Jessica Stremer – författare

A richly illustrated nonfiction picture book celebrating how scientists and activists can work together to create change and protect wildlife, making the world safer for creatures both big and small.How do you save a species? Start at the edges of the food chain.In the 1950s, the brown pelican went from thriving to barely surviving. The culprit was DDT: a harmful pesticide that seeped into soil, spread in the water, festered in small fish, and ultimately caused the pelican population to plummet. Scientists sounded the alarm, but faced pushback from farmers who relied on DDT to control pesky pests. It required many voices joining together, demanding change, before the government took action. Thanks to these efforts, we now have the EPA and the Endangered Species Act, which continue to protect wildlife threatened by climate change.This thrilling and inspirational nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to bioaccumulation, endangered species, and one of the biggest grassroots movements of our time. It connects the success of the pelican’s regrowth with conservation efforts in place today, such as pollinator gardens, wildlife corridors, and much more.Sweeping illustrations depict the brown pelican’s journey from near extinction to a robust, populous species. Back matter includes more details on the EPA, a glossary, and an index.

An outstanding STEM picture book documenting the transformation of an aircraft carrier that was gutted and turned into the world’s largest artificial reef.What happens when something designed to be unsinkable gets bombed to the bottom of the ocean floor? With careful preparation, new life can take root!This incredible story brings young readers along on the journey of the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany—the Mighty O—as it gets stripped down to a steel shell for a new life below the waves. After 25 years of service, launching more aircraft than any other carrier of its time, the ship found a new mission as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. The Mighty O was prepped and reefed by a team of more than 150 scientists, engineers, and technicians. Today, it is home to a flourishing variety of marine animals. Designed to encourage regrowth and protect vulnerable marine life, artificial reefs are a crucial tool in the fight against overfishing, pollution, and warming water temperatures. Extensive back matter reveals more about the Mighty O’s history, the diseases eating away at the world’s natural reef systems, and the role artificial reefs play under the sea, and budding marine biologists will love poring over the exquisite illustrations.Books for a Better Earth are designed to inspire children to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on.A Cook Prize Silver MedalistA Crystal Kite Midwest Region Honor BookA Utah Beehive Award NomineeA Green Earth Book Award Recommended TitleA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Science Friday Best Science Book For KidsAn ALA Top 10 Sustainability Themed Children's Book of the YearA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionA Horn Book Fanfare BookA CCBC Choices BookA Bank Street Best Children's Book of the YearA Connecticut Nutmeg Book List SelectionA Washington, D.C. Capitol Choices List Selection

Imagination meets science and engineering in this inspiring nonfiction picture book about the myriad possibilities of repurposing old objects.Fabric. Cardboard. Plastic. With a little creativity, these everyday materials can be reused in surprising new ways... An old water bottle becomes part of the wall of a school, while a disassembled wind turbine transforms into playground equipment. It's not magic—it's recycling!Award-winning author Jessica Stremer takes a kid friendly approach to exploring how we use discarded products at the end of their lifecycle to reduce waste and keep the planet healthy. From household goods to objects used in global industries, repurposing can have a big environmental impact.Gorgeous double-page spreads capture how the OLD (plastic bottles, rubber tires, seatbelts) becomes NEW (ecobricks, playground mulch, a hammock), encouraging kids to consider how even the most unexpected items can be reused. Back matter elaborates on the different upcycling methods featured and includes a DIY activity for kids to repurpose items found in their home. Books for a Better Earth are designed to inspire children to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on.