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23rd out of 82 books
—
166 voters
Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story
The 20,000 acres of wetlands in New Jersey now known as the Meadowlands were once home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. But in the four hundred years since European explorers first arrived in the Meadowlands, people have dammed up, drained, built over, and polluted this formerly vibrant ecosystem—and all but destroyed it. Still, signs of life remain—under bri
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
March 1st 2011
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Oct 11, 2012
Jess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
3-6 grades
Recommended to Jess by:
new book at school
Shelves:
z_12,
kid-ya-nonfiction
Meadowlands: heyday to decline to destruction to its current rebirth
As someone who previously only knew the Meadowlands as the place the Jets & Giants play, probably a good thing I read this one. Turns out it's also the estuary (fancy word, book) where the Hackensack empties into Newark Bay and where Atlantic tides come in. Oh yes, a fresh & saltwater mix.
Pretty good trip. Yezerski does a good job laying out the progressively horrible effects people had on the ecosystem. From living with...more
As someone who previously only knew the Meadowlands as the place the Jets & Giants play, probably a good thing I read this one. Turns out it's also the estuary (fancy word, book) where the Hackensack empties into Newark Bay and where Atlantic tides come in. Oh yes, a fresh & saltwater mix.
Pretty good trip. Yezerski does a good job laying out the progressively horrible effects people had on the ecosystem. From living with...more
This inspiring story of how activists, government organizations, and folks like you and me helped heal New Jersey's Meadowlands, which had become a dumping ground for trash and toxic industrial waste, making it an ecological disaster. Now the area consists of industry, housing, and businesses co-existing with 8,200 acres of wetlands, waterways, and open spaces, a fact which is pretty impressive and offers hope for the Earth's future. The turn-around began in 1969 when the state put an embargo on...more
8 March 2011 MEADOWLANDS: A WETLANDS SURVIVAL STORY by Thomas F. Yezerski, Farrar Straus Giroux, March 2011, 40p.. ISBN: 978-0-375-34913-4
"Long may you run, long may you run,
Although these changes have come.
With your chrome heart shining in the sun,
Long may you run."
-- Neil Young
"But even after being dug out, filled in, run over, and dumped on, the wetlands still showed signs of life. The Hackensack River still flowed south. The tide still rose north from the Atlantic Ocean. The river and tide s...more
"Long may you run, long may you run,
Although these changes have come.
With your chrome heart shining in the sun,
Long may you run."
-- Neil Young
"But even after being dug out, filled in, run over, and dumped on, the wetlands still showed signs of life. The Hackensack River still flowed south. The tide still rose north from the Atlantic Ocean. The river and tide s...more
Yezerski, Thomas. Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2011. Print. 40 p.
Watercolor illustrations are bordered by illustrations of objects, animals, and natural items relating to the content of the information on each page. The Meadowlands of New Jersey are now polluted and swampy, but were originally wetlands were many plants and animals were found. Native Americans, and Dutch explorers once populated the area. As an area important to transportation to and...more
Watercolor illustrations are bordered by illustrations of objects, animals, and natural items relating to the content of the information on each page. The Meadowlands of New Jersey are now polluted and swampy, but were originally wetlands were many plants and animals were found. Native Americans, and Dutch explorers once populated the area. As an area important to transportation to and...more
I'm a lifelong resident of New Jersey who avoids that part of the state as if my life depended on it. Growing up not far from the hustle and bustle of the Meadowlands, I longed for the day when I would move to an area that is less congested and more abundant in nature. It is very difficult to imagine the place as a beautiful, nature filled wetland.
Fact filled overview of the history, development and natural habitat that is the Meadowlands. The author discusses the human development, but also spe...more
Fact filled overview of the history, development and natural habitat that is the Meadowlands. The author discusses the human development, but also spe...more
Dec 04, 2012
Ed
added it
Yezerski, Thomas F. (2011). Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 32 pp. ISBN 978-0-374-34913-4 (Hard Cover); $17.99.
This is an excellent book showing the degradation and then the gradual improvement of an area that is initially sacrificed in the name of progress and almost completely destroyed. It shows some of nature's resiliency yet it does not diminish the harm done to the New Jersey meadowlands by the same perpetrators who later help salvage it—the peo...more
This is an excellent book showing the degradation and then the gradual improvement of an area that is initially sacrificed in the name of progress and almost completely destroyed. It shows some of nature's resiliency yet it does not diminish the harm done to the New Jersey meadowlands by the same perpetrators who later help salvage it—the peo...more
Amazing. Since I have lived in New Jersey for my whole life, Yezerski's realistic watercolor scenes from the New Jersey Turnpike of this great wetland are very well known to me. As my family drove past the wilds of the meadowlands I always dreamed of being able to explore the area, and learn more about the animals that were able to survive there. This book is exactly what I've wanted to read.
