Oil Spill!

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Melvin A. Berger

Explains why oil spills occur and how they are cleaned up and suggests strategies for preventing them in the future

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Environment, Childrens, History

31 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Cara Noles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oil Spill is a non-fiction book, that is all about oil spills. The book starts off by talking about the awful oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker ship. It goes on to describe different ways that oil spills can occur. Since oil spills are very bad for our oceans and oceanic wildlife, the book talks about ways to help contain and clean up the spill.

I really enjoyed this book and learned new things about oil spills. I liked how they explained the big effects that comes with a big oil spill, like the Exxon Valdez. It creates awareness. Then the book goes on to explain ways to help, not only how professionals help, but how everyone can help prevent oil spills.

At the end of the book it describes ways to help prevent oil spills like, using less oil or gas and writing letters to Congress. I think it would be fun for students to create awareness about the topic of oil spills. As a class we would read this book a couple of times and research more facts together. Then, I would have students create posters with facts about oil spills and ways to help or they could write a letter to a member of Congress as their activities.

[Paxton Bleich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book about oil spills. It discusses mainly the major oil spill from the Exxon Valdez that spilled 11 million gallons of oil. This oil spill damaged 1,250 miles of Alaska's coastline. It also killed 300,000 animals. It next discusses the causes of oil spills. And lastly, how experts attempt to clean up and contain the spill.

I gave this book 5/5 stars. I thought it was a wonderful informational book. It includes great pictures to give the reader and viewers lots of visuals. It also is easy for kids to connect on how they can make a small difference in helping oil spills.

[Kaci Beesecker]

Berger and Mirocha focus on one of the worst spills in history the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill to explain in simple terms and with bold, full-color illustrations why oil spills happen, how experts clean up after them, and what effect spilled oil has on the ocean plants and wildlife. It gave many pictures and examples of what happens when an oil spill occurs and how they try to clean up.

This could be used in the classroom to teach about the environment and oceans. An activity using a clear plastic cup, water, and cooking oil to teach the students what would happen. Have them make inferences on what will happen when the oil is put into the water.

[Alex Gabbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This extremely informative book explores how the environment is affected by oil disasters that destroy our wildlife near and in our oceans. The remarkable illustrations depict the animals covered in oil from head to toe and give the reader more insight into past oil disasters. I found the way the book also presents ideas on preventing oil spills to be especially informative, and the facts about what is being done by volunteers and scientists to allow the oceans to thrive is a topic that will interest and inform classrooms everywhere.

[Kallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction
Grade K-3

Very informative. This would be a great book to introduce a science experiment. How can we help clean up the ocean? What methods of cleaning work best when cleaning up oil spills? Adding the otter on the front to the storyline would have helped move students more. For here is an otter that is covered in oil. This is how he is affected by the oil; how can we help him?

[Amit Tiwary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction to a complex problem like an Oil Spill! to young ones is important. This book provides all the details of a complex problem and the impact in a lucid manner, with proper examples, solutions, and drawbacks of the solutions.

This is a fabulous book to have.

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major ecological disasters that demand our attention and vigilance.

[Diana Valdivia-Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about oil spill in the real world and the engineering methods being used to clean up the oil spill.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this would be about the Exxon Valdez, which I remember happening. It’s a good intro to the concept of ocean pollution.

[Grace Tarnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
Grade Level: 3-6
Overall, this book is a great way to inform students of an important environmental issue- oil spills. The book begins with a retelling of a very significant oil spill off the Alaskan coast. This part of the book requires some background knowledge (parts of a boat, geography). However, the author also provides support through the illustrations and comparisons.
The book quickly shifts to the overall effects of oil spills and how we can prevent them. This would be a great conversation starter in the classroom for preventing environmental disasters like this.

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book begins with a brief discussion of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill--without going into the apparent drunkenness of the tanker's captain. It talks about the impact of the oil on marine wildlife: birds, mammals, and fish. A considerable amount of time is spent on the methods of "cleaning up" spills--from skimmers, booms, absorbent materials, and hosing, to poisonous chemicals. The author suggests that children write letters to Congress, and that they use less electricity (often produced by burning oil) and gasoline. Berger's book shows its age when the author suggests that oil companies be encouraged to locating oil supplies within the continental United States so Americans won't be so dependent on oil from abroad. However, there are few to no viable oil stores left to be drilled. I loved the cover of the book, but I wish more time had been taken to discuss the impact on animals, which is of great interest to children. As well, the fairly sophisticated vocabulary cries out for a glossary, and there isn't one.
PM Benchmark level: 25

[Kate Hendrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource to use when teaching about marine life and taking care of our ecosystems. It helps readers understand the need to be aware of our environment and what is going on in it. I would use this with students by asking them what they know about oil spills and relating it to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Oil Spill! explains the 1989 oil spill that occurred near Alaska. It shows the effects on the sea animals and how the spill was dealt with. At the end there is a section about how we can prevent oil spills in the future and a letter that students could write to a senator to bring awareness to such situations.

