ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Rachel Carson was a soft-spoken marine biologist whose first books about the sea inspired public appreciation of ocean life. When her fourth book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962, the response was anything but silent. The book aroused public anger of the reckless use of pesticides and heightened world-wide awareness of the need to protect our fragile environment. Silent Spring is still a classic and one of the most influential books written in the 20th century.

ACTIVITIES AND LINKS FOR  KIDS:

• What kind of things do you do to help the environment?  Do you recycle your lunch containers?  Have you spent a Saturday cleaning a beach or clearing a trail?  Or other?  E-mail me about what you have done.

• With your parents' permission, find a few typical cleaning products in your home.  Get an 800 number or website off the label and contact the manufacturer.  Ask for information on safety and environmental impact.  Let me know by e-mail what you find out, and more importantly what you think, and I'll post it on the KID TALK page of my website.

• See where Rachel grew up in Springdale, Pennsylvania by visiting or checking the Rachel Carson Homestead website.

  REVIEWS/AWARDS:

• SSLI Best Book in Science

• "Worthy of Special Note" from 1993 Jefferson Cup Awards by Virginia Library Association: ". . . notable for both its illustrations and superb text."

"Wadsworth does an admirable job illuminating her subject’s life . . . Written in a lively style." THE HORN BOOK GUIDE (Superior Rating)

". . . successfully conveys the story of Carson's life and her powerful ecological message."  SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

TEACHER OR LIBRARIAN?

• An activity page for the classroom or library.

• Use the August 1989 issue of Cobblestone Magazine on Environmentalism.

WHERE TO FIND OR ORDER THIS BOOK:

• Check your school or local library.

• Go to your favorite independent bookstore.  On the Internet, find this book directly at your closest independent bookstore through .  You can also find it through Amazon.com.

• Call Lerner Publications at 1-800-328-4929 or go to their website at www.lernerbooks.com

• This book is available in audio tape from either of the Internet booksellers above.

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