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A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History
Recounts the history of the Nashua River in New England, from its crystal clear beginnings, to its death by pollution, to its amazing recovery, in order to present one of the most remarkable environmental success stories of our time.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
September 30, 2023
A beautifully illustrated picture book depicting the history of the Nashua River.
November 11, 2012
This is a terrific book for activist kids or as a motivator to show how a very few people can make a very big difference in making the world a better place. I would have appreciated some extra material in the back with ideas for kids, with more detailed information about the clean up efforts, etc.
I absolutely adored the illustrations, both the large paintings on one side of the page and the tiny miniature paintings on the other side of the page. The two maps are also done well, and I always enjoy maps in books. The art is 5 star work for my taste.
I found the history fascinating. I never knew that the European settlers thought the forest bad luck and that’s why they cut down so many trees. But I found most of the text account just okay. The Native Americans (Indians here) shown as all good and the European settlers as all bad, probably nearly true but not quite. It was interesting to read about their differences in how they viewed nature. The Europeans saw what was there are commodities, to be used/exploited and, despite the successful clean up effort in this case, many Americans (and I’m sure many others) still seem to have that point of view.
Although there was a lot of information here, and I have interest in river clean up and in the environment, I found myself drawn to the artwork more than the account, and the part of the text account that most interested me were the first few pages, before the white settlers arrived and well before the river clean up was needed.
My edition has a Reading Rainbow sticker on it, and I’ll bet this story made a good Reading Rainbow episode.
I absolutely adored the illustrations, both the large paintings on one side of the page and the tiny miniature paintings on the other side of the page. The two maps are also done well, and I always enjoy maps in books. The art is 5 star work for my taste.
I found the history fascinating. I never knew that the European settlers thought the forest bad luck and that’s why they cut down so many trees. But I found most of the text account just okay. The Native Americans (Indians here) shown as all good and the European settlers as all bad, probably nearly true but not quite. It was interesting to read about their differences in how they viewed nature. The Europeans saw what was there are commodities, to be used/exploited and, despite the successful clean up effort in this case, many Americans (and I’m sure many others) still seem to have that point of view.
Although there was a lot of information here, and I have interest in river clean up and in the environment, I found myself drawn to the artwork more than the account, and the part of the text account that most interested me were the first few pages, before the white settlers arrived and well before the river clean up was needed.
My edition has a Reading Rainbow sticker on it, and I’ll bet this story made a good Reading Rainbow episode.
September 23, 2012
By turns beautiful, tragic and inspiring, this is the story of the Nashua River from the time the first native peoples discovered it, through European-American colonization, to the pollution of the industrial revolution and beyond, the destruction, and finally the restoration thanks to the efforts of Marion Stoddart and the Nashua River Cleanup Committee in the 1960s.
The illustrations are very nice. I appreciate how the larger picture shows the changing river conditions, while the border around the text illustrates the changing times (starting with Native American handcrafts, tools, etc. moving up through colonial farming instruments, the products of the industrial revolution, etc.) I also appreciate the positive ending, showing that with hard work and dedication we can restore natural places once destroyed. Living near the American River and knowing how it was so badly injured by the Gold Rush, I have seen the lasting effects of carelessness or ignorance, as well as the shining examples of people today working to restore the river to its former abundance and glory.
Even so, my overall reaction to the book was just lukewarm. I find Lynne Cherry's style too didactic for my taste. Still, it's a worthy addition to a study about ecology or ways to help the environment.
ETA: I agree with other reviewers that it would have been helpful if Cherry would have been great if she had explained more about how the campaign was successful, maybe included some tips for how kids can be involved in river clean ups and the like. (Locally, I have participated in the Great Sierra River Clean Up it was well attended by adults and children alike.)
The illustrations are very nice. I appreciate how the larger picture shows the changing river conditions, while the border around the text illustrates the changing times (starting with Native American handcrafts, tools, etc. moving up through colonial farming instruments, the products of the industrial revolution, etc.) I also appreciate the positive ending, showing that with hard work and dedication we can restore natural places once destroyed. Living near the American River and knowing how it was so badly injured by the Gold Rush, I have seen the lasting effects of carelessness or ignorance, as well as the shining examples of people today working to restore the river to its former abundance and glory.
Even so, my overall reaction to the book was just lukewarm. I find Lynne Cherry's style too didactic for my taste. Still, it's a worthy addition to a study about ecology or ways to help the environment.
