Earth Squad: 50 People Who Are Saving the Planet

by Alexandra Zissu, Nhung Lê (Illustrator)

Overview

Inspire young activists with stories about 50 inspiring and extraordinary environmental crusaders working to save our planet.

Kids across the globe will be moved by the passion of these amazing eco-warriors who have dedicated their lives to making our world a better place. Alongside dynamic illustrations and entertaining biographical information, you'll find practical tips that anyone can do to help save the earth. Every one of us can make a difference, and, together as an Earth Squad, we can change the world.

Meet the Earth Squad:
Will Allen
Anohni
Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Inka Saara Arttijeff
David Attenborough
Precious Brady-Davis
Erin Brockovich
Vicki Buck
Rachel Carson
Yvon Chouinard
Opha Pauline Dube
Lamya Essemlali
Christiana Figueres
Eileen Fisher
Eunice Newton Foote
Wan Gang
Al Gore
James Hansen
Vanessa Hauc
Hilda Heine
Chai Jing
Alexandra Koroleva
Winona LaDuke
Dr. Phil Landrigan
Annie Leonard
Wangari Maathai
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Gina McCarthy
William McDonough
Bill McKibben
Angela Merkel
Charles Moore
Margaret "Mardy" Murie
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Gabriel Orozco
Carlo Petrini
Mark Ruffalo
Pete Seeger
Peggy Shepard
Vandana Shiva
Marina Silva
Sandra Steingraber
David Suzuki
Greta Thunberg
Sarah Toumi
The Trimates
Alexandria Villaseñor
Alice Waters
Charles Windsor
Ken Yeang

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762499212
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Alexandra Zissu is a writer, editor, and content consultant. As a journalist, she has written extensively about food, chefs, fashion, trends, pregnancy, parenting, and especially green living for The New York Times, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Bon Appétit, Health, New York, Vogue, Self, Refinery29, and Time Out New York, among other publications. A native New Yorker, she now lives in the Hudson Valley with her family to be close to the farms that feed them.

Nhung Lê was born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam and formerly based in Brooklyn. Her work has been published in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Eater, Stylist Magazine, and more. She is currently enjoying the sun in Sydney, Australia.

Editorial Reviews

Although the profiles are meant to pique curiosity, their real strength is in their breadth and diversity… For browsers, reluctant readers, and budding environmentalists alike.—Booklist

[A] good introduction to inspire readers new to the cause.—Kirkus Reviews

Highly recommended for any library, particularly in communities where climate science is especially relevant. Budding environmental activists will be inspired to take action.—School Library Journal

"This lively 'who's who' presents a diverse group of individuals who have made great strides in fighting climate change."
 —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

06/01/2021

Gr 6 Up—This collection of environmental warriors spans all age groups and includes figures from 1819 to the present. Big names such as actor Mark Ruffalo, who portrays the Incredible Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and teenage activist Greta Thunberg are just two of the 50 inspiring people in this book who have worked or are working to bring current climate action to the forefront of readers' thoughts. Each biography includes ideas for how readers could be more like the spotlighted individual to help make the world and the environment better. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and are limited to pictures of each individual. The background of each portrait has a design that is associated with them in some way, such as a landscape or the specific reason why they have made headlines. Included at the end of the book is a four-page glossary that explains several environmental terms that readers might not know or might find confusing. The organization of the bite-sized biographies seems fairly random within each section, but they are organized by their general area of work and the page edges have a color to distinguish each section. The table of contents outlines the areas of work that are included: Activism and Community, Science, Politics, Food, Art and Innovation, and Journalism. VERDICT Highly recommended for any library, particularly in communities where climate science is especially relevant. Budding environmental activists will be inspired to take action.—Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elem. Sch., Warren, MI

School Library Journal

2021-01-27
Meet leaders working to save our planet.

Know an older child or young teen who wants to make a difference? Introduce them to this collective biography of environmentalists who are working to preserve our environment. Fifty individuals from a range of backgrounds, geographic locations, and ages are introduced across six thematic categories: activism and community, science, politics, food, art and innovation, and journalism. And although they all want to save the planet, their stories and motivations are varied, making for a nuanced introduction to environmental leaders around the world. Subjects range from the familiar (Greta Thunberg, Wangari Maathai, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, David Attenborough) to names young readers may well not have encountered, at least in this context: French Moroccan ocean activist Lamya Essemlali, African American community organizer Peggy Shepard, and Botswanan scientist Opha Pauline Dube are just a few in that latter category. Each biography is relatively uniform in style: A bold, full-page illustration of the subject accompanies approximately a page and a half to two pages of text that summarize their life and their achievements. A closing box encourages readers to act like the subject via a statement of general advice that alludes to their work. Words set in boldface refer readers to a glossary of 13 concepts. Sadly, further reading in the form of suggested resources or a bibliography is not provided. Readers looking to learn more about environmental leaders will be interested, but those looking for a deep dive will need additional help to plumb those depths. Overall, however, it’s a good introduction to inspire readers new to the cause.

Interesting, if brief. (Collective biography. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews