Scholastic Environmental Atlas of the United States - Hardcover

Mattson, Mark T.

9780590493543: Scholastic Environmental Atlas of the United States

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 059049354X ISBN 13: 9780590493543

Publisher: Scholastic, 1993

Emphasizing ecological issues and concerns, this graphic, up-to-date resource features maps and illustrations, explanations of environmental issues, lists of environmental organizations, and more.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-6-While this attractive, oversized volume is chock-full of environmental data, it is not to be used as a primary resource. The author looks at some global issues (e.g., the ozone layer), but focuses on the uses and abuses of natural resources in the U.S. The coverage is extremely broad and no topic is discussed in much depth. Mattson also suggests ways youngsters can reduce pollution where they live and includes a list of youth organizations for them to contact for information or to become proactive. Students can dip into the book and use its many full-color maps and graphic representations to enhance their state reports or earth science research, but many of the explanations are oversimplified to the point of being misleading and may raise more questions than they answer. The bold graphics are bright and, for the most part, clearly labeled. Some of the color coding is problematic. Maps such as "How does Your State Rate on Enviromental Issues?, in which the states are shown to be either "not good," "average," "good," or "very good"-without any description of what this means-are of little value. There are whole books devoted to many of the topics included here: ecosystems, acid rain, erosion, population, pollution, endangered species, and waste disposal to name a few. This atlas provides some up-to-date statistics (also available elsewhere), but will not take the place of the titles already on library shelves.
Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 3-6. In two sentences Mattson states the background for many of our present-day environmental problems. "To European conquerors, `civilization' meant consuming everything nature had to offer. Because Native Americans farmed with simple tools, Europeans thought they did not know how to `use' the land." His Atlas uses maps, graphs, and icons to pinpoint natural resources and threats to them, such as population density, fresh water, energy use, toxic dumps, and farm productivity. The colorful illustrations are explicit and well placed and can often be understood even without reading the text, a boon to reluctant readers. Although books on environmental issues abound, this one deserves a place on library shelves because the information is so accessible through text and pictures. Glossary; list of suggested readings. Sheilamae O'Hara

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