ETA: I agree with other reviewers that it would have been helpful if Cherry would have been great if she had explained more about how the campaign was successful, maybe included some tips for how kids can be involved in river clean ups and the like. (Locally, I have participated in the Great Sierra River Clean Up it was well attended by adults and children alike.)
August 15, 2019
This story was selected as one of the books for the September 2012 - Ecosystems reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
I nominated this book because I discovered that it was about the Nashua River and discusses the area where I grew up. For my entire childhood, I lived on River Road, less than a quarter mile from the river as the crow flies. As I grew up in the 70s and 80s, I saw the river undergo quite a transformation, but even then, we would never want to eat any fish that came from that river.
This story outlines the pollution and cleanup of the river, following a timeline of the historical events that caused the changes. Despite the fact that the story does seem to be a bit preachy, I relished the opportunity to share a bit of Massachusetts history with our children. I love living in Virginia now, but sometimes I rue the fact that our girls won't identify with Massachusetts they way my husband and I do.
I loved the illustrations. The large, colorful pictures brought back a huge sense of nostalgia for me and my hubby. The area was our home for so many years and we return often to see family. The autumn colors in the trees and the picturesque towns along the river all evoke a wistful sigh of days gone by.
The only critique I have is the illegibility of some of the smaller images of town plaques. All throughout the book are small blocks, iconic images that represent the area or a period of time. I only wish that a few of them were a bit more readable, for example, these plaques on the title page:
And even this one from the middle of the book, too.
Surprisingly, I had never heard of Marion Stoddart before and neither had my husband. We both learned a bit more about the history of our town and of the Nashua River by reading this book and for that I am grateful.
Here's a picture of the Nashua River in Groton, taken by Matthew Trump on 20 Sept 2004:
And this link offers a step by step photo timeline of the reconstruction of the Pepperell covered bridge reconstruction from March 2009 to September 2010, with many shots of the Nashua River passing beneath. The next to the last photo on this webpage shows the bridge and the river and you can see the "River with the Pebbled Bottom" in all its pebbled glory.
sigh
I nominated this book because I discovered that it was about the Nashua River and discusses the area where I grew up. For my entire childhood, I lived on River Road, less than a quarter mile from the river as the crow flies. As I grew up in the 70s and 80s, I saw the river undergo quite a transformation, but even then, we would never want to eat any fish that came from that river.
This story outlines the pollution and cleanup of the river, following a timeline of the historical events that caused the changes. Despite the fact that the story does seem to be a bit preachy, I relished the opportunity to share a bit of Massachusetts history with our children. I love living in Virginia now, but sometimes I rue the fact that our girls won't identify with Massachusetts they way my husband and I do.
I loved the illustrations. The large, colorful pictures brought back a huge sense of nostalgia for me and my hubby. The area was our home for so many years and we return often to see family. The autumn colors in the trees and the picturesque towns along the river all evoke a wistful sigh of days gone by.
The only critique I have is the illegibility of some of the smaller images of town plaques. All throughout the book are small blocks, iconic images that represent the area or a period of time. I only wish that a few of them were a bit more readable, for example, these plaques on the title page:
And even this one from the middle of the book, too.
Surprisingly, I had never heard of Marion Stoddart before and neither had my husband. We both learned a bit more about the history of our town and of the Nashua River by reading this book and for that I am grateful.
Here's a picture of the Nashua River in Groton, taken by Matthew Trump on 20 Sept 2004:
And this link offers a step by step photo timeline of the reconstruction of the Pepperell covered bridge reconstruction from March 2009 to September 2010, with many shots of the Nashua River passing beneath. The next to the last photo on this webpage shows the bridge and the river and you can see the "River with the Pebbled Bottom" in all its pebbled glory.
sigh
June 16, 2019
Author/illustrator Lynne Cherry traces the history of New England's Nashua River in this engaging natural history picture-book, chronicling the many changes in human activity that have affected the health of this fluvial ecosystem. From the days in which it ran clean and clear - so clear that the pebbles on the river-bed could be seen from above, thus explaining its original native name, the Nash-a-Way, or "River With the Pebbled Bottom" - through its first harnessing (in order to power mills) during colonial times, and then its use as a dumping ground for waste during the Industrial Revolution, Cherry charts a trajectory that leads ever downward. Until, that is, the 1960s, when an activist named Marion Stoddart decided she had to do something...
