From John Muir pushing a president and a nation into setting aside vast preserves—including Yosemite, Sequoia, Mt. Rainer, and the Grand Canyon—to Julia “Butterfly” Hill saving a 1,000-year-old redwood while bringing to light the devastation of our old-growth forests, Friends of the Earth chronicles the efforts of the men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States’ natural heritage. Other notable profiles include John James Audubon, who introduced the study of birds to North America; Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked to conserve the Florida Everglades; and Rachel Carson, who opened the world’s eyes to the dangers of pesticides. Together, these environmentalists’ inspiring life stories tell the history of American environmentalism, from its inception to the present day. In this comprehensive resource, children also learn how to put their concerns into action. Step-by-step instructions on how to build a birdfeeder, conduct a water quality survey, start a compost pile, create their own recycled paper, and test for acid rain are included, as well as a time line of historic milestones and a list of popular parks and sites to visit or explore online. Gr 4-8-McCarthy profiles 10 individuals, all born prior to 1910. The chapters are arranged chronologically, highlighting individuals such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold, Cordelia Stanwood, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Margaret Murie, and Rachel Carson. In addition to biographical information, each chapter features corresponding hands-on activities. For example, the section devoted to John James Audubon provides directions for building a nest and constructing a birdhouse. Black-and-white photographs provide interesting visuals that illustrate each individual's story. The writing is lively and clear, and the text is appropriate for both research and pleasure reading. Budding environmentalists will appreciate these accessible and inspiring biographies.-Lindsay Cesari, Baldwinsville School District, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Though far short of a comprehensive history of American environmentalism, these 10 profiles of American naturalists and environmental activists do offer a broad overview of the movement’s past highlights, if not so much of its present state. Supplemented by photos, sidebars, resource lists, and a quick closing survey of current environmental issues, McCarthy presents an unusually mixed bag. Along with such usual suspects as Thoreau, Muir, and Carson, there are profiles of lesser-known figures like Everglades champion Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Gifford Pinchot, our country’s first professionally trained forester. Typical of this publisher’s series, the 21 interspersed activities range widely in quality, but along with an irrelevant recipe for scones (because, you know, John Muir was born in Scotland) and a soda-bottle bird feeder that would leave much of its contents tantalizingly out of reach, there are directions for an excellent one-square-yard biocensus among a few others that may reward the effort. Consider this as supplementary support for eco-assignments. Grades 4-7, --John Peters "Budding environmentalists will appreciate these accessible and inspiring biographies."— School Library Journal "Author Ms. McCarthy packs in plenty of information but keeps the pace lively, ensuring that young readers won't feel too much like they are stuck in summer school."— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pat McCarthy is the author of Heading West and 10 other children’s titles. She has written for Children’s Digest , Cricket , and other publications. She lives in Greenville, Ohio.