Dirt is essential to life on Earth.
Farmers grow food crops, such as wheat, barley and corn, in soil. We mine the soil for resources that we use in manufacturing and for fuel. Soil is used in the construction of roads and buildings, and it provides food and habitat for animals that live both underground and above ground. But soil can be easily destroyed by human activity and natural disasters. Pollution, deforestation and the effects of the climate crisis are damaging soil at an alarming rate. Explore the biological and economic importance of soil to living organisms, the threats it faces and why we must preserve and conserve soil for the future. Let's dig in and get the dirt on soil.
Praise for Sheryl Normandeau:
"Exploring seeds more broadly than most children's books on the topic, this volume encourages readers to collect, plant, and share seeds-a small, yet powerful resource."-Booklist review for Save Our Seeds
"Normandeau conversationally provides readers with amazing facts and ways to utilize what they learned, including steps everyone can take to save seeds. Readers will be left empowered to help protect seeds."-Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) review for Save Our Seeds
Key Selling Points
• This STEM title defines soil, why it's important (agriculture, extraction, nature and habitat, medicine, carbon sequestration, filters groundwater etc.), the threats it's facing (pesticides, erosion, climate change etc.) and what we can all do to protect it for the future.
• It deals with timely themes including pollution, deforestation, climate change, carbon sinks, food security, conservation and protection, biodiversity, ecosystem services, environmental stewardship, severe weather, and the effects of industry and economy.
• Makes soil relatable to kids by discussing the role it plays in conserving the Earth's history, and what archaeologists and paleontologists can learn by digging in the dirt.
• Introduces kids to practical things they can do preserve soil, starting with planting a garden.
• Sheryl Normandeau is a certified master gardener and works with various gardening organizations in Alberta. She's the author of Saving Our Seeds, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, also in the Footprints series.
Part of the nonfiction Orca Footprints series for middle-grade readers and illustrated with color photographs throughout, this book explores the importance of soil to all life on Earth and how we can conserve it for the future.
Sheryl Normandeau is a lifelong gardener and holds a Prairie Horticulture Certificate and a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate. She is a freelance writer specializing in gardening writing, with hundreds of articles published. Sheryl is a regular contributor to Herb Quarterly, Gardener for Canadian Climates and Prairie Garden, and she is the author of Save Our Seeds: Protecting Plants for the Future and The Little Prairie Book of Berries. She also works at the public library. Sheryl lives in Calgary. Kids ask hard questions about social and environmental issues in their communities and around the world. The Orca Footprints series answers those questions with well-researched, straightforward information and powerful images. With topics such as sustainable energy, fair trade and community building, these books will inspire kids to take action. Get Your Hands Dirty!
