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Latest Reviews
- 20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth |
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www.readingjungle.com
Written by :
Coach Pedro
Published by : AuthorHouse; Bilingual edition
ISBN-10 : 1434393925
ISBN-13 : 978-1434393920
Reading Level : Ages 4-8
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth entertains and
informs young readers while instilling values of
environmental awareness and personal responsibility. Authors
Coach Pedro and Susan Adam Rita team up with artist Murillo
Pruner to deliver simple, straight-forward messages
alongside vivid illustrations.
Presented as a useful guide, 19 suggestions for creating and
maintaining a better environment are provided. Each concept
is explored by contrasting the consequences of a wasteful or
careless act, with the benefits of a responsible and
thoughtful act. Though the examples used to contrast good
and bad choices are sometimes more melodramatic than
necessary, the points are made on how to be better stewards
of the planet.
This bi-lingual book combines the use of both English and
Spanish phrasing to help readers learn or reinforce either
language. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and
help convey the authors’ points.
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth ends with a
personal challenge for readers to take the important first
step towards supporting the environment. The authors and
illustrator succeed in making this an educational, fun, and
thought-provoking experience.
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What this
book is about? (from
the publisher's website)
20 EASY WAYS TO SAVE THE
EARTH is a book full of great ideas to put into practice that
will help you change little things and have a great impact. The
main reason for this book is to educate, inspire, and empower
children to protect the environment. Written and illustrated in
a fun way, Ways to Save the Earth is a book for the whole family
to enjoy and share important ideas. We all share this EARTH, so
let us take good care of it.
Why you
should get it?
This is the first green
children's book I read which is written both in English and in
Spanish and it makes so much sense when you think on all the
parents and children who feel more comfortable to read in
Spanish (and all of those who can use it to improve their
Spanish like myself!).
By making the book bi-lingual,
the author wanted to reach kids in Hispanic communities and I
think this is a great idea that hopefully will be copied by
other authors and publishers. One funny thing I noticed though
is that the book is designed in a way that each recommendation
is presented on two pages - there is an illustration showing how
not to behave on the left side and another illustration showing
how we should behave on the right side. Now, the English text is
always on the right side and the Spanish translation always
comes on the left side - so it looks like the English goes with
the wrongdoing while Spanish is the language of the good deeds
The book itself is full with great advice. You won't find
there any new advice but the book's strength is in putting all
of these recommendations together and showing how simple it can
be for children (and their parents) to go green. Coach Pedro and
his wife, Susan, created an easy and understandable guide, full
with
beautiful illustrations, for every kid who wants to support the
environment and don't know where to begin or already begun and
looks for further ideas.
Coming from the land of
Pele, Ronaldo,
Ronaldinho,
Kaka and many other
soccer legends that became a model and inspiration for millions
of children around the world, I hope Coach Pedro will also find
his way to the hearts and minds of many kids and will succeed to
influence them, this time not only to play soccer, but also to
support the environment both on and outside the soccer field.
If you want
to learn more about Coach Pedro and his work, you are welcome to
visit his website -
www.coachpedro.com
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Book Review: 20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth
I keep hearing the words to that old song in my head, ³Grease is
the word,
is the word, is the wordŠ² Only, in my version, Iım hearing,
³Green is the
wordŠ!² Yes, going green is hot these days, and hopefully itıs
not a passing
fad. By teaching our children about conservation, environmental
clean-up,
recycling, wildlife preservation and more, we can help them
establish good
habits that will be life-long and impact future generations.
Amarildo Pedro Rita, known as ³Coach Pedro² to his youth soccer
players, has
seen firsthand how important it is to teach children about
taking care of
our planet. In his many years as both a professional soccer
player in Brazil
and as a youth soccer coach in Michigan, heıs been dismayed by
the huge
amounts of food wrappers, water bottles, athletic tape and much
more
scattered on the fields after a game. People were missing
opportunities to
recycle their bottles and cans, and they were harming the
environment by not
picking up their litter.
This inspired Coach Pedro and his wife, Susan Adam Rita, to
write a book for
kids called 20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth. The book is
written in both
English and Spanish in the hopes of appealing not only to all
children, but
especially to those in Hispanic communities, the fastest growing
ethnic
group in the United States. This delightfully illustrated book
includes tips
like:
- Surround your house and/or land with trees; it will help
us have more
clean oxygen.
- Protect wildlife by not giving animals human food and not
taking them
away from their natural habitat, since we need them to make the
environment
a better place.
- Do not waste electricity. Turn off lights, TV, or any
utilities that
are not in use when you donıt need them.
- Do not drive your car for a short distance, but ride your
bike. It
will make you feel better and healthier.
At the end of the book, it asks children, ³How can I help save
the earth?²
Itıs a great opener for conversations with kids about how small
efforts can
make a big difference in our world. 20 Easy Ways to Help Save
the Earth is
available from AuthorHouse and Amazon. You can also visit Coach
Pedroıs
website at www.coachpedro.com to find out more about him and his
other
exciting projects.
Technorati Tags:
book review, children's books, conservation, environment, green
products
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20 Easy Ways to Help Save The Earth
This is a wonderful book I received to review. It was written by
a
Proffesional soccer player by the name of Amarildo Pedro Rita,
who is
currently the director of the developmental soccer program in
Ann Arbor,
Michigan. His wife, Susan Adam-Rita co-wrote the book with him.
Susan is a
licensed psychologist (in Brazil) and is currently studying to
earn her
Ph.D. in the counselor education program at Wayne State
University.
As the title states, the book lists 20 ways for children to help
save the
earth. But the neat part, is that this is a bilingual book. I
love bilingual
books. Living in South Texas I've come to learn some Spanish and
I use it
with my children and within my own home. (Though, it's also
nice to
communicate with their Daddy without them understanding
everything we are
discussing) :-)
This book is written in English and Spanish. Each page tells a
way to help
save the earth in English and is colorfully illustrated. The
page opposite
to the English version is translated into Spanish and has an
additional
illustration to prove home the point.
Some of the 20 ways listed are simple, such as, "Turn off the
water when you
are not using it, brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog,
washing your
car......"
Others are slightly more complex such as, "Recycle your home
garbage instead
of throwing it away. It will help our children have a better
environment to
live in."
This is a great book to encourage children that they can help
save the Earth
too! I only wish I would have had it in time for an Earth Day
Giveaway. ;-)
"How can you help save the earth?" [?Que puedo hacer yo para
salvar la
tierra?]
You could start by reading this book! :-) As usual, I'm feeing
generous
and I like to share and spread the word about books and the
importance of
reading, so I am offering this book as a GiveAway! (did you have
any doubt
that I wouldn't?)
* 1 entry) Comment on a way your child/niece/nephew (or
yourself if
there are no children in your family) participate to help save
our Earth.
:-)
* 1 entry) Tweet this giveaway and let me know you
did/provide me with
the tweet link.
* 2 entries) Grab my badge!
* 3 entries) Post about this giveaway and the book at your
blog (be
sure to comment back with a link so I can find it!)
* 5 entries) Visit Root & Sprout and tell me something you
like about
one of the currently published articles.
* 1 additional entry) for each time you comment to the
actual article at
Root & Sprout [be sure to let me know you did!]
This Giveaway closes on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at
midnight! Winner
will be selected by random drawing.
Posted by Farmer*swife at 1:23 PM
Labels: Cool Things, GiveAways, Reading, Reviews, Root and
Sprout, WIN
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My Thoughts
I love the book and so does my son. And what I particularly
love about it is
that it offers simple ways that we can do daily to help save the
Earth.
Simple yet effective ways that would have a big impact on making
the Earth a
better place to live.
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Posted byDee at3:41 AMLabels:Earth Talk
Yesterday, 06:48:44
³This is our only Earth, our home. So, taking care of it should
be one of
our top priorities. Our children will inherit our home long
after we are
gone, I think to instill in their minds ways to preserve her
would have a
great impact in the bigger picture even if it's just as simple
as unplugging
the appliances when not in use and making sure that the faucet
isn't
leaking.
Yesterday, 22:34:54
³Oh, yes, little things like that really counts a lot. And
what's great
about it is that they're simple and easy to do daily and yet
they do a lot
of good already. Thanks, Doc Z! Smile
Yesterday, 22:42:20
³Hi Payatot! Oo nga, iyan din ang mahirap talaga. Sana iyong mga
gustong
sumira e maliwanagan naman na dapat huwag na nila ipagpatuloy
ang mga hindi
magandang gawain nila kasi ang future na generasyon din ang
kawawa. Salamat,
Payatot! Smile
Today, 01:50:49
³Nice book. Yes, children should be aware on how to save mother
earth at an
early age. Daughter ko alam na ang global warming and greenhouse
gas
effects. Sya rin taga-patay ng mga naka bukas na ilaw at iba
pang
appliances. Nahawa na akin.lol!
Dee, it's nice to see your face...the real you. I'm fine now.
Again, thanks
for your prayers.
Today, 07:35:32
³These are the vital concerns that our politicians should attend
to. We get
what we give, and when Mother Nature extracts her revenge, our
puny efforts
are futile against her tremendous power.
We denude our forests and wonder why flood is one perennial
problem. We burn
or dispose our trash anywhere and wonder why summers are no
longer bearable.
It's man's irresponsibility that forces nature to retaliate.
That's the law
of nature.
"Karma" comes in many ways, and this is one of very good
example; We get
from nature what we have given her.
Alam naman natin ang mali pero matigas pa rin ang mga ulo natin,
bakit kaya?
I've read somewhere that man has the propensity for self
destruction, and I
agree that there is some truth to this statement.
Today, 14:27:01
³I agree with Jena Isle.
Saving mother earth is the most important issue that we should
be tackling
about. Global Warming is like cancer, silently killing you and
when already
attacking your vital organs, that's the only time you can take
action, which
is already too late.
Today, 15:34:11
³I Agree 100%! There is no other place we can live except earth
so we must
cherish and protect it, anyway it is God's blessing to us. We
can help our
kids value this planet by being an example to them Smile
Thanks for sharing.
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Title:
20
Easy Ways to Save the Earth
Author:
Coach
Pedro
& Susan Adam Rita
Illustrated by:
Murilo Pruner
Review Copy Provided by:
Phenix
& Phenix
About the Book: 20
EASY WAYS TO SAVE THE EARTH
is a book full of great
ideas to put into practice
that will help you change
little things and have a
great impact. The main
reason for this book is to
educate, inspire, and
empower children to protect
the environment.
My Review: This is a
perfect non-fiction picture
book to teach young children
about taking care of the
earth. Written in English
and Spanish, each page shows
the dos and don'ts of taking
care of the earth. The
bright colored, vivid,
kid-friendly illustrations
will have children checking
this one out. The pictures
show children doing what is
wrong and then other
children doing the right
thing. In a time where
prices are going up, and
people are losing jobs,
conserving is something we
need to really think about
as adults, as well as
children. It is never too
early to teach children ways
to live "greener" and this
book is a great start! The
book ends with a great
question to get kids
discussing either in class
at school or at home; "How
can I help save the earth?"
As a teacher, I could see
many ways to extend this
book with just that one
question. The students
could come up with other
ways and create posters for
them. This is also a
perfect book for Earth Day.
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This is the next to last
post for Children's Book
Week. Coach Pedro, author
of
20 Easy Ways to Help Save
the Earth, was kind
enough to stop by for an
interview to culminate the
week. I will be posting a
review of his book later
today, but wanted you to get
to know the author first.
Coach Pedro Rita resides in
Ann Arbor, Mich., with his
wife and co-author, Susan
Adam-Rita. He works as
Coaching Director for
Michigan Tigers FC as well
as Director of Development
for WideWorld Sports Center,
a soccer facility with
programs for youth players.
Coach Pedro is currently
working on his next book
called Bending a Soccer
Ball. For more information,
please visit
www.coachpedro.com
Write For A Reader (WFAR):
When did you know that you
wanted to be an author?
Coach Pedro (CP): I
always wanted to write about
my profession and the
experiences that I have had
with soccer. But working
with children really opened
my eyes to the need for more
instruction, so I decided to
write specifically for them.
All my books are related to
soccer, even 20 Easy Ways
to Help Save the Earth,
since it was at the soccer
fields where I found the
urgency to address this
issue of saving our
environment.
WFAR: Would you describe
your writing atmosphere to
the readers? Where do you
work, when, music, snacks,
etc...
CP: I usually write
at home. I live in a quiet
place and have the privilege
of being surrounded by lots
of trees, flowers and birds,
so that helps a lot. I keep
a little note book with me
so that when I have an idea,
I can write it down and
remember it later.
WFAR: What do you like to
do when you are not writing?
CP: I like to take
care of the garden, and of
course, I like everything
related to soccer, which
usually means I am always
working, either teaching or
coaching soccer. I really
like everything that’s
outdoors.
WFAR:
What are some of your
favorites? Author,
illustrator, book, color, or
any others you’d like to
share.
CP: I have so many
favorite authors, books and
illustrators. By
illustrator, I really admire
the illustrator of my book,
Murilo. He really gets at
what I want and is able to
put some “emotion” on the
illustrations. A children’s
books author I like a lot is
Patricia Polaco. She touches
my heart with her stories,
maybe because she speaks
from her own experiences
growing up, which is what I
do.
WFAR: What do you find is
the greatest challenge in
writing children’s books?
Why?
CP: Perhaps the
greatest challenge is to
make sure the kids will get
involved with the book and
enjoy it. I love to hear a
kid saying, “I love reading
this book.”
WFAR: What do you love most
about being a children’s
book author?
CP: The contact and
acceptance the children
show. It is always my
biggest reward to hear what
lesson the children got from
the books. They are not shy
to tell you, and it is even
surprises me how it touches
them and the ideas and
lessons they take from it.
WFAR: Do you have writing
mentors or influences?
CP: The children I
work with are my biggest
mentors and biggest source
of influence. Before
publishing a book I always
give it to some kids to read
it and ask for their input
and what they liked or
disliked. Since children are
very honest, I get the best
feedback I could expect.
WFAR: What’s in the works
for you next?
CP: I am working on
my next book, which focuses
on issues of inclusion and
discrimination and the
lessons kids can learn from
it. Stay tuned, you are
going to love it.
WFAR: Can you give us the
back story behind one of
your books. Why did you
write it or where did the
idea come from?
CP: Well, the idea
of 20 Easy Ways to Help
Save the Earth really
came from me being at the
soccer fields everyday and
noticing how much trash kids
leave behind. I spent a lot
of time just cleaning after
them. I noticed that it was
happening everywhere I was
going to play a game. Within
my own teams, I started to
talk with them about the
importance of living in a
clean environment and to
take care of what you have.
That’s how I came up with
the idea of a simple book
that could start more
discussions and maybe bring
more ideas to the table as
of what each and everyone of
us can do to help save the
Earth. It doesn’t need to be
a big idea, but small,
simple things can help a
great deal.
We also opened a blog call
GREEN EARTH, where we post
ideas we receive from kids
that read the book and are
taking action and changing
little things at their
communities. It is really
rewarding.
WFAR:
What is your favorite piece
or book that you have
written?
CP: I really like
the Magic Soccer Ball series
but 20 Easy Ways to Help
Save the Earth is the one I
am getting more involvement
from kids and parents from
all over the world and
that’s rewarding.
WFAR: Tell us something
about you that might
surprise us.
CP: I love
working in the
garden, and I would
love to have a
bulldog puppy.
WFAR: Anything else
you would like to
share with the
readers?
CP: As
mentioned before we
have a blog called:
Green Earth that you
can access by going
to:
http://20easywaystohelpsavetheearth.blogspot.com/.
So send us your
ideas and or
comments about your
views as what to do
to help save our
environment.
Children
participating with
their ideas and
projects are up to
get the Golden Green
Seal, as a way to
recognize their work
and respect for
their community,
school, home, etc.
Children’s projects
will be consolidate
within a foundation
we will be opening
soon in which we are
empowering the
children to plan,
direct and take
action at.
We also have a
campaign that we
started 4 years ago,
where we send around
4 to 5 big boxes to
Brazil filled with
used soccer balls,
shoes, and clothes
that are distributed
to very poor kids.
The donations and
boxes assemble is
done by the children
we work with and who
volunteer their time
and effort to give
the ones less
fortunate to have a
better Christmas.
Everyone can do a
little to brighten a
child’s day.
Coach Pedro, thanks so
much for stopping by and
sharing with us today.
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by Coach Pedro & Susan
Adam Rita
First, I love the
subject matter of this
book - love that it
empowers children to
take responsibility to
do little things that
are good for the earth.
The little things can
and do make a
difference. And I like
that the book gives
explanations - it
doesn't just say to use
reusables instead of
disposables - it simply
explains why it's better
to reuse.
Also loved that this
book is bilingual. It
has english on one side
of the page and spanish
on the other - great to
learn another language
at an early age. The
book is recommended for
children ages 4-8, but I
think it could appeal to
an older child who is
interested in bilingual
learning.
You can even check out
the book on
YouTube
:)
Sweeps4Bloggers
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NO TIME MOMMY
Did you know last year, Americans
produced over 505 million tons of trash. Your daily habits
impact the environment, but there is still time to reverse the
damage and help preserve our precious planet for future
generations. It doesn’t take a energy powered car or a wind
farm to prevent damage to our earth. Just a few simple things
you do everyday. like turning off the T.V when you leave, pick
up litter and throw it in the trash, or turning off the water
while brushing your teeth.
I think it’s is really important
to teach our kids how to save the Earth, no matter what age they
are. It’s their future that will be impacted long term. I’m so
glad this new children’s book was introduced to me. we found it
very useful and interesting tips and ideas for kids. my daughter
has already started being very conscious about saving energy and
the Earth.
20 easy ways to help save the
Earth is full of
situations kids encounter everyday. this book has very useful
images and gives suggestions kids can use to help. teaches
through words and pictures recycling bottles and cans, to
innovative ideas like using rainwater for watering household
plants. Kids are encouraged to do their part and share their
enthusiasm for conservation with others. retails for $19.49
20 easy ways to help save the
earth encourages children to:
pick up their trash before
leaving an outdoor area
conserve water and only use it
when needed
turn off lights and video games
when not being used
plant trees and flowers to help
the climate
“I made a team rule that we were
not to leave any trash behind,” explains Coach Pedro, who
noticed the soccer fields littered with trash. “It’s all about
doing those little things that make a huge impact on the
environment.”
“We have found that children are
very influential,” Coach Pedro says. “There’s a tendency for
children to learn a behavior and in turn teach their family.”
Written in both English and
Spanish, Coach Pedro hopes to reach kids in Hispanic
communities, the fastest growing ethnic group in the United
States, all while teaching them something they can be proud of
when sharing their knowledge with friends, parents and
educators.
Coach Pedro Rita resides in
Ann Arbor, Mich.,
with his wife and co-author, Susan Adam-Rita. He works as
Coaching Director for Michigan Tigers FC as well as Director of
Development for Wide-World Sports Center, a soccer facility with
programs for youth players. Coach Pedro is currently working on
his next book called Bending a Soccer Ball. For more
information, please visit
www.coachpedro.com |
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All Because Two people Fell in Love
We received "20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth" by youth
soccer coach and eco-conscious citizen Coach Pedro Rita to
review! Written in both English and Spanish, "20 Easy Ways to
Help Save the Earth" teaches children about environmental
awareness and the simple things they can do to protect the
Earth. The main purpose for this book is to educate, inspire,
and empower children to protect the environment. Written and
illustrated in a fun way, 20 Ways to Save the Earth is a book
for the whole family to enjoy and share important ideas.
About the Author
Amarildo Pedro Rita was born in 1962 and has been playing high
level soccer in Brazil and has being coaching youth soccer
players in the United States since 1999. Currently he is the
Director of Developmental Soccer Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan
and author of The Magic Soccer Ball series plus The Boy and His
Dream, A Great Soccer Tournament, and 20 Easy Ways to Help Save
the Earth. Coach Pedro holds a bachelor degree in physical
education and USSF "A" License.www.coachpedro.com
This is a great children's book that really helps children
understand the importance of protecting our environment. The
bright and vibrant illustrations helps little ones to easily
understood the point being made. This book is loaded with great
ideas that are simple enough for our kids to do! My kids have
already read this book many times and really enjoy trying to
read the Spanish. The book is also great for people of all ages
learning how to speak Spanish.
We highly recommend this great read! |
| |
Maria’s
Space
This week I reviewed a children's book
called
20 Easy Ways To Save The Earth
by
Coach Pedro
& Susan Adam Rita.
This is an
educational, fun book in both English and Spanish that
shows/tells kids 20 easy things they can do to help save our
planet.
"20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth" is full of situations kids
encounter on a daily basis and takes a proactive approach to
modeling new behaviors and attitudes that
eco-conscious children can adopt. From
tried-and-true suggestions such as recycling bottles and cans to
innovative ideas like using rainwater for watering household
plants, kids are encouraged to do their part and share their
enthusiasm for conservation with others [source].
I have been trying to instill a sense of
responsibility towards our beautiful planet ever since my two
babies were infants. If we see litter we talk about why it is
bad for people to toss their trash on the ground and not use
receptacles, why we shouldn't waste water and electricity and
why we should recycle.
Ever since Earth Day this year, my daughter who is now in
Preschool has been speaking up more when she sees trash on the
street or in the lake, "whoever tossed that, needs to take
better care of our earth, right mama? That is bad!"
In A Nutshell: 20 Easy Ways To Help Save The Earth is a
wonderful way to educate, inspire, empower, or introduce your
children to the easy ways that they can make a difference in
protecting our planet earth. If more people took the passion
they feel for the own country or their home, our earth would be
in better condition.
Also, the colors, pictures and short sentences are stimulating
enough for even the youngest listener.
For more information on the book and recycling, or how you can help
instill good environmental values in your child, head over to
Coach Pedro's site
or his
Green Earth blog.
Or to purchase the book
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the
Earth, press this link .
Happy Reading!
Courtesy of
Phenix &
Phenix Literary Publicists
I'm all about
trying to go green....even if it's light green. I like the 20
ways, because sometimes it's so overwhelming! Thanks! |
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Mommas gone over the wall
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Talk of "being
green" or "going green" seems to be at an all time high.
Everyone is talking about what they can do to better the Earth.
Even my 4 year old, has been talking about ways to save the
Earth the last few weeks. But, it can be tough to help someone
so young understand just how they can help.
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the
Earth, written by Pedro Rita, does just that. It puts
being green into words that kids can understand. It shows the
impact of being environmentally friendly, as well as what
happens when people don't take care of our environment.
Before I got a chance to sit down and read the book with my son,
he had started looking through it himself. From the pictures, he
explained to me what was happening, and which pictures made "the
Earth happy."
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth is a great teaching tool. It
encourages kids (and parents) to be Earth friendly through
simple tasks, such as:
·
Recycling
·
Planting
flowers or trees
·
Turning off
lights, tv, or other utilities when not in use
In addition to
writing,
Pedro Rita has coached
various levels of soccer and established the Green Earth Club,
to develop conservation programs created by kids. His other
books include A Boy and His Team and A Great Soccer Tournament.
Posted by
Staci
at
9:53 PM
Labels:
Books,
Kids,
Review
3 comments:
Anonymous said...
Amber! said...
I love how
simple it can be....and teaching the kiddos early in life is
wonderful! Great review.
Momstart said...
we're
enjoying this book right now
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Is It Monday
Already?
"Because Money Doesn't Grown On Trees!"
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I was given the opportunity to review another great Children's
book from my friends over at
Phenix &
Phenix Literary Publicists.
I love being able to receive wonderful books for my children in
exchange for my non-paid honest reviews. It is a win win
opportunity.
The book I received to review is called 20 Easy Ways To Help
Save The Earth.
The first thing I want to point out is the fact that the book is
written in BOTH English and Spanish. No not Spanglish but BOTH
languages. I felt this was important to mention as there are a
lot of homes that are bilingual, and now both English and
Spanish readers can enjoy and learn from one book.
This book contains messages that are not only good practices for
children but adults as well, we all need to do our part to help
conserve our resources and help our earth. Some of the
lessons that are
taught to all who read this book are:
-Pick up their trash before leaving an outdoor area
-Conserve water and only use it when needed
-Turn off lights and video games when not being used
-Plant trees and flowers to help the climate
The messages conveyed in this book are simple yet meaningful,
the book is written in a way that anyone can understand, and the
verbiage is easily translated on opposite pages in the
Spanish language. If
you enjoy having your children read books that teach them
responsibility then please pick up a copy of 20 Easy Ways to
Help Save The Earth.
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From Melissa Desk
20
Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth *Book Review*
You may have left
the house today with the television still on, kept the water
running while you brushed your teeth or even walked past some
litter on your way to the office. Whether you realize it or not,
the waste adds up. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer,
Americans produced over 505 million tons of trash just in 2008.
Your daily habits impact the environment, but there is still
time to reverse the damage and preserve our home for future
generations. It doesn't take inventing a new energy powered car
or setting up a wind farm to prevent damage to the Earth; just a
few simple gestures can go a long way in making the Earth a
little greener.
Youth soccer coach
and eco-conscious citizen Coach Pedro Rita, believes teaching
children to make simple changes in their daily lives may be the
answer to saving the Earth from the destruction of past
generations. In his new children's book,
"20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth", Coach Pedro shows
kids how their actions can affect their homes and communities
and offers them easy-to-use, Earth-saving tips to inspire and
empower our youth to protect the environment.
"I made a team rule
that we were not to leave any trash behind," explains Coach
Pedro, who noticed the soccer fields littered with trash. "It's
all about doing those little things that make a huge impact on
the environment."
"20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth" is full of situations
kids encounter on a daily basis and takes a proactive approach
to modeling new behaviors and attitudes that eco-conscious
children can adopt. From tried-and-true suggestions such as
recycling bottles and cans to innovative ideas like using
rainwater for watering household plants, kids are encouraged to
do their part and share their enthusiasm for conservation with
others.
"We have found that
children are very influential," Coach Pedro says. "There's a
tendency for children to learn a behavior and in turn teach
their family."
Written in both
English and Spanish, Coach Pedro hopes to reach kids in Hispanic
communities, the fastest growing ethnic group in the United
States, all while teaching them something they can be proud of
when sharing their knowledge with friends, parents and
educators.
Get a sneak peak of
20 Easy Ways to Help Save the Earth by watching this
trailer:
My Thoughts:
What an excellent
book!! I don't think many people realize what a difference we
can make as individuals toward the environment - whether good or
bad. I love that this book teaches responsibility for your
actions and teamwork! Simple steps including picking up your
trash before leaving an outdoor area, conserving water, and
turning off lights when multiplied by thousands, hundred
thousands or even better - millions, will do so much to help
save our planet!!
What a great idea to
have it written in English and Spanish! My kids really enjoyed
comparing the two languages. The pictures are colorful and fun!
I truly applaud Coach Pedro and his efforts to teach children
how to help save our one and only planet!
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 A
great bi-lingual book that empowers kids, March 18,
2009
By book
lover "a fan"
(michigan)
This book has a simple, powerful message to
kids - you can make a difference in protecting our environment!
It has fantastic illustrations and is written in English and
Spanish. My kids have read it multiple times and love to look at
how the English translates to Spanish, the fun illustrations,
and easy ways they can help to protect the environment. The book
inspired my kids to organize a "kids protect the earth" club at
their school. As a bonus, it also got them interested in taking
Spanish lessons. |
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20 sugerencias muy faciles de seguir para
salvar la tierra, April 7, 2009
By Michigan
Sencillamente
maravilloso,de facil lectura, entretenida, con
ilustraciones muy lindas y un contenido de profundas
verdades. Si cada uno de nosotros adultos y ninos
siguieramos aunque mas no sea, la mitad de estas sabias
sugerencias, nuestro mundo se transformaria en poco
tiempo, en el paraiso que todos quisieramos vivir. Muy
emocionante, muy bueno, recomendable 100%.
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A
Great Soccer Tournament
Pedro Rita and Susan Adam-Rita
Murilo Pruner, illustrator
AuthorHouse
Softcover $14.50
72 pages
978-1-4343-2249-4
Four Stars
(out of
Five)
A Michigan soccer team under the guidance
of Coach Pedro visits Hemingway country on idyllic Walloon
Lake and in the nearby town of Petoskey. They’re
revved up for a tournament which will test their energy
and reveal their disciplined footwork. The story is
told from the viewpoint of a boy named Fred, who appreciates
the excitement of the games and the area’s pristine
nature, which he is later reluctant to leave behind.
Fred says, “Why is it that whenever you are
having fun, the time passes by very fast?”
The team hangs tough against in-state
opponents. Parents and kids display sportsmanship and
their experienced coach both instructs and supports.
Fred takes the blame on behalf of the team when they
give up goals because, “...we were not marking
the outside players, as our coach had asked.”
That line is the only assignment of fault in the consistently
positive story. The book’s vocabulary is weighted
toward superlatives, and doesn’t vary tremendously,
but the repetitions are not problematic.
The illustrator has rendered the children
somewhat representationally, with black dot eyes and
limited features.
The Coach is drawn a couple gradations
closer to realism, with shallow facial wrinkles and
a mole on his temple.
The illustrations convey motion, elation,
and disappointment as appropriate. The range of colors
and the compositional elements of the images are
right for the story and the lower/middle-elementary
age of the target audience.
For a pre-dawn game “...cars
turned on their lights in order for us to see where
we were playing.” Murilo Pruner captures subtle
details in the artificial mercury-vapor glow; shadows
stretch and silhouettes of observers watch backlit from
the vantage point of the hill’s crest. The lake
appears much as it might have a hundred years ago when
a young Ernest Hemingway whiled away summers at his
grandparents’ lakeside cottage.
The authors’ first language is
Portuguese, but they acquit themselves in English well.
Pedro Rita is a retired professional soccer player from
Brazil. He’s coached a program in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
since 1999, backed by a Master’s degree in physical
education and a USSF A coaching license. Brazilian-born
psychologist Susan Adam-Rita is currently a doctoral
candidate at Wayne State University.
A Great Soccer Tournament is spot-on
for positive message. It works to spur children’s
participation in the sport, and it could certainly encourage
a few Up North getaways also. Goal!
Todd Mercer
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The Magic Soccer Ball:
“Receiving and Trapping” |
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Coach Pedro (Amarildo Pedro Rita)
and Susan Adam-Rita
Emilio Carrillo and Maria Fernanda Sambuceti, illustrators
AuthorHouse
40 pages
Softcover $18.49
978-1-4343-4037-5
Three stars (out of Five)
Appealing illustrations of a family
of soccer-playing soccer balls liven up a manual of
soccer moves and coaching techniques. The Magic Soccer
Ball is part of a series that uses this method for teaching
young players and coaches.
The book takes readers through a typical
day in the life of a family that is very involved in
soccer. The parents are soccer coaches who also play
the sport and the young narrator’s friends play
as well. Many techniques are explained within the story,
but twice in the book characters point to diagrams that
show what to do during and after receiving passes.
Coach Pedro has played professional
soccer in Brazil and has been coaching youth soccer
since 1999. He has earned a bachelor’s degree
in physical education, a master’s in education–Soccer,
and is also licensed by the United States Soccer Federation.
Susan Adam-Rita was a psychologist
in her native Brazil and is now working towards a PhD
in counselor education in the U.S.
The narrator explains why adults tend
to both show and tell as they instruct: “She told
me that she does this because a few kids learn better
when they can see…whereas others just need to
hear it.” The writers also give the “why”
behind these instructions, rather than just issuing
commands: “The ball has to make contact with the
inside of the foot to cushion the impact.”
The book’s strengths lie in its
practical tips for using soccer techniques and in showing
how to teach these techniques. However, tighter editing
would make for an even better product. Small matters
like starting a new paragraph when a different person
is speaking can make the reading experience much smoother.
The book also shifts point of view, from third person
to first person, which may confuse some readers. The
inclusion of small bits of Portuguese (words on a visible
banner in the soccer field and saying “Tchau”
at the book’s end) could be confusing or intriguing,
depending on the reader. At times the book seems as
if it were written for close friends of the authors,
rather than for a general audience.
Overall the book is a worthwhile read
for young soccer players and youth soccer coaches. In
addition to the tips for receiving and trapping techniques,
the entire book gives a good example of how to conduct
a soccer practice—demonstrate moves, take players
through drills, and break them into teams to practice
the moves they’ve learned—and how to do
it all with patience and a sense of fun.
Jada Bradley |
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