Greenpeace Fund

November 1, 2016

Gr 3-5-With a broader scope than most (the United States and Canada are represented), this set discusses various social advocacy groups. Each organization's history and their ongoing efforts to carry out their missions are discussed. Funding and educational efforts, as well as statistical information regarding their societal impacts, are described. A unique feature is the way this set encourages readers to come to their own conclusions-a useful tie-in to Common Core curricula in which information synthesis is vital. Each spread features text accompanied by a visual with sidebars promoting activities and questions to encourage critical thought. The photos mostly feature children and are a mix of stock and organization-provided images.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 The Community Connections: How Do They Help? series introduces children to international organizations that make the world better. Greenpeace Fund explains that this group helps raise awareness about environmental threats, global warming, pollution, deforestation, and overfishing among them. Greenpeace provides grants for study and supports research and educational programs. Each book is short yet filled with information, beginning with the organization's history. The solid text invites readers into the discussion with substantial sidebars asking them to make a guess about various topics or ask questions about the group, sometimes reminding readers they too should be involved with social good. The design is bright, but photographs are often folded into the gutter; the links to web sites are also meager. Nevertheless, kids will come away enthused and inspired to help.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)