BOOK REVIEWS
too much fine detail. She has also chosen
proof interest in the topic. Well-written book cultivates curiosity about the won-
species that are common and fascinating
and visually appealing, Awesome Ocean ders of the ocean. Nature is mysterious,
while having aspects of their life history
Science! stood out in the crowd. and like a certain boy wizard, it is magical.
which are just as intriguing. Lucas’ il-
Awesome Ocean Science! is actually
lustrations perfectly match these selections
is a sequence of short readings and related
Sharon A. Hollander is Assistant Professor of
in detail and style. The illustrations are
activities, a curriculum of sorts that covers
Education at Georgian Court College in Lake-
big, vibrant and bring the dynamic insect
the ocean, its floor, plants, animals, and
wood, New Jersey.
world alive without a microscope.
protection of marine resources. The book is
My hope is that Needham and Lucas
filled with fascinating facts, cute cartoons,
will combine their talents again in future
clever riddles, clearly labeled diagrams,
additions of Strange Beginnings, and plan
lucid explanations, and thought-provoking
to have those editions sitting as close to my
experiments. The type is large and easy
microscope as this one is.
to read, and the pages are eye catching,
but not busy. There’s also a clear, detailed
index, that will help readers find or revisit
Victor Elderton is principal at the North Van-
topics of choice.
couver Outdoor School, in addition to being
To be sure, Awesome Ocean Science!
a member of the Board of the Environmental
is not designed to be read straight through.
Educators of BC and director of the Pacific
Readers are more likely to move slowly
Foundation for Understanding Nature Society
through the chapters or pick and choose
areas of interest. There are many dem-
onstrations and experiments that can be
done with household materials. Those who
make the effort will be rewarded with rain
in a jar, breakers in a bottle, or deep water
currents in a pan. The author recommends
Schoolyard-Enhanced
supervision for these tasks, and I heartily
Learning: Using the Outdoor
agree.
as an Instructional Tool K-8
The final chapter addresses environ-
mental problems, such as overfishing, oil
By Herbert W. Broda
spills, and global warming. The author
Reviewed by Charles Yaple
suggests awareness activities that include
keeping an ocean log and making T-shirts
with relevant messages and pictures. I
S
choolyard-Enhanced Learning... wll be a
very worthwhile edition to any “would
Awesome Ocean Science! appreciate her style. It’s informative, but
be” outdoor educator’s library. Herb Broda
Investigating the Secrets of not alarming or overwhelming in that
has written a nicely balanced book blend-
the Underwater World
why-haven’t-you-already- started-a-com-
ing theory and practice. Stated in easily
munity-organization? kind of way.
understood language, the author provides
By Cindy A. Littlefield
Awesome Ocean Science! also strikes a very good introduction and overview of
Illustrations by Sarah Rakitin
me as versatile. It can be used at home “outdoor education” that will help guide
Published by Williamson Publishing,
or in the classroom. The book is recom- readers through confusion surrounding
2003, 120 p.
mended for children 7 to 14. Based on the term. Broda’s explanation of the evolv-
the text and tasks, parents and teachers of
ing concept of outdoor education will be
Reviewed by Sharon A. Hollander
readers at the low end of that range should
very useful to new students and to those
be ready with explanations and assistance.
whoh wish to convince others (school ad-
Unfortunately, the publisher’s website,
I
r

eview children’s books, and I read
ministrators) about its educational value.
through plenty on science and nature.
www.williamsonbooks.com, was under
I can honestly say that I felt a wave of
construction at the time of this review,
As the book title suggests, the au-
relief when I came upon Awesome Ocean
but they do promise a free, downloadable
thor’s primary focus is on formal outdoor
Science! Investigating the Secrets of the
guide for teachers, parents, and caregiv-
education in grade K-8 public schools.
Underwater World, a Williamson Kids
ers with additional ideas, activities, and
Broda’s mission is to encourage and help
Can! Book.
projects. There are other award-winning
teachers incorporate outdoor learing
I recently took home a big stack of
books in the Kids Can! series on subjects across the curriculum whether they teach
books on the environment, and I was dis-
such as dinosaurs, wildlife, first aid, and cience, social studies, health, language arts,
appointed, not to mention bored by most
weather forecasting. math, art, music or phyysical education.
of them. Perhaps appropriate as sources
In the end, I like the fact that Awe- In his view, the ipitome of success would
for school reports, I can’t imagine a child
some Ocean Science! is respectful of read-
be if the outdoors became an integrating
spontaneously picking one up for leisure
ers and just plain empowering. The author
context for learning across the curricu-
reading. In fact, some of these books
asks many questions, answers some, and
lum. With this in mind, his book unfolds
would test even an adult without bullet-
provides ways to answer the others. The
with chapters such as “Making the School
Clearing - 2009 Compendium Edition http://www.clearingmagazine.org Page 49
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