50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth: All New! Updated for the 21st Century

by Earth Works Group, Sophie Javna, Jesse Javna

Together, We Can Make a Difference Today's environmental problems may seem too overwhelming for one person to tackle . . . but you don't have to do it alone. Now you have partners--50 of them. 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth, the revolutionary 1990 bestseller, is back in a completely revised, updated edition . . . and it's just as innovative and groundbreaking as the original. The authors have teamed up with 50 of America's top environmental groups, including The Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and Rainforest Action Network. Each group has chosen one issue and provided a simple, step-by-step program that will empower you and your family to become citizen activists in the fight to save the Earth. It's easy to get started. Just pick one!
Fight global warming "one city at a time" with the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign Roll up your sleeves and save an endangered species with the Wilderness Society Protect coral reefs and create a marine reserve with Seacology Get your congregation excited about protecting God's creations with Interfaith Power and Light Invite songbirds into your neighborhood with the National Audubon Society
All it takes is a little effort. When we work together, we can work miracles! Get started now!

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Environment, Reference, Ecology

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child, and it made a huge impact on me.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is great for me, as a kid, to know that I am the future and am in charge of saving it.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "green" book of my childhood that was ever-present during my formative years.

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth is a book that starts off with the bald lie to young readers that they have a voice and that adults must listen to them, which my parents would have just laughed at.

Anyway the book starts off listing all the bad things people are doing to the planet. From there readers are taken into the following format where each section confronts a different problem (guarding our resources, preserving water, protecting animals, etc.) before further breaking down each section into further issues and how children can work to resolve them.

Each of these mini-chapters provides the title of what kids can do before providing the reader with a relatable trivia question. This is followed by a small introduction blurb, a section, a What You Can Do and on some pages a See For Yourself , which is most likely to now provide readers with an outdated address for more information. The last two sections are then dedicated to green activism and eco-experiments to found out the book while occasionally some children were asked for their opinions so they could be tucked virtuously into the book.

Although the info is clear and concise while providing very simple steps it does also make one wonder how much a child reader can truly contribute, especially if living in an apartment where they can't make a wildlife friendly habitat or in a place that uses paper bags instead of groceries.

At the same time I question the author's validity of information since he collects spiders as part of the Insect family.

Otherwise if you are looking for some "green" projects, the book has plenty of choices to choose from if any catch your fancy.

[Jorge Ulises · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo leí cuando tenía 12 años, me dio ideas para cuidar la Tierra. Muy bonito

[Laura Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am adding this one because my ten year old loves it so. She has decided to buy her own copy after checking one out from the library repeatedly. She has implemented some of the ideas and is eager to help us all do more.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I unearthed a 1990s copy of this book while visiting family for the holidays. I was curious about what this copy might suggest, how the dialogue has since changed and how it has not. Overall I think it was a pretty great little book for what it is. It had a lot of simple suggestions for conserving water, reducing waste, providing habitat for local animals and so on. In some ways, it seems just as good a book for adults as it is for children. I was pleasantly surprised. If you have young kids or are a teacher or caregiver this book could certainly be a great way to engage them with fun projects that help them learn about environmental issues and address them with mindful actions. A good guide for being proactive around the home and as a consumer.

[Bacon Pancake · Rating 4 out of 5]

ADORABLE BOOK 😍

[Sofía Bascialla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consejos bastante "sencillos" pero es el libro que me motivó a ser quien soy ahora, super recomendado para peques

[Earl · Rating 2 out of 5]

50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth by the Earthworks Group (1989); John Javna, Sophia Javna, and Jesse Javna (2008). It’s a great idea to occasionally read something completely different from what you’re normally used to- not only as a way to expose yourself to a new subject matter but to also expand your knowledge of things. This was probably the first time where I lived has played a factor in determining my reading selection. Having moved to Portland, I couldn’t help but take up a couple of the things it’s known for- volunteerism and, in this case, environmentalism. “50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth” was first released in 1989 and recently updated in 2008. “It’s an entirely new book,” notes John Javna, who was a main contributor to both versions. The original was self-published- and there were a lot of typographical errors- and basically gave eco-tips like recycling soda cans and cutting down the six-pack rings they come in, not using Styrofoam cups, installing energy-saving light bulbs, and carpooling. The newer version still tackled the same matters but have partnered up with different organizations to give people an idea of what they can do to help- from simple steps to more involved and dedicated efforts. I thought this approach of introducing an issue and then offering ways to participate was a good way to find out what can be done if the reader decides to do something at all. The books have definitely been informative- if not always entertaining- with all the statistics and addresses to get more information.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn ways that you can "go green" but feel overwhelmed by where to start, this book is a great resource. Each topic is only two pages long...it provides statistics as well as ideas for action. Best of all, this book has been updated since the 1989 version (which I have!) with websites for each topic so you can get more information.

[Aziz Alkattan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. The book did not contain simple everyday solutions as I was hoping: it's more like a How-to book that is too complicated, not intellectually stimulating, and a little depressing

[Eva Chafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leí este libro básicamente como un chiste a mí misma y al chico que me lo dio. No es malo, de hecho tiene buenos consejos y está escrito de una manera entretenida, pero era difícil identificarse con los niños estadounidenses de los 90' a los que está dirigido.

[Lorene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book to help introduce kids to things they can do to help the planet.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book help to shape who I am today. No Joke!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and it had a big impact on my lifelong interest in ecology and the environment.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just for kids! Education, attitude, and implementation in our daily lives is the first step toward real sustainability, and it's never too late to start.

[Ksenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really informational it has a lot of facts and ways to save the earth
I like it

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the crap out of this book when I was a pre-teen. I hope I still have it, stored away somewhere...

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for kids to realize that what ever little they can do, it can still have an impact.

[Vassiliadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το αγόρασα το 1996 κ από τότε με έχει βοηθήσει σε πολλά project της τάξης μου

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta start the good fight as a bean.

[2 Daniela CR]

All of this information is good to know.