Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt mon...
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reviews
Dec 08, 2011
Sara
rated it: 
1. Genre: Junior Book/Informational
2. Summary: Follow scientist Curt Ebbesmeyer along on his exciting adventures tracking bath toys, sneakers, and other trash as it travels across the globe thanks to the movement of the ocean currents.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the use of graphics, photographs, and captions to further explain and demonstrate the content of the book.
b. Of these, the most effective aspect of the book is More...
2. Summary: Follow scientist Curt Ebbesmeyer along on his exciting adventures tracking bath toys, sneakers, and other trash as it travels across the globe thanks to the movement of the ocean currents.
3. Critique:
a. One of the greatest strengths of this book is the use of graphics, photographs, and captions to further explain and demonstrate the content of the book.
b. Of these, the most effective aspect of the book is More...
Dec 09, 2011
Amy
rated it:
1) Genre: Information
2) Summary: This book takes the reader on scientist, Curt Ebbesmeyer’s journey as he observes various pollution (i.e. shoes, trash) in oceans.
3) Critique:
a) Without a doubt, the actual photographs are the strongest aspect of the book.
b) It is easy enough to tell a child that scientists conduct research, in science labs but this book shows a scientist actually out in the field finding research. These photographs make science appear more real and excit More...
2) Summary: This book takes the reader on scientist, Curt Ebbesmeyer’s journey as he observes various pollution (i.e. shoes, trash) in oceans.
3) Critique:
a) Without a doubt, the actual photographs are the strongest aspect of the book.
b) It is easy enough to tell a child that scientists conduct research, in science labs but this book shows a scientist actually out in the field finding research. These photographs make science appear more real and excit More...
Dec 09, 2011
Johnny
rated it: 
Title: Tracking Trash, Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion
Author: Loree Griffin Burns
Genre: Informational
Summary: Provides an awareness of amount of plastic garbage in our oceans, its origins, effects and possible solutions.
A.The content of this story is addressed in this critique
B.The issue of the pollution of the ocean with plastic and other trash is presented in an understandable story-like manner that will not overwhelm young read More...
Author: Loree Griffin Burns
Genre: Informational
Summary: Provides an awareness of amount of plastic garbage in our oceans, its origins, effects and possible solutions.
A.The content of this story is addressed in this critique
B.The issue of the pollution of the ocean with plastic and other trash is presented in an understandable story-like manner that will not overwhelm young read More...
Oct 17, 2011
Tuck
rated it:
nice kid's version of 2 adult titles that i really enjoyed, "Moby-duck" 
and "Flotsametrics" 
and one i haven't read, yet, "Washed up" 
i would guess this is for learners age 10-14. has good text, lots of color pics and maps. all about ocean currents, human garbage that floats (plastics and nets mostly) and where it floats to (up, down, side to side etc), how that affects nature and what a person can do about it (stop using plastic for a start, go to t More...
and "Flotsametrics" and one i haven't read, yet, "Washed up"
i would guess this is for learners age 10-14. has good text, lots of color pics and maps. all about ocean currents, human garbage that floats (plastics and nets mostly) and where it floats to (up, down, side to side etc), how that affects nature and what a person can do about it (stop using plastic for a start, go to t More...
Nov 16, 2010
Becca
rated it: 
Personally, I did not really like Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. Judging by the cover and title, I thought it was going to be a lot more about going green, recycling, pollution, and trash, rather than ocean currents and understanding patterns of the ocean. The book begins with an Oceanographer, Dr. Ebbesmeyer tracking the patterns of man made items through the ocean. Ebbesmeyer follows things that have fallen off of cargo ships that are traveling through the o
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Nov 16, 2010
Lauren
rated it: 
I really enjoyed Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion. I have personally always been interested in learning about our environment and what we can do to help save it, and am currently taking environmental ethics here at St. Ambrose. Throughout this class we have discussed ocean pollution, but mainly as it relates to oil spills. I really like how Loree Griffin Burns wrote this book on a different type of ocean pollution; things we have lost at sea, such as bath toys and
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Nov 23, 2008
Samantha
rated it:
CIP:Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt monitors the watery fate of human-made cargo that has spilled into the ocean. The information he collects is much more than casual news; it is important scientific data. And with careful analysis, Curt, along with a community of scientists, friends, and beachcombers alike, is using his data to understand and protect our ocean. In engaging text and un
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May 01, 2009
Mitchell
rated it:
I read this for a book club at the Junior High I taught at. It was a fabulous example of the narrative of science. Science isn't just a collection of facts and answers it is a rich story of people and events and changes. This book illustrates that beautifully, by telling the story of the Giant Garbage Patch. A place in the ocean where much of the pollution collects due to the prevailing ocean currents
The book details the stories of the people involved in discovering this and pote More...
The book details the stories of the people involved in discovering this and pote More...
Feb 05, 2012
Janice
rated it:
Really liked this one. More for the fourth through sixth grade. Breaks down how what happens to the things that get dumped in the ocean. Begins with a scientist tracking where several new sneakers that washed up on the coast came from. Shows how you can track these things based on current, etc. Explains longitude and latitude. Plus has the scientist track cute bathtub toys, and who doesn't like rubber duckies. (well, maybe not wandering around in the ocean)
This one is for the bu More...
This one is for the bu More...
Apr 28, 2010
Whitney
rated it:
As far as nonfiction science books go, this is a good one. It shows that science is not always lame and some people can make a big difference in the world when they study it. My favorite part is that this book is broken up into page long segments so if a youth is bored with a part, it is easy to skip to the next one. It is filled with a lot of information so I would suggest it for an older audience. Not a lot of kids would get excited about learning about trash but I did so I'm sure there ar
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May 08, 2008
Laura
rated it:
A fascinating story that follows the work of oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who studies ocean currents and the patterns of floating debris in the ocean. The science behind the book is explained clearly and made accessible, and is punctuated with photographs and informational insets. Each chapter begins with an engaging anecdote or case study which the author then connects to the scientific experiments and principles that relate to it. Without being preachy, it will inspire readers to be mo
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Apr 02, 2008
Abby
rated it:
Tracking Trash is about ocean currents, yes. But the cool thing is how these particular oceanographers study ocean currents. For Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer, his studies started with a sneaker. Well, a case of sneakers. A case of sneakers that fell off a ship during a storm and began washing up on beaches from Alaska to northern California. What currents brought those shoes to rest on shore? What paths did they take? Why did some of them go north and some go south?
By studying the effects of More...
By studying the effects of More...
May 18, 2009
Jan
rated it:
This was a really great book. It was only short - 60 pages - but very informative. Designed as a juvenile book, but it wasn't too simplistic. The story of a researcher who tracks the contents of containers that fall off ships in the ocean, tells you a lot about how plastics are damaging the oceans.
I recommend this one to everyone - I'm going to have my kids read it too.
I recommend this one to everyone - I'm going to have my kids read it too.
May 03, 2010
Mel
rated it:
I just received Tracking Trash and am very impressed. I it is brilliant, colorful, and informative. There is a great balance of text to images and the index will be helpful to students working on reports. I am going to look at Loree's other books now to add to my library.
_____
thank you first reads! I am really excited to add this to my classroom library.
_____
thank you first reads! I am really excited to add this to my classroom library.
Sep 18, 2009
Scott
rated it:
A great look at what people are doing to the ocean with plastic. This is definitely a book I am going to share with my daughters. It really is chilling to witness the distance the trash will float on ocean currents. This is a great book to have as a resource in the classroom.
Feb 05, 2009
Samantha
rated it:
I thought this was going to be mostly about trash, but it's really about ocean currents and how they affect us. Yes, there is talk of what happens to our trash, and I think the Eastern Garbage Patch is the most disgusting thing I've heard of.
Sep 03, 2009
Sara
rated it:
The best kind of science book---fresh, fact-filled, surprising, and focused on what scientists actually DO, and why they're having so much fun while they're at it. All in non-cutesy prose as clear as a a pristine bay. Highly recommended.
Nov 14, 2008
Kate
rated it:
TRACKING TRASH by Loree Griffin Burns is a trip to a different world -- our oceans. The author won a well-earned Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for this work of non-fiction that's as transporting as any novel. My kids - 5 and 10 - were entranced as I read out loud about huge cargo spills of sneakers and bath toys, where the items washed up on beaches all over the world, and what it taught scientists about ocean currents. They were horrified -- and so was I -- by stories of "ghost nets"
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May 10, 2011
Susan
rated it:
Very interesting read. Would be good for enrichment along with a unit on oceans, currents, ecology, etc. or just for fun. Tracks rubber ducks, Nikes, etc. that have gone overboard from container ships.
Feb 10, 2009
Meredith
rated it:
Another great book in the Scientists in the Field series. This book teaches timely lessons about the environment. Perfect for anyone who wonders about going green or recycling.
Nov 24, 2008
Jennifer
rated it:
This title comes directly off of the 2007 VOYA Nonfiction Honor List. It is a fascinating read about what we all need to do to protect our marine environment and why. It follows the path of our trash and shows readers exactly why we should all take responsibility for our home, our planet, our Earth.
I really liked the structure of this book. It offers real scientific information but in a structure that is engaging while being informative and it is in a “who-done-it?” form. I thi More...
I really liked the structure of this book. It offers real scientific information but in a structure that is engaging while being informative and it is in a “who-done-it?” form. I thi More...
Mar 27, 2010
Jez
rated it:
Engaging narrative, fascinating to expereince what actual science looks like "in the field." Part of the Scientists in the Field series.
Nov 17, 2011
Molly
rated it:
Interesting topic, especially given the fact that there is a huge pile of trash in the ocean now from the japanese tsunami.
Mar 07, 2011
Liz
rated it:
Found this hardback at Goodwill. Even though it's over 10 years old, it's still very interesting, and full of photos.
Nov 30, 2008
Beth
rated it:
You probably heard about the cargo spill of the plastic bath toys and how this scientist was using the information from beach combers to figure out ocean currents. This is a great book explaining the science behind tracking trash and also about some other dangers of trash in the oceans.
Nov 16, 2009
Rochelle
rated it:
One of my questions is that the "tracking trash" project really only seemed to help with the discrepancy between the actual and the predicted (by OSCURS) arrival dates that were based upon factors like air temperature and wind speed. It seemed like OSCURS was rather complete without the tracking the sneakers.
Mar 20, 2008
Heather
rated it:
I'll admit to not being very good at recycling or even thinking I can make a difference but this book is so sad it makes me want to try harder. The amount of plastic polluting our oceans is astounding and there are hundreds of thousands of pounds of abandonded nets scattered throughout our seas killing marine life and destroying coral reefs, it makes me so, so sad. Its a great book for kids to learn about the importance of ocean currents and how scientists can use them to help protect the ocean
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