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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday-Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

My Friend Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy hosts weekly link up to share Nonfiction Picture Books. Please visit her amazing website. 

Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers also shared this book a few weeks ago, but after I read it, I thought it worthy of another share. Click here to see their review.


Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
by Patricia Newman
Photography by Annie Crawley
Published 2014 by Millbrook Press
Genre: Nonfiction
48 pages
Disclosure: Review copy provided by Netgalley.com


Goodreads Summary
These scientists are on a mission. As part of a research expedition known as SEAPLEX, they're studying the massive accumulation of plastic in the Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. As they use the scientific method to conduct their investigation, their adventures will introduce readers to the basics of ocean science and the hazards of plastics.

My Thoughts
As I read Plastic, Ahoy! I felt ashamed that I don't do enough to help the environment and I immediately wanted to DO something. I think that was the main goal of this book, to make us take a hard look at what we have done, and are doing, to our planet. I was drawn into this book and just had to keep reading to see what the scientists found. The author does a terrific job breaking down some of the complicated information into manageable pieces that kids (and adults) will understand. She also makes the scientific process visible by showing the questions that each scientist was trying to answer and how they collected and analyzed data and modified their hypotheses. The information is accompanied by excellent photographs of the scientists at work on their ship in the middle of the ocean. I would recommend Plastic Ahoy for students in grades three through middle school. 

Use this book....
as a nonfiction read aloud.
during a unit on ecology or the ocean. 
near Earth Day.
before a school clean up day.
to demonstrate the scientific process.
for close reading of nonfiction. 
to discuss the use of plastics and recycling.

Resources
PBS Need to Know video: An Ocean of Plastic

5 comments:

  1. I have a student studying the "garbage patch" Gigi, we'll certainly look for this book! Thanks much!

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    1. Oh great! It was certainly an eye-opener for me.

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  2. I've seen this book on blogs a few times now. Time to put it on the list :) Have a great week!

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  3. Hello there Gigi, it does sound like a book that would inspire kids to be more proactive in caring for their environment. My 12 year old girl is scheduled to pick up trash around the community today as part of their school project, this would have been a great read-aloud for them before they went around the streets today.

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  4. I am really interested in getting this book - I've told my school librarian about it so it is on the wish list!

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