realities of global waste-management disparities, deftly explaining how the trash of a rich economy becomes the pollution problem of a vulnerable one. The book is visually appealing, with photographs—some quite modern and artful—alongside illustrations. Unhelpfully, however, the photographs that appear to be of actual places aren’t always labeled clearly. The sidebars are purposeful and flow nicely. A particular standout compares plastic nurdles—tiny bits of plastic shipped around the globe to be made into any number of different plastic products—and herring fish eggs, difficult to distinguish for humans and hungry birds alike. The book closes with concrete steps readers can take to make a dent in the problem.

A well-paced, current look at a major global issue with high visual interest and reader appeal. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-2281-0223-6

Page Count: 80

Publisher: Firefly

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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MUMMIES OF THE PHARAOHS

EXPLORING THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS

by Melvin Berger & Gilda Berger ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2001

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An introduction to ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings. The authors begin with how archaeologist Howard Carter found the tomb of King Tut, then move back 3,000 years to the time of Thutmosis I, who built the first tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Finally they describe the building of the tomb of a later Pharaoh, Ramses II. The backward-forward narration is not always easy to follow, and the authors attribute emotions to the Pharaohs without citation. For example, “Thutmosis III was furious [with Hatshepsut]. He was especially annoyed that she planned to be buried in KV 20, the tomb of her father.” Since both these people lived 3,500 years ago, speculation on who was furious or annoyed should be used with extreme caution. And the tangled intrigue of Egyptian royalty is not easily sorted out in so brief a work. Throughout, though, there are spectacular photographs of ancient Egyptian artifacts, monuments, tomb paintings, jewels, and death masks that will appeal to young viewers. The photographs of the exposed mummies of Ramses II, King Tut, and Seti I are compelling. More useful for the hauntingly beautiful photos than the text. (brief bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: March 1, 2001

ISBN: 0-7922-7223-4

Page Count: 64

Publisher: National Geographic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HISTORY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SCIENCES

- BOOK REVIEW
SPINNING SPIDERS
by Melvin Berger & illustrated by S.D. Schindler

- BOOK REVIEW
WHY DO VOLCANOES BLOW THEIR TOPS?
by Melvin Berger & Gilda Berger & illustrated by Higgins Bond

- BOOK REVIEW
CHIRPING CRICKETS
by Melvin Berger & illustrated by Megan Lloyd

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THE MAN-EATING TIGERS OF SUNDARBANS

by Sy Montgomery & photographed by Eleanor Briggs ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 2001

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The author of The Snake Scientist (not reviewed) takes the reader along on another adventure, this time to the Bay of Bengal, between India and Bangladesh to the Sundarbans Tiger Preserve in search of man-eating tigers. Beware, he cautions, “Your study subject might be trying to eat you!” The first-person narrative is full of helpful warnings: watch out for the estuarine crocodiles, “the most deadly crocodiles in the world” and the nine different kinds of dangerous sharks, and the poisonous sea snakes, more deadly than the cobra. Interspersed are stories of the people who live in and around the tiger preserve, information on the ecology of the mangrove swamp, myths and legends, and true life accounts of man-eating tigers. (Fortunately, these tigers don’t eat women or children.) The author is clearly on the side of the tigers as she states: “Even if you added up all the people that sick tigers were forced to eat, you wouldn’t get close to the number of tigers killed by people.” She introduces ideas as to why Sundarbans tigers eat so many people, including the theory, “When they attack people, perhaps they are trying to protect the land that they own. And maybe, as the ancient legend says, the tiger really is watching over the forest—for everyone’s benefit.” There are color photographs on every page, showing the landscape, people, and a variety of animals encountered, though glimpses of the tigers are fleeting. The author concludes with some statistics on tigers, information on organizations working to protect them, and a brief bibliography and index. The dramatic cover photo of the tiger will attract readers, and the lively prose will keep them engaged. An appealing science adventure. (Nonfiction. 9-12)