Chosen as one of our September selections over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "ecosystems," A River Ran Wild is part history, part science, and all parts engaging. I appreciated the contrast drawn between the Native American way of interacting with the natural world, and the European (and then Euro-American) way - complementary versus adversarial - as I think this clarifies why environmental degradation was allowed to take hold, and to continue for so long in this country. The artwork is lovely, and I enjoyed looking at both the larger paintings on each two-page spread, and the decorative borders, with the many animals and items mentioned (or hinted at) in the narrative. All in all, an excellent picture-book examination of the the history of one river, one which offers some sobering facts, but also some inspirational figures! I think I need to learn more about Marion Stoddart...
Chosen as one of our September selections over in The Picture-Book Club to which I belong, where our theme this month is "ecosystems," A River Ran Wild is part history, part science, and all parts engaging. I appreciated the contrast drawn between the Native American way of interacting with the natural world, and the European (and then Euro-American) way - complementary versus adversarial - as I think this clarifies why environmental degradation was allowed to take hold, and to continue for so long in this country. The artwork is lovely, and I enjoyed looking at both the larger paintings on each two-page spread, and the decorative borders, with the many animals and items mentioned (or hinted at) in the narrative. All in all, an excellent picture-book examination of the the history of one river, one which offers some sobering facts, but also some inspirational figures! I think I need to learn more about Marion Stoddart...
March 5, 2017
A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry is an informative nonfiction childrens book. The book begins with a timeline of major events of the Nashua River Valley, then dives into a narrative. It begins by talking about the different creatures living in the forest where the river is. Then, it informs the reader about the native people who settled by the river. The took only what they needed from nature to survive and let everything else be. Then came the white skinned settlers. They hunted more then they needed, built dams, cut down trees and constructed houses. They began to disrespect the natives and caused war, driving the natives away. The new settlers started polluting the river with the dyes, pulp, and fiber from their factories. Eventually, all waste found its way into the river, polluting it. The creatures suffered from this and the rivers started to die. The natives had a dream that inspired them to save the river. They spoke in the town and inspired people to construct a plant for all the waste. Laws were written and eventually Nashua was healthy and alive again.
The text structure of this book is narrative because it inserts information into a story. I think the author chose to use a narrative text style because it allows the story to move along smoothly and shows the audience many elements of the event - the natives, the white-skinned settlers, the Nashua's creatures, and the river itself. Using this text style allows the writer to intertwine all this information into one book and show how they connect. For example, it shows how the natives respected the land, but the new settlers did not, causing pollution to the river and harm to the creatures. "No longer do we have a river - it's a stinking, smelly sewer. But it wasn't always this way," (p.23) shows that the river is dying from the changes of the new settlers.
The author creates a tone of disapproval throughout the book. Cherry is discontent with how the pale-skinned settlers treated the land and the natives. She informs the audience of the pollution and harm they caused to the Nashua river. Cherry's tone is displayed through her word choice. An example of this is on page 13: "The settlers worked together to clear land by cutting down the forests, which they thought was full of danger - wilderness that they would conquer." The word "thought" shows that the author doesn't agree with this perspective and that it is not something she considers a fact.
Cherry uses frames to enhance the information in the book. Each text on the page has a frame around it with many different illustrations of related items. This provides visual examples of the information in the text which enhances the reader's understanding. For example, on the third page there is many illustrations of different animals in the frames. This provides a further explanation of the kind of animals that lived near the Nashua River.
Perspective is another visual element used in the book. The author uses different perspectives to convey different contexts. On page 18, the illustration is a view from above showing the whole town near the river. The text on the page is discussing the changes in the area with new inventions. The above view of the whole town contributes to this idea of looking at the "big picture."
Overall the book is interesting and has good information about the Nashua River. I like that it made the story into a narrative because it makes it more interesting to read than just reading different facts. The book is informative and interesting.
The text structure of this book is narrative because it inserts information into a story. I think the author chose to use a narrative text style because it allows the story to move along smoothly and shows the audience many elements of the event - the natives, the white-skinned settlers, the Nashua's creatures, and the river itself. Using this text style allows the writer to intertwine all this information into one book and show how they connect. For example, it shows how the natives respected the land, but the new settlers did not, causing pollution to the river and harm to the creatures. "No longer do we have a river - it's a stinking, smelly sewer. But it wasn't always this way," (p.23) shows that the river is dying from the changes of the new settlers.
