One Pelican at a Time: A Story of the Gulf Oil Spill [Large Print] [Paperback]

Nancy Stewart (Author), Samantha Bell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2011 | Age Range: 8 and up

Bella and Britt love living by the beach. When they find oil washing to shore from a gulf spill, they want to help but are told there is nothing for kids to do. But when their old friend, the pelican, becomes covered with oil, they help save his life by their quick thinking and action. Suggested age for readers: 7 to 12

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 26 pages
• Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc (February 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616331399
• ISBN-13: 978-1616331399
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,401,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After having been an elementary school teacher, a management consultant with New Options, Inc. in New York City and a university professor of education, Nancy now writes children's books full time. She, her husband and children lived in London for eight years, where she was a consultant to several universities, including Cambridge.

Nancy is the author of the Bella and Britt Series: One Pelican at a Time, Sea Turtle Summer, Bella Saves the Beach and Mystery at Manatee Key. All are published by Guardian Angel Publishers. Her newest book, Katrina and Winter: Partners in Courage, was released in April, 2012. It is the biography of Katrina Simpkins with Winter, the dolphin (Dolphin Tale film).

In June, 2011, WEDU-Tampa filmed a feature on One Pelican at a Time and Nancy. This is being shown by PBS stations throughout the US. Please view it here under Videos.

Nancy is a featured speaker at national SCBWI conferences.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and timely March 20, 2011

By Brian Alfred

Format:Paperback

Set on a coast affected by the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, One Pelican at a Time is a beautifully written, touching and timely book about two young girls' small but significant effort to rescue an oil-covered pelican, thus helping remedy a tragic situation caused by adults. By tracing how these two best friends progress from worry and helplessness to determination and action, and ultimately to success and learning about the ecosystem of which they are a part and how to protect it, the book manages simultaneously to be sweet, suspenseful and educational. Although revolving around an ecological disaster, the story is very uplifting, emphasizing teamwork, calmness and perseverance in the face of calamity. The illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly compliment the text, I especially like the oil-covered pelican soaking in his cleaning tub whilst peering out through soap suds with bright eyes. I recommend this book as highly as possible - it is a delicate, touching treatment of a traumatic recent event that will go miles towards teaching future generations to look after the world more sensibly than we have!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Pelican at a Time March 19, 2011

By speak4languages

Format:Paperback

One Pelican at a Time is a much needed book that explores the Gulf Oil Spill. The story showcases Bella and her best friend Britt. The girls are very concerned about the slick oil that came to shore. Bella's and Britt's concern grew to a peak when their favorite pelican plunged into a patch of blackened sea. They feared for the Pelican's safety. The girls took action and with their help a bird sanctuary expert helped save the pelican's life.

Reading One Pelican at a Time left me with a warm fuzzy feeling deep in my heart because of the following reasons:

1) The story chronicles two very responsible teens taking action to help remedy a very serious situation caused by adults.

2) Teachers and parents can read the story to teach children about respecting the earth and how to care for our planet.

3) Most importantly, parents and teachers can use the book to instill in young children that we all, young and old must do our part to keep our planet safe.

Samantha Bell's illustrations brought this exceptional story to full life. If you are a concerned parent or teacher in search of a good book that will help children learn about caring for the planet, I highly recommend One Pelican at a Time.

Read more: [...].

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Pelican Plus Two Girls equals = March 18, 2011

By Barbara Bockman

Format:Paperback

One unfortunate pelican plus two caring, helpful girls equals a story of love for the earth and its creatures. Almost a year after the Gulf oil spill, the picture of devastation is still with us. This book, One Pelican at a Time, shows a simplified look at the way people responded to the crisis. Children will relate to the oil-covered bird and the fear and sadness of Britt and Bella. And they will understand the methods of clean-up through a minimum of words but detailed pictures. Nancy Stewart's words and Samantha Bells's pictures combine smoothly to give a complete overview of the problem of the oil spill and some of the solutions.

I wouldn't be surprised if this book inspires every reader to want to help in some ecological way, if not to save a bird, then to find another project.