The illustrations in this informational book help the reader understand the importance of the book. I particularly liked the picture that shows readers just how much oil was spilled into the ocean. It is a picture of 1,000 deep swimming pools that are completely filled with oil. This picture will allow students to get a visual grasp of just how much oil was poured into the ocean.

[Jessica Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oil Spill! by Melvin Berger is a nonfiction book about the damage caused by oil spills. It also highlights ways scientists clean up both small and large oil spills. It also has a section telling kids how to help reduce the usage of oil, indirectly reducing the amount of oil spills.

This was a really great nonfiction picture book. It used similes and imagery that children would be able to understand. Children would learn so much from this book. I definitely did! I had no idea that there is at least one oil spill a day. I also had never thought about oil companies using the ocean as a trash can for their old oil.

I think this would be a really important book to use in an elementary classroom. Students need to think about what is being done to the world they live in. They also need to learn that they can do something to help any large situation by doing small things. I would love to teach this book and let them write letters to their local Congressmen.

[Kathleen]

This book is about one of the worst oil spills, Exxon Valdez. It explains in simple terms why oils spills happen, how experts clean up after them, what effects oil has on ocean plants and wildlife, and what we can do to prevent oil spills. This book includes several colorful illustrations and can be used to start a class discussion about the topic. At the end of the book, a student writes the senator a letter about her concerns towards oil spills. Having a class discussion requires students to listen to one another and speak to each other. I would also use this book to show students that their opinion matters and they can write letters whenever they are concerned about a situation; therefore, this book would also be used to encourage students to write. I would love to use this book in my classroom because it has many different purposes.

[Scott Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to read with my third grade students this semester. It was an interesting way to introduce the idea of taking care of an environment. As we read the story the students were empathetic and concerned for the animals who got sick or covered in oil, and they were surprised to find how frequently oil is spilled in the oceans. I also compared taking care of the Earth to taking care of a classroom and keeping it neat. By comparing oil spilled in the ocean to trash on the floor, it was almost like a mini lesson for students to be more mindful of their surroundings.

[Samantha Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for my earth and space science. The grade level for this book would be kindergarten to 2nd grade, this book is a picture book that tells what happened when Oil spilled in Alaska's water. This book would book would be good for a science class or even a geography class. I do not think there are any real content concerns with this book.

This book is about the oil spill that happened off of the coast of Alaska. It explains what happened, who was harmed by the oil spill, and what all happens when cleaning up the mess.

[Katie Williams]

This book is about pollution and how it can affect animals and ecosystems all over the world. A great book to reference when teaching children about environments and ecosystems. The teacher could bring in a sample of a lake or pond nearby and have students compare and contrast the look, feel, and smell of the sample tap and/or bottled water. What happens if we strain or boil it? What would happen to animals who live in or drink the water?

[alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book clearly explains for kids what oil spills are and the various strategies and equipment used to contain and clean them up. The book ends with an example of how to write to a senator and request greater regulation of oil tankers and better preparation for preventing spills. My first graders were very interested in the information though they have yet to hear about real oil spills as they happen.

[Cherise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 6 year old son, it starts off with the mess created by the Exxon Valdez. It shows the damage done to the water, plants and animals. It gives ideas as to how we can reduce our use of oil.

An educational book made interesting enough to hold my sons attention and gave us some starting points to some interesting discussions.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a book full of great information about oil spills and the effects it can have. It teaches children what they can do to try and help oil spills happen less often. I really liked the illustrations in this story and think its a great way to teach students about something they may not know is going on or happening in the world around them.

[Mariah Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an adult I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned so much about oil spills that I previously didn't know. I highly suggest this book! I am very excite that all my students K-6th grade will be reading it :)

Interesting fact from the book: oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes an important topic, and presents it in a friendly way. The way the book is written encourages children to be interested in taking action. I also think the illustrations do a great job of depicting the issue.

[Jillian Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informational text about an oil spill that happened in 1989. It explains how they happen, how they are fixed and how they can be prevented. Can inspire a lot of discussion and environmental lessons.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very educational. It contains a lot of facts about oil spills and how they happen. It also teaches students how to prevent oil spills in their future.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my class in November. Seems to be quite the omen now.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive look at the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 and the general effects of oil spills on our environment. Detailed illustrations and instructive diagrams are included.

[Leila Useini · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was a really good book and the structure of it was also great!!!

[Deborah Harris]

RL 2.75 GRL-M

AR Quiz No. 13821 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.8 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP

[Piriyanga]

this book is great

[Lauren White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for grades 2-6