ELA

The Last Ocean: The Toothfish and the Battle for Antarctica's Soul (2012)

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The Ross Sea, Antarctica is the most pristine marine ecosystem on Earth. Scientists describe it as a 'living laboratory', a place that can teach us about the workings of all marine ecosystems. But the fishing industry recently found its way to the Ross Sea, targeting Antarctic toothfish and, unless fishing is stopped, the natural balance of the Ross Sea will be lost forever.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:27

The Last Ocean: The Toothfish and the Battle for Antarctica's Soul

FLOW: For Love of Water (2008)

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Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st century - The World Water Crisis. Salina builds a case against the growing privatization fo the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:24

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2010)

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Wars of the future will be fought over water, as they are today over oil, as the source of all life enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling fresh water supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive.

Grade Level:

High

Length:

01:30

Owen

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Copies: 1

Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. "Fuzzy goes where I go," said Owen. But Mrs. Tweezers disagreed. She thought Owen was too old for a blanket. Owen disagreed. No matter what Mrs. Tweezers came up with, Blanket Fairies or vinegar, Owen had the answer. But when school started, Owen't mother knew just what to do, and everyone -- Owen, Fuzzy, and even Mrs. Tweezers -- was happy.

Author:

Kevin Henkes

Lexile:

370L

Planet Ocean (2012)

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Planet Ocean captures extraordinary images of our remarkable oceans—the source of all life on our planet.

Filmed by directors Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, along with an outstanding team of international underwater cinematographers in partnership with OMEGA and with the scientific support of Tara Expeditions.

Grade Level:

Middle

Length:

01:33

In The Small Small Pond

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Copies: 1

Denise Fleming's book gives young readers a frog's-eye view of life in a pond throughout the seasons.

In the Small, Small Pond is a 1994 Caldecott Honor Book.

Author:

Denise Fleming

Smoky Night

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Copies: 1

In a night of rioting, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter. "Diaz has not been afraid to take risks in illustrating the story with thickly textured paintings against a background of torn-paper and found-object collage. Without becoming cluttered or gimmicky, these pictures manage to capture a calamitous atmosphere that finally calms. . . . Both author and artist have managed to portray a politically charged event without pretense or preaching."-- The Bulletin

Author:

Eve Bunting

Lexile:

360L

Poisoned Waters (2009)

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More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, two iconic waterways—the great coastal estuaries of Puget Sound and the Chesapeake Bay—are in perilous condition. With polluted runoff still flowing in from industry, agriculture and massive suburban development, scientists fear contamination to the food chain and drinking water for millions of people.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

02:00

Mirette on the High Wire

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Copies: 1

Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boarding house, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear.

Author:

Emily Arnold McCully

Lexile:

580L

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

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Copies: 1

The entire book, with its unconventional page arrangement and eclectic, frenetic mix of text and picures, is a spoof on the art of book design and the art of the fairy tale. The individual tales, such as he Really Ugly Ducklingand ittle Red Running Shorts,can be extracted for telling aloud, with great success. Another masterpiece from the team that created The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! -Horn Book

Author:

Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Lexile:

520L

ELA

The Last Ocean: The Toothfish and the Battle for Antarctica's Soul (2012)

FLOW: For Love of Water (2008)

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2010)

Owen

Planet Ocean (2012)

In The Small Small Pond

Smoky Night

Poisoned Waters (2009)

Mirette on the High Wire

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

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