The story is important for all of us, as it tells how 40,000 acres were covered with roads, factories, g...more
The story is important for all of us, as it tells how 40,000 acres were covered with roads, factories, g...more
"Meadowlands - A Wetlands Survival Story" traces the historical significance of the Meadowlands. From the beginning readers understand that this is a worthy topic of discussion, "From the top of the Empire State Building in New York City, you can see a flat, wet place in New Jersey." From this point, the reader is able to see how the estuary was created. Weaved throughout the book are glimpses of Native Americans, Colonial Settlers, Industrial Revolution, Landfills and a reclaiming of the land....more
Marsh birds are interesting. I think it was the artwork that caught my interest in this book. It was a well written story of an area in New Jersey called the Meadowlands--a come-back story.
The author tried to pack too much into a beginning book on wetlands, the environment, the various animals affected by the pollution and cleanup and then suddenly focuses on a little girl named Karrin who learns about the area through a field trip and will go home and tell her family to recycle more and use less power to reduce air pollution. This is a book that wants to do a wonderful thing: show kids specifically why they should conserve and recycle so they can see the connection. However, ther...more
This nonfiction picture book tells the story of the history of the wetlands that are now known as the Meadowlands in New Jersey. From hundreds of years ago, when the wetlands had 20,000 acres of marshes through to the 1800s when the land was drained and filled in with dirt to the 20th century when the industries came to surround the Meadowlands with their factories. The wetlands were used as a garbage dump, filled with waste and filth. It became a problem area in New Jersey until the state decid...more
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I really appreciated the matter-of-fact tone of the text. There were no heavy-handed moralizing over the pollution and overdevelopment, and no sanctified epiphanies about saving the earth. It actually felt more hopeful that way: We made the stupid decisions, but we can make the smart decisions, too.
I liked that all of the pictures had some indications of urban development in them (trains, electric wires, bridges, buildings) even after the conservation efforts started to show effects. This is an...more
I liked that all of the pictures had some indications of urban development in them (trains, electric wires, bridges, buildings) even after the conservation efforts started to show effects. This is an...more
Loved this exploration of a relatively local environment and its natural history--the abuse it has withstood and how it's bounced back. Kids in our area drive through the Meadowlands on their way to the sports arena, or to he Jersey shore or D.C., so it's nice to be able to give them some historical and ecological context. And that what looks like "just empty space" from the car window is really a vital and living ecosystem.
Really well done. Of special interest to those libraries in the tri-state area, especially NJ and NY. It goes beyond just local interest with its clear explanation of the importance of wetlands on the environment, - and how we can, with effort, begin to alter and repair some of the damage we have done to the environment over time.
Although it's written for young people, it taught me much about the meadowlands of New Jersey. The book was well organized and well written. I enjoyed the illustrations and the small pictures around the edges of the book. It is a unique book which made me really appreciative of my home in a rural area with a great deal of wildlife.
Though Yezerski's art is wonderful and quite memorable, especially his fine watercolor depictions of wetland animals and plants, his text, which is quite informative, never draws the reader into the world of the Meadowlands. It must do this to encourage an appreciation of this often overlooked natural marvel.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I found the borders rather distracting (am I supposed to be looking for those items in the picture?) and I didn't find the text as engaging as I hoped. Other reviews seem to really like the book, so maybe I am just missing something.
I never thought much about the place that I used to drive through to get to Connecticut, but the Meadowlands is not just where Giants Stadium is. It's a rich wetlands habitat with many species that depend on it. A fascinating look at this beautiful place.
I loved the tiny drawings in the borders of the birds, trash, insects, fish, etc. to be found in the gradually recovering wetlands, and the way Yezerski captures the details of nature against a backdrop of highways, buildings and traffic.
A beautiful book that I found in Cleveland! Especially wonderful for my NJ peeps. The tiny illustrations framing each larger picture are delightful and informative. Gratifying to know that this treasure is slowly, slowly renewing itself.
This is a story of hope. Humans came close to totally destroying the Meadowlands, but the small bit that remains is making a comeback. Gorgeous watercolors. Lots to look at in the small pictures that are in the margins.
This story in picture book format is packed with information about the natural world that coexists with the human enterprises in the area of New Jersey known as the Meadowlands. Gr. 1-4.
One of the best nonfiction books of the year - love the design and layout, but mostly love the author's ability to avoid didacticism in the narrative. Impressive.
Very cool book. Tiny illustrations around the edges of each page add a nice dimension as well as detailed information conveyed by pictures rather than by words.
Well done non-fiction that allows students to consider how they and their peers can positively impact their world and specifically their local environment.
What amazing art work! A patron at my library suggested this read and I am glad that I listened.
Very interesting story of how progress both positively and negatively affects the natural world.
This book gives society a sliver of hope that things can be done to reverse our damage to the environment.
Not a favorite, but and important book about taking care of our Earth.
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Mar 19, 2012 01:03pm