Make a Splash!: A Kid's Guide to Protecting Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands

by Cathryn Berger Kaye, Philippe Cousteau

This elementary-level counterpart to the award-winning Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands teaches elementary kids about the earth's water crisis and empowers them to do something about it. Filled with facts about our waters, their inhabitants, and the threats they face, Make a Splash! presents inspiring stories of kids in action and practical tips for making a difference. In fun and age-appropriate language, kids are introduced to the ideas behind service learning--a rapidly growing teaching strategy that combines academic learning and community service. Kids interested in nature and the environment will enjoy Make a Splash! Service learning groups, youth groups, science teachers, and teachers of conservation and environmentalism units will find it a valuable resource. The back matter includes a book and Web resources as well as an afterword for adults, and a teacher's guide is available online.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., is an international service learning consultant and a former classroom teacher. She works with state departments of education, university faculty and students, school districts, and classroom teachers on a variety of education issues such as service learning, civic responsibility, student leadership, and respectful school communities.

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well there is an awful lot of introductory waffle here to get through before we crack on with what we should have got from the start, but when we are learning we're learning good stuff. We start with the water cycle, and then the types of waterway, and learn that so much of the fish in our diet is dependent on estuaries at some point in its life cycle. There are data to prove we can make a difference – just turning the tap off while we wash our teeth saves x amount of gallons per month.

There are issues here that don't just relate to the excessive preamble. It's plain daft the way one case study is split over the introductions to not two but five chapters. All the figures here about the earth's population have been retained from the first time this was published, and are long out of date. But that age adds positive things – just because we haven't actually had an oil spoil of international renown since "Deepwater Horizon" doesn't mean we shouldn't learn about them. And there is a strong attempt to get this converted into a book for our surroundings – by us, what's more. Yes, we have to track the water cycle in our watershed, from our suppliers, and to engage with our local journalists and local politicians as we advocate for safer, better water. This turns into quite the political, guide-to-campaigning instructional, which are transferable skills of course but not exclusively related to water.

All told, a positive book that's on the messy side, with old data, and a focus that takes us away from the water to the boardroom and political lobby and beyond. Permanently interesting to look at with decent illustrations, and broken down into snappy sections as often as possible, this might be a great fillup to the person who wants to be water-savvy. But it might equally frustrate the reader who doesn't get what they expected from this. Three and a bit stars.

[elstaffe]

I thought this book presented information on how to get involved in water-related activism really well; the switching between telling an overarcing story to giving more specific detail on different aspects of how you can get involved to asking the reader to actively reflect was engaging.

The only thing that confused me about this is how kids would come across this book. It doesn't seem like the kind of thing kids would seek out at the library for reading for pleasure (although that assumption might be biased by my own experience), and I also can't imagine getting recommended this by another kid. I guess it would be the kind of thing a teacher would assign readings from or have everyone in a classroom get involved with? (I know this isn't super relevant to a review of the book, but it kept running through my mind as I was reading it—I'm not the target audience for this book, but who is?)


Disclaimer: I received this for free as part of Goodreads' First Reads giveaway program.

[Piwi Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make A Splash (Free Sprit Publishing RRP $13.95)

We had the opportunity to review a digital copy of 'Make a splash' by Cathryn Berger Kaye and Phillippe Cousteau (Environmental advocate and grandson of the one and only Jacques-Yves Cousteau). It is a guide for kids about how to protect the Oceans, lakes and wetlands. The suggested reading level is Grade 3+ but it appealed to DD7 who is all about animals. It begins by introducing us to the concept of 'service learning'. This involves extending learning with community service projects. Personally I though this was awesome. We have read books about the environment before and after learning about the animals and ecosystems DD often asks what we can do to help. This book explains about helping before you find out what needs to be done. I definitely think it would make an excellent resource to most libraries -at home or otherwise.


Disclaimer:I received a digital copy of Make a Splash, in exchange for an honest review to be submitted to Free Spirit Publishing via Netgalley.Com. I will not receive any monetary compensation from Netgalley.com nor Free Spirit publishing.

This review was originally posted on my blog http://piwiprincess.blogspot.com/2013...

[Stacie Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Make a Splash, in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.Com. The book was wrote by Cathryn Berger Kaye and Phillippe Cousteau. The book was published by Free Spirit Publishing. The book discussed the importance of water conservation, water usage, and water protection. The book also provided water facts and terms. The book was easy to read. The book also discussed how water affects the body and the planet. Finally, the book discussed the water cycle and the drinking water cycle

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a colorful and concise introduction to the topic of water pollution and conservation. It clearly explains the importance of water, the issues that impact our water supply, and provides practical steps that kids can take to conserve water.

[Ratforcekids]

You stated that you would like to expand your reading and read books about science. This new book is about our oceans and rivers and how kids can help protect this essential natural resource. It has great short stories about what some kids are doing right now and what you can do to help, too.

[Clare]

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[Tressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the illustration in this book!! I actually gave this to my niece who LOVED IT!