Earth Day: Keeping Our Planet Clean

Finding Out About Holidays

by Elaine Landau

Discusses the origins of Earth Day, its history, and how it is observed in the United States today.

Genres: Nature

48 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 2002

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is fine for when it was written, it's just too outdated now.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the "Finding Out About Holidays" series, "Earth Day" is an informative book for young readers. With large type, simple language and lots of photographs, it would make a good read for the lower grades or beginning to intermediate English Language Learners. It starts with a description pf pollution and a definition of Earth Day itself. We then learn about why Earth Day was needed, who the founders were, and what activities took place at the first Earth Day celebrations. I, for one, was surprised to learn that twenty years passed between the first and second Earth Days (1970-1990). There is a separate chapter devoted to Earth Day at school, and another entitled "What You Can Do," both filled with ideas for student involvement. The Earth Day Project appendix (stone paperweights) is clearly geared toward very young children, but the information in the book is useful for any age. Landau concludes with a glossary of important terms and suggested readings and internet sites for further study and involvement, like planetpals.com and the EPA for Kids website.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple introduction to Earth Day and environmental concepts may be especially useful to grade school students writing a report.

Although the use of pesticides on food crops is mentioned as a source of pollution, the book completely avoids any mention of the perhaps more significant impact of industrial-scale animal agriculture.