The author creates a tone of disapproval throughout the book. Cherry is discontent with how the pale-skinned settlers treated the land and the natives. She informs the audience of the pollution and harm they caused to the Nashua river. Cherry's tone is displayed through her word choice. An example of this is on page 13: "The settlers worked together to clear land by cutting down the forests, which they thought was full of danger - wilderness that they would conquer." The word "thought" shows that the author doesn't agree with this perspective and that it is not something she considers a fact.
Cherry uses frames to enhance the information in the book. Each text on the page has a frame around it with many different illustrations of related items. This provides visual examples of the information in the text which enhances the reader's understanding. For example, on the third page there is many illustrations of different animals in the frames. This provides a further explanation of the kind of animals that lived near the Nashua River.
Perspective is another visual element used in the book. The author uses different perspectives to convey different contexts. On page 18, the illustration is a view from above showing the whole town near the river. The text on the page is discussing the changes in the area with new inventions. The above view of the whole town contributes to this idea of looking at the "big picture."
Overall the book is interesting and has good information about the Nashua River. I like that it made the story into a narrative because it makes it more interesting to read than just reading different facts. The book is informative and interesting.
November 1, 2021
Nashaway River evolves from a flowing river that nourishes indigenous communities for hundreds of years. And as colonizers move into the area, the proliferation of technology and paper mills contaminates the river to such a degree that no fish can survive. The migrating birds no longer roost at the banks. The destruction has long reaching tentacles. But with activism and organizing, the paper mills are regulated, the river is no longer polluted, and restoration happens.
October 9, 2012
A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History by Lynne Cherry is the story of a successful local campaign to combat pollution due to human activity, manufacturing, and waste dumping, and to restore the beauty of the Nashua River in Massachusetts.
Cherry's illustratins are done in watercolors, colored pencils and Dr. Martin's watercolors. Pciture show the changing river conditions, including buildings, bridges, trees, roads and factories. Detailed borders show animals, tools, farm implements, manufactured goods, pollution, newspaper headlines, and recreational use of the river.
There is a timeline, an author's note and an acknowledgments page. The contrast between native American and European/Ameican land use is clearly made. Relevant environmental issues are raised.
I read this for the September 2012 Goodread's Picture Book Club. I recommend Goodreads reviewer Dolly's review, particularly for the comments, links and pictures of the river and historic plaques. Native Americans did attack many early white settlements in the colonial period, which I learned as I researched genealogy and local history in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Mentioning details from the plaques could have made this more engaging to readers in my opinion.
While this is a bit didactic in tone, and less engaging than it could have been, this is an important story, particularly the role of local people in getting environmental laws passed. I do wish there had been more details about local community involvement, and what children did or could do to help.
A River Ran Wild could be used in shcools as a literacry bridge to environmental and historical units. I rate this 3.5 stars.
For ages 6 to 9, environment, ecology, rivers, pollution, social studies, nature, science, Native Americans, land use, and fans of Lynne Cherry.
Cherry's illustratins are done in watercolors, colored pencils and Dr. Martin's watercolors. Pciture show the changing river conditions, including buildings, bridges, trees, roads and factories. Detailed borders show animals, tools, farm implements, manufactured goods, pollution, newspaper headlines, and recreational use of the river.
There is a timeline, an author's note and an acknowledgments page. The contrast between native American and European/Ameican land use is clearly made. Relevant environmental issues are raised.
I read this for the September 2012 Goodread's Picture Book Club. I recommend Goodreads reviewer Dolly's review, particularly for the comments, links and pictures of the river and historic plaques. Native Americans did attack many early white settlements in the colonial period, which I learned as I researched genealogy and local history in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Mentioning details from the plaques could have made this more engaging to readers in my opinion.
While this is a bit didactic in tone, and less engaging than it could have been, this is an important story, particularly the role of local people in getting environmental laws passed. I do wish there had been more details about local community involvement, and what children did or could do to help.
A River Ran Wild could be used in shcools as a literacry bridge to environmental and historical units. I rate this 3.5 stars.
For ages 6 to 9, environment, ecology, rivers, pollution, social studies, nature, science, Native Americans, land use, and fans of Lynne Cherry.
