Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dangerously Fun Book for Families -- and, oh yeah, for our Planet, Too!, March 20, 2009
This review is from: The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth (Paperback)
The EarthWorks Group has been expanding very successfully upon its idea of equipping ordinary folks with ideas to help out our planet. For spring, there's a brand-new edition of "The NEW 50 Simple Things Kinds Can Do to Save the Earth." I was intrigued by a note from John Javna, founder of the EarthWorks Group, that he involved his daughter Sophie in this new edition. Javna points out that Sophie wasn't even born when the first edition of his "Simple Things Kids Can Do" was published. So, this is a family-written book that's a great resource for real families. For spring and summer, I actually suggest that you think of buying this book along with the new The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers (National Geographic the Ten Best of Everything) that includes a lot of nature-friendly travel ideas. The travel guide will lure you out on the road at some point this year. The EarthWorks book is all about projects you can tackle together around your home and neighborhood. Both of these books are Web-friendly and the publishers understand that all of us want to "read more online" these days. Hundreds of Web sites are sprinkled through both books. Think of this 208-page "Kids Can Do" book as a guide to re-exploring the natural world starting in your own backyard -- with a little help from your home computer. I'm eager, once the frost warnings pass in Michigan, to try building a "Toad House" as described in the book -- with more ideas provided from Web sites. I also want to try the cool rubber-band-and-wire "Smog Detector" shown in the book. The only word of warning I'll offer to parents is this: It's a dangerously cool book! Leave a copy of this book lying around where your kids can find it -- and you're likely to start learning from them in a big hurry. There are lots of places in this book where cool online resources will draw their eyes and ears -- and they'll be urging you to change the way you use batteries, or light your house, or wrap your sandwiches for lunch.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent family or classroom resource, July 1, 2009
This review is from: The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is one of those books that everyone with children needs - or every teacher needs. The line drawings are great, some of the material is written directly to young people, and some was written by a young person, Sophie Javna (age 15). The book is broken into units on recycling, water, animals, energy, and personal and social action. Also there are easy and inexpensive experiments in the back of the book as well as quizzes for follow up learning. Finally, there are multiple references to the Internet for more information, as well as a website connected to the book for further activities and information. The book itself can be easily read by upper elementary age children and up, and the activities can easily be completed by even younger children with supervision. This book could provide a great set of summer activities, or for anytime during the year. It can be used by teachers - and not just science teachers - for multiple activities and resources for education about our world. I highly recommend this book!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A decent book to give kids a start, August 24, 2009
This review is from: The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is a fairly decent book, particularly if someone is looking for a way to get their child interested in learning more about ways to be "green". I truly believe, as do the authors, that children can be leaders - especially since this planet will be their responsibility soon. While some of the book seemed to be more in the vein of common knowledge from an adult perspective, from a children's viewpoint it may not be so. It held my 8-year-old son's interest and had him not only asking "when can we do this" about various topics, but had him looking up more information on his own. Anything to help teach my children about being stewards for our planet can only be to the good. The items are simple - perfect for the short attention spans of many children (and adults!). It certainly is worth having on your bookshelf, as everyone can learn something!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
