Plight of the Pelican - (Books for a Better Earth) by Jessica Stremer (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A nonfiction picture book that chronicles the science and activism that not only saved the pelicans in the 1950s but led to the founding of the EPA and the Endangered Species Act"--

Book Synopsis

A richly illustrated nonfiction picture book celebrating how scientists and activists can work together to create change and protect wildlife, making the world safer for creatures both big and small.

How do you save a species? Start at the edges of the food chain.

In the 1950s, the brown pelican went from thriving to barely surviving. The culprit was DDT: a harmful pesticide that seeped into soil, spread in the water, festered in small fish, and ultimately caused the pelican population to plummet. Scientists sounded the alarm, but faced pushback from farmers who relied on DDT to control pesky pests.

It required many voices joining together, demanding change, before the government took action. Thanks to these efforts, we now have the EPA and the Endangered Species Act, which continue to protect wildlife threatened by climate change.

This thrilling and inspirational nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to bioaccumulation, endangered species, and one of the biggest grassroots movements of our time. It connects the success of the pelican's regrowth with conservation efforts in place today, such as pollinator gardens, wildlife corridors, and much more.

Sweeping illustrations depict the brown pelican's journey from near extinction to a robust, populous species. Back matter includes more details on the EPA, a glossary, and an index.

Review Quotes

The partnership between Stremer's expressive and suspenseful text and Wright's evocative hand-painted gouache, ink, and acrylic illustrations gives readers an exceptionally clear picture of the discovery and correction of one historical threat to wildlife: the use of DDT on crops.
--The Horn Book

This beautifully illustrated nonfiction-in-verse picture book invites young readers to dive deep into the plight of the brown pelican, endangered by the pesticide DDT in the 1950s.
--Booklist

Layers of color enliven Wright's artwork, which shifts from faithfully rendered images of pelicans to conventional depictions of farmland, protests, and more. Concluding verse effectively amplifies Stremer's message about the importance of science as a vehicle for positive change.
--Publishers Weekly

A lyrical tribute to the scientists who solved an ecological mystery and spurred efforts to save many species from extinction.
--Kirkus Reviews

Through playful, enlightening text and dazzling illustrations, Stremer and Gordy inform their audience about the importance of conservation efforts at a time when climate change threatens many species around the globe. . . .Plight of the Pelican makes a superb splash.
--Shelf Awareness

About the Author

Jessica Stremer is a children's book writer with a background in biology and ecology. Her passion lies in inspiring curiosity, wonder, and respect for our natural world. Jessica's debut picture book, Great Carrier Reef, also illustrated by Gordy Wright, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and received two starred reviews. She lives in Wisconsin with her family.

Gordy Wright is an illustrator and printmaker who paints by hand in gouache and acrylic. Recent projects include Wild In the Streets by Marilyn Singer, and Strange But True by Kathryn Hulic, as well as Great Carrier Reef, by Jessica Stremer, which received two starred reviews. Gordy graduated with a first class degree in illustration from the University of the West of England, and lives in Bristol.

• Kids who love nature documentaries and subscribe to Nat Geo Kids
  
• Elementary school educators and librarians looking for uplifting and informative books about the environment
  
• Families in coastal towns or with summer beach houses
  
• Fans of other titles in Holiday House's Books for a Better Earth collection