January 28, 2010
This was an interesting book because it demonstrated the Native American culture and the history of how they lost their land to the English settlers, while also educating how the Nashua River suffered environmentally from this. The illustrations show a Native American village and include smaller illustrations of tools the Native Americans used. This book is based on a true story and accurately depicts what the Native Americans went through during this time in our history. I also like that the book teaches children to take care of the environment. The care of our environment is a huge current issue and will continue to be for many years. I would recommend this book for an intermediate reader.
September 19, 2011
Like The Great Kapok Tree, this was a great book. The focus is different is this one, instead being on a river that progresses from pre-colonial inhabitation to the present. The river undergoes a transformation from pristine to choked with pollution while its inhabitants undergo a transformation from respectful symbiotic members of the river ecosystem to unthinking destructive users of the river to educated careful stewards of the river. Its overall tone is hopeful, but it does make the reader think about how people's misuse of the natural environment can have severe and lasting impacts on the quality of life for everybody.
October 10, 2012
I enjoyed this more than The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. Maybe because it was non-fiction it didn't strike me quite as didactic. I also enjoyed the hopeful nature of the book that one person can create a movement and make a difference; that a dying river can be brought back.
My one criticism is that since it is a children's book, I wish Cherry had included something about the 500 youths who worked for 5 months clearing trash from the riverbed and banks in the story and not just on the inside covers.
My one criticism is that since it is a children's book, I wish Cherry had included something about the 500 youths who worked for 5 months clearing trash from the riverbed and banks in the story and not just on the inside covers.
March 22, 2023
Inspirational, Conservation, Native American
This story is a telling of the Nashua river and it's changing through time. It starts with the native Americans who lived along the river and used it to sustain their lives. They cared for the river and it cared for them. The book then shows how as time changed settlers came and moved to the banks of the river and the river started to become a waste and no longer provided life. Will someone rise up to speak for the river and stop the pollution from ruining a great natural resource?
I would use this book in a reading lesson to show how what we did in the past matters as well as what we do today and will do in the future. The TEKS SS.6.1 student understands historical events influence contemporary events. This book is a great example of how our choices can affect the world. People cared for the river and it flourished, people took advantage of the river and it declined, but people chose to change policies and again the river flourished. What we do matters and has a great effect on our future world.
This story is a telling of the Nashua river and it's changing through time. It starts with the native Americans who lived along the river and used it to sustain their lives. They cared for the river and it cared for them. The book then shows how as time changed settlers came and moved to the banks of the river and the river started to become a waste and no longer provided life. Will someone rise up to speak for the river and stop the pollution from ruining a great natural resource?
I would use this book in a reading lesson to show how what we did in the past matters as well as what we do today and will do in the future. The TEKS SS.6.1 student understands historical events influence contemporary events. This book is a great example of how our choices can affect the world. People cared for the river and it flourished, people took advantage of the river and it declined, but people chose to change policies and again the river flourished. What we do matters and has a great effect on our future world.
April 15, 2025
Somewhat Educational Nonfiction
I love Native American culture and gravitate toward literature related to it. As a writer and Grandma/caregiver of kids, I read a large amount of juvenile books. Hence, my selecting this title.
I appreciated the foreword. The inclusion of historical data was helpful, though most may not read it. Its placement is beneficial, but is easily overlooked, which is a shame. It lends better context and detail.
I feel the story is too generalized in some ways - Natives good while English bad. Though history isn't favorable to the thoughtless colonization done, the ultimate harm to the environment wasn't from the actions of one race alone. It was from an ideology that developed the culture of all industrialized nations, so that came across bias and disingenuous. If elaborated, it could be presented more appropriately.
No people are without past horrors in their history. That's a sad but true fact. Environmental damage is global and done by all. Correction has been a unified effort. I get what is trying to be done with this story, but it is deceiving as to who is "good" and who is "bad". That isn't cool when educating kids.
I love Native American culture and gravitate toward literature related to it. As a writer and Grandma/caregiver of kids, I read a large amount of juvenile books. Hence, my selecting this title.
I appreciated the foreword. The inclusion of historical data was helpful, though most may not read it. Its placement is beneficial, but is easily overlooked, which is a shame. It lends better context and detail.
I feel the story is too generalized in some ways - Natives good while English bad. Though history isn't favorable to the thoughtless colonization done, the ultimate harm to the environment wasn't from the actions of one race alone. It was from an ideology that developed the culture of all industrialized nations, so that came across bias and disingenuous. If elaborated, it could be presented more appropriately.
