In 1963, Les Skramstad came home after a hard day's work at the local mill and mine in Libby, Montana. His wife kissed him at the door and his kids playfully grabbed his legs. They didn't… More →
Eco-Disasters
Black blizzards. Toxic water. Killer smog. Deadly oil spills. In this compelling new narrative nonfiction series, readers will learn about the world's worst environmental disasters. Through riveting stories and first-person accounts, each book traces an ecological catastrophe from the beginning to its aftermath. Readers will uncover the truth about what caused the tragedy, the disaster's devastating toll on people and the environment, steps taken to remedy the problem, as well as what can be done to prevent another catastrophe from happening in the future. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal, and often heart-breaking, stories will grip and inspire young readers.
In December 1952, a thick layer of black smog blanketed London. The filthy air blinded people on the streets and brought traffic to a screeching halt. Worst of all, the pollution was deadly.… More →
On April 26, 1986, while workers were conducting a test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, disaster struck. One of the reactors exploded, erupting into a blazing inferno. The reactor's… More →
On April 20, 2010, workers were drilling for oil on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico when a fire caused a huge explosion. Eleven workers tragically lost their lives. Unfortunately, that… More →
One night in December 1984, the residents of Bhopal, India, woke up suddenly, gasping for breath. Aziza Sultan's room was filled with a white cloud: "I heard people shouting, 'Run! Run!' Then More →
Miami has a serious problem--water! Sometimes, on sunny days, water bubbles up from storm drains. Residents find their homes flooded. On some days, they see cars floating like boats and even… More →
On April 14, 1935 in Boise City, Oklahoma, the sky turned black as a massive, swirling cloud of dust engulfed the city. "It got so dark that you couldn't see your hand before your face,"… More →
On April 21, 1956, a five-year-old girl was examined at a hospital in Minamata, Japan. Doctors were puzzled by her symptoms which included difficulty walking and speaking and severe… More →