Whales in the City by Nancy F. Castaldo, illustrated by Chuck Groenik (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 40 pages, grades K-4). “Before there were ships and streets and buildings and a city called New York, we were here.” Whales narrate the first half of this book, explaining how they were slowly driven out of the Hudson River by pollution. The few that survived headed for the cleaner waters of the North Atlantic. Humans take on the story from there, telling how they had finally had enough and started demanding clean water around the city. Starting with the first Earth Day, their activism eventually helped lead to the passage of the Clean Water Act. As time passed, the river grew cleaner, fish returned, and people could enjoy it once again. And finally, after a century, the whales came home to the waters around the city. Includes an author’s note, additional information about whales, a timeline of Hudson River history, profiles of a few of the people who led protests, a list of ways kids can help clean up rivers, and a list of sources.
I think we all could use a book right now that shows the positive effects of citizen action, and here is one that can be enjoyed by kids (and adults) of all ages. I liked how the narration was shared by the whales and the humans, and the back matter makes this an excellent resource that could lead to further research. The illustrations are amazing, as you can see from the cover.
Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley and Harinani Orme (Millbrook Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). This history of Kaho’olawe, the smallest of the Hawaiian islands, begins with her birth from a volcano and continues with the arrival of the the first humans, Polynesian voyagers who settled there more than 1,000 years ago. Environmental devastation began when Europeans brought goats to the island and later used it for cattle ranching, but the total destruction began during World War II. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military took over Kaho’olawe and used it for bombing practices for the next 30 years. In 1976, activists began a campaign to stop the bombing, and finally, in 1992, the U.S. Congress officially ended the bombing and budgeted $400 million for clean-up efforts. Kaho’olawe is still suffering from the effects of all the damage, but today native Hawaiian groups, grassroots organizations, and scientists are working to restore the island and learn about its archaeological history. Includes notes from the author and illustrator (both Native Hawaiians), a timeline of Kaho’olawe’s history, a glossary, a paragraph about how to help, and additional resources and sources.
And here’s another tribute to activism in a fascinating history of a place I’m sure many of us (myself included) have never heard of. The history is sad, but the hard work of so many people in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is inspiring. I loved the colorful illustrations which I’m guessing were inspired by Native Hawaiian art. Each page has a few sentences telling the story, with a paragraph giving additional information, making this a good resource for a wide range of ages.