Polluting the Sea

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-- After an introduction concerning the importance of the oceans, short chapters cogently describe particular types of pollution, their causes, and their detrimental effects. Mention is made of overpopulation and the difficulty in enforcing laws. Worldwide examples are included, emphasizing that this is an international problem. The text is clear and brief, with supporting material in the full-color photographs and their captions, which take up most of each two-page spread. The definitions in the glossary are exceptionally intelligible. Readers are encouraged to recycle, support environmental groups (three addresses are listed), write to legislators, and make posters. This covers much the same material as Ocean (Crestwood, 1990) by Anne Phillips, but is more concise. Both Sedge's Commercialization of the Oceans (Watts, 1987; o.p.) and John Fine's Oceans in Peril (Atheneum, 1987) are for older readers. --Meryl Silverstein, American Museum of Natural History, New York City