Pollution

The Wump World
$8.95
Rereading this as an adult I am flabbergasted at how deep this book was for kids but I remember adoring it as a child. I shows how horrendously selfish humans can be but has such a message of hope as well. If you have a child that thinks deeply and loves looking at little furry creatures this could be a wonderful book for them. I bought it again several years ago for my shelf fearful that it may go out of print some day...I can't wait to read it to my nephews when they are old enough.

Air Pollution (True Books: Environment)
$6.95
Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers.

The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) (First Time Books(R))
$3.99
In this particular story, the Bear family tackles the subject of the environment, including littering, pollution, ecology, conservation and recycling.

Father Bear reads an article by Professor Actual Factual in the local newspaper, warning that Bear Country is in serious trouble because of pollution. Papa Bear responds "piffle". After all, he tells the cubs, look how beautiful it is outside our door!

Brother Bear points out that the beautiful colors of the sunset they're seeing is actually a result of harmful chemicals.

"Piffle", Father Bear again replies.

Brother Bear must do a report on endangered species, but the library books aren't much help. He decides to visit Prof. Actual Factual at the museum. While all looked well outside the Bear family stoop, other parts of Bear Country weren't so lovely: a fish is caught in a plastic soda can holder, Grizzly Gus--the local mechanic--dumps oil in the stream (causing the deaths of fish), and black smoke poured out of the chimney's at the old box factory.

The siblings ask Prof. Factual to come speak at their school. Inspired by the Professor's talk about the environment, the kids brainstorm ideas for recycling and cleaning up pollution--finally deciding to create the Earthsavers Club.

This is a great book for Earth Day or for teaching children about the consequences of pollution and using resources without replacing them. (For example, Papa Bear cuts down trees--but doesn't replace them by planting new ones.) He eventually joins the community environmental bandwagon--but only AFTER a bad dream. (This isn't the first time that a bad dream is the sole catalyst for change in a Berenstain Bear book: The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster is yet another example.

So Papa Bear doesn't get reformed by considering the ramifications of his actions--only because he has a dream that trees are chasing him!

Personally, I'd have liked to see Papa Bear change his mind because he realizes the error of his ways--not because he's being pressured to kowtow to popular opinion or, worse, just because he had a bad dream!

Still, it's an excellent book about personal responsibility and exercising stewardship over this beautiful earth by protecting its resources and advocating change wherever you're at.

Pollution: Problems & Solutions
$12.95
Even though the Naturescope series is recommended for grade K-8 I feel as a high school science teacher that all the lessons in this book are adaptable for the older grades. The information and activities in this book are excellent. Any teacher in or out of science could use this book in their classroom. The lessons are very descriptive and well planned, as well as encourage the students with higher order questions and activities. I have and will continue to use this book in my classroom.