No people are without past horrors in their history. That's a sad but true fact. Environmental damage is global and done by all. Correction has been a unified effort. I get what is trying to be done with this story, but it is deceiving as to who is "good" and who is "bad". That isn't cool when educating kids.
August 6, 2020
Beautifully written. This book inspires an environmental call to action for all of the other "Nashua Rivers" still needing saving. How powerful it was to read of the history of this enchanting, wild, wonderful river and its land (both environmentally and anthropologically) and experience the goodness of those conservation heroes who stepped in to make a change that was so desperately needed.
Loved this story and the detailed writing and illustrations, especially the informative border depictions of the cultural and other shaping factors along the river.
Most of all, this is exactly the type of reading our children need- pages that are alive with stories that ignite passion for the natural world around them and protecting it.
Loved this story and the detailed writing and illustrations, especially the informative border depictions of the cultural and other shaping factors along the river.
Most of all, this is exactly the type of reading our children need- pages that are alive with stories that ignite passion for the natural world around them and protecting it.
August 11, 2021
It is an important story and it ends with a hopeful message but it is dull. It is full of description without anything beautiful or intriguing about the language that is used. The Native Americans are perfect and the European Americans are awful. There is almost no nuance. I did appreciate that the author says a little about why the early settlers cut and "tamed" so much wilderness. This may be interesting and even shocking to a child who is learning this history for the first time, but it didn't speak to me as an adult well versed in such things.
The text has neat tiny illustrations forming a border around it. The images reminded me of how Jan Brett uses little pictures similarly to add detail to her stories.
The text has neat tiny illustrations forming a border around it. The images reminded me of how Jan Brett uses little pictures similarly to add detail to her stories.
June 21, 2022
Trying to expand my genre in my personal library, I found this beautiful realistic illustrated picture book. It is an environmental history of the Nashua River, from its discovery by Indians through the polluting years of the Industrial Revolution to the ambitious clean-up that revitalized it. The coolest part about this book is that on every page, it shows small illustrations of tools and items they would use in that time period with captions and labels for each. Very interesting book to have in a collection!
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August 29, 2022🐜The Nashua River, 37.5 miles (60.4 km) long,[2] is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, at the confluence of the North Nashua River and South Nashua River, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the Merrimack at Nashua, New Hampshire. The Nashua River watershed occupies a major portion of north-central Massachusetts and a much smaller portion of southern New Hampshire
September 25, 2017
A beautiful story authored and illustrated by Lynne Cherry detailing efforts to clean up the Nashua River and return it back to its beauty.. The river used to be beautiful, but it has become polluted. Descendants of the european settlers and the Nashua Indians come together to clean up the river and return it to its original beautiful form.
May 11, 2018
A beautifully written and illustrated story of hope. Hope that we can repair the damage that has been caused to this amazing planet we call home. Lynne Cherry does this by describing a true story of the efforts of Massachusetts residences to restore the Nashua River, the River with the Pebbled Bottom, to its former glory.
March 4, 2019
I love that the teachers in my district have to read this to our students. The Native American culture is so forgotten or looked over that I think it's crazy. Even teachers were learning something new with this book and another one that I will do a review on later. This is an amazing story of loss and then of years of hard work that paid off. Great story in my opinion!
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December 12, 2020This book is well-written and deeply researched, though I can't vouch for the accuracy of the representation in the illustrations of the Indigenous community, the Nashaway people, depicted and therefore probably wouldn't use this book in a teaching context.
August 6, 2023
Ya, absolutely awesome. Kids will love this story. I was blown away by the side drawings on each page. Such an amazing tool for adults to read to the kids. The editing wasn't that good but it works for the kids. So, so much better than The Great Kapok Tree!
August 12, 2017
Great book to use in the classroom as a springboard to persuasive writing.
September 8, 2018
Effects of humans on environment; NAtive Am history
February 16, 2019
Good for use in a grade five unit on how humans impact the environment. If we had more time, it would have been great to do some work with primary source documents related to the river.
November 19, 2019
The story of how the Nashua Watershed Association took a dead river and brought it back to life through tireless cleanup efforts and legislative changes.
January 8, 2020
Really great story and beautiful illustrations. I need to remember the name of Marion Stoddard to look up later so I am noting here.
February 11, 2020
Lovely book with gorgeous illustrations.
March 10, 2020
A nice addition to Native American or environmental studies units, love how this author shows how one person/group can make a difference
June 7, 2021
Great tale to tie to industrial revolution, habitats, or pollution.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews