River wild An activity guide to North American rivers

Gr. 4-7. This useful guide looks at many facets of rivers, from geology to ecology. After a general introduction to topics such as the water cycle, watersheds, and conservation, chapters spotlight rivers in specific areas of North America, such as the Midwest, the Southwest and Mexico, and Canada. Illustrated with drawings and paintings in shades of gray, a typical chapter might discuss three or four rivers, introduce an animal species of the region, provide several science activities and a recipe, and profile a riverkeeper (an individual who works to protect a specific river). Sidebars offer additional information, such as a list of birds that use the Mississippi flyway (migratory path) or the effects of introducing non-native fish into the Colorado. The extensive back matter includes lists of recommended books and Web sites for each chapter, a list of riverkeepers by region, places to visit, a calendar of events, and a glossary. Of special interest in communities where school units focus on local rivers, this book serves as a good source of information and projects. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2006 Booklist

Gr 3-5-Combining information about the rivers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico with activities, this book tries hard to remain upbeat in spite of the devastating facts regarding river health. Pollution, environmental degradation, species extinction, and toxic discharges are just some of the ecological problems discussed. A few positive movements are pointed out, and river keepers of some major waterways are profiled. Some of the activities, such as panning for gold or searching for fossils, may be out of reach for most children, although the conservation suggestions and Web sites are helpful.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.