Love Earth: The Beauty Makeover Book

Describes some of the problems facing the Earth and outlines things that we can all do to combat pollution.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-The goal of these authors is to raise children's consciousness about the need for and possibilities of recycling. Kallen does this successfully by simultaneously introducing readers to the fun of creating their own art supplies from wax crayons to homemade paper, and explaining how doing projects like these, instead of relying on commercial products, is gentler on the environment. The clearly and simply written directions, attractively laid out in numbered sequences, and the full-color photographs and illustrations make this book appealing. The projects work, though they do require varying levels of ability. (Making real paper is easy; creating egg tempera takes much more skill.) Also, it is not emphasized that spices and other natural resources produce softer, earthier colors than the bright reds, purples, and oranges obtained from commercial dyes. Despite these flaws, Eco-Arts does fulfill its purpose. In Love Earth, Nielsen tells children how they can work to save the environment. Suggestions range from refusing to use chemicals in the yard to helping parents write letters to stop water pollution. All of the advice is reasonable, but the information is inadequate, the solutions simplistic, and the conclusions unwarranted. The shift in tense from past to present as the author concludes for each action, ``When we all work together, the animals are safe and happy again'' (or the litter disappears), adds to the confusion. These things haven't happened yet!-Judith V. Lechner, Auburn University, AL