Synopses & Reviews
This elementary-level counterpart to the award-winning Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands teaches elementary kids about the earth’s water crisis and empowers them to do something about it. Filled with facts about our waters, their inhabitants, and the threats they face, Make a Splash! presents inspiring stories of kids in action and practical tips for making a difference. In fun and age-appropriate language, kids are introduced to the ideas behind service learning—a rapidly growing teaching strategy that combines academic learning and community service. Kids interested in nature and the environment will enjoy Make a Splash! Service learning groups, youth groups, science teachers, and teachers of conservation and environmentalism units will find it a valuable resource. The back matter includes book and Web resources as well as an afterword for adults, and a teacher’s guide is available online.
Review
“Make A Splash! clearly illustrates how various water issues affect people, animals, and the environment while providing young people practical ways to improve their local water sources. Full of great stories, facts, and tools, Make A Splash! is an excellent resource to help youth plan water-focused service learning adventures in their own backyards.”—Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute
Review
“Kids who read this book will find themselves captivated by the world of water and primed to do their part in protecting it.”—Eileen Spinelli, author of over 40 children’s books, including Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green
Review
“The first time a child sees an ocean or a great river, magic happens. Make A Splash! reaches for the hearts of all young people who love wild water, and who want to do something to keep it pure and everlasting.”—Carl Hiaasen, author of Chomp
Review
“As the creator of picture books about the natural world, I am often writing about places that are being destroyed and creatures that are facing extinction. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to speak of an ecosystem today that is not threatened. But due to the size limitations of picture books, I cannot write as much as I’d like to about these dangers and how kids can help. This is why I’m so excited about Make a Splash! It provides valuable information about threats to our waters, and more importantly it gives concrete and inspiring examples of how kids have made—and can make—a real difference. It’s a book that I suggest to all of my readers who are concerned about our oceans and waterways.”—Jason Chin, author and illustrator of Coral Reefs and Island: A Story of the Galápagos
Review
Written in an informal, almost chatty style, this readable narrative provides a solid base of scientific information and flows from one topic to the next smoothly and logically. Interesting facts are highlighted in text boxes of different shapes and colors, and questions are asked and answered throughout. The author uses italics to accentuate important information, e.g., “…nearly two-thirds of all the fish and shellfish we eat once lived in estuaries.” Terms, with pronunciation guides, are defined in context. Full-color photographs and drawings as well as line drawings (think coloring books) illustrate every page. Good ideas for water conservation from second graders at a Texas elementary school are sprinkled throughout in droplet-shaped boxes. Boys and girls from around the world are featured, and a lot of doable activities are suggested for individuals and groups. Jam-packed with readily accessible information and ideas, this is an engaging addition to science and environmental collections.—School Library Journal
Review
Similar to Kaye and Cousteau’s Going Blue (2010) in its approach, this large-format paperback targets a younger audience. Clearly reproduced on glossy pages, eye-catching colorful photos and digital drawings illustrate many aspects of water on Earth, while the text provides information and tells stories of children in elementary schools around the world who have translated their own environmental concerns into action. The presentation jumps from topic to topic, and potentially unfamiliar terms such as estuary are discussed but not always clearly defined. However, while more traditionally informative books often end with tepid lists of tips on water conservation, this one infuses every chapter with inspiration and gives dozens of examples in which kids are agents of change in their communities. Creating an energizing, upbeat tone, the writers don’t plead for help; they ask, “Which kind of action will you choose?”— Booklist
Review
“A comprehensive, entertaining primer that focuses equally on water conservation and on how children learn and can act on their knowledge and interests. Former teacher Kaye provides a multitude of conservation approaches, including a series of ‘Kids in Action’ profiles that will encourage young readers to tackle and accomplish valuable community service projects.”—
ForeWord Reviews Review
“Fun and motivational! Kids will love learning about our important, fragile, and challenged water planet. Make a Splash! will inspire them to do what they can to protect, restore, and advocate for all natural systems that support life.” —Laura Turner Seydel, Captain Planet Foundation
Review
“An inspiring and kid-friendly introduction to the challenges facing our oceans and waterways, Make a Splash! gives kids all the tools they need to become champions for the environment and really make a difference. A great resource for anyone who wants to protect our waters—and have fun doing it.” —Greg MacGillivray, IMAX Producer/Director, MacGillivray Freeman Films and Founder of One World One Ocean
Review
“This excellent book not only gives readers interesting information that is presented in a clever and engaging way, but it also empowers children by showing them that there are lots of things that they can do to save the world’s water.” —Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Review
About the Author
Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., is a former classroom teacher and a current international service learning consultant. She works with state departments of education, universities, school districts, and classroom teachers on a variety of education issues such as service learning, student leadership, and respectful school communities. Cathryn’s other books include The Complete Guide to Service Learning and Going Blue. A sought-after speaker, she lives in Los Angeles.
Explorer, social entrepreneur, and environmental advocate Philippe Cousteau is the grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. He is founder and CEO of EarthEcho International whose mission is to foster extraordinary leaders to take action to restore and protect our oceans. Philippe is a special correspondent for CNN International, and he is the chief spokesperson for environmental education for Discovery Education. He serves on the Board of Directors of The Ocean Conservancy among other organizations. Philippe lives in Washington, D.C.
Table of Contents
Introduction
A Message from Philippe Cousteau
You’re All Wet. No, Really!
Our Water Planet
Getting Ready for the Dive
Stage 1: Explore ?Investigate
Water by the Numbers
Wonderful Water
Tap Into Clean Water
Bottled Up
Water, Close to Home
Stage 2: Go Deeper ?Prepare
The Big Blue Ocean
Coral Reefs
A Changing Climate
Piles of Pollution
Stage 3: Get Going ?Take Action
Splash into Action
Turn Your Ideas into Action
Make a Plan
Spread the Word
Making Memories
Stage 4: Think Back ?Reflect
Your Memory Album
Stage 5: Tell Others ?Demonstrate
Speak Up for Water
What’s Next?
Watery Books and Websites
Afterword for Teachers, Youth Leaders, Parents, & Other Adults
Sources
Index
About the Authors