Book+Review

Book Review:

•Title: I Heard the Willow Weep •Author: Toni Albert •Illustrator: Margaret Brandt •Publisher: Trickle Creek Books •Copyright Date: 2000
 * Introduction:**

“I Heard the Willow Weep” is based on a poem that introduces caring for the Earth. The book is broken down into two parts. The first part asks the questions, “What have we done?” This is the part of the book that is a poem. Each line of the poem is a different page address issues relating to pollution, habitats and species, poisons and deforestation. Each issue brought up is described and analyzed. The second part of the book asks, “What can we do?” This segment of the book teaches things that we can all do to better our Earth. The above issues are readdressed with suggestions and solutions of how to resolve and restore our Earth.
 * What is the book about?**

“I Heard the Willow Weep” discusses environmental issues and suggests how we can work together to cure and care for our Earth. It is important to address the issues that are presented because they are true and detrimental if habits do not change. The human race needs to learn to care for our Earth in order to live healthier lives and have a healthier planet. The vocabulary in this book is not difficult. Most students have heard the words used by 2nd grade.
 * What are the related subject areas, content concepts or vocabulary found in the book?**


 * What NCSS Themes and PA Social Studies Standards does the Book Cover?**
 * NCSS Theme #3: People, Places and Environments
 * S4.B.3.2.2: Describe and predict how changes in the environment can affect systems
 * S4.A.3.3.2: Predict future conditions/events based on observable patterns
 * S4.B.3.3.5: Describe the effects of pollution (e.g., litter) in the community.

This book is appropriate for 3rd grade through 5th grade. This grade range is appropriate because the concept of the book, caring for the environment, may be more difficult for a student in first grade to grasp. At the age of 3rd grade, students are viewing the world different and are therefore more accepting of environmental issues.
 * Which grade level is it appropriate for?**

I will read this book to my future classroom on Earth day in the form of a read-aloud. The students will all sit in a circle on a carpet in the front of the room while I read, “I Heard the Willow Weep,” to them. I will review each page with them and discuss the issue at hand. I will relate each page to the students’ lives to create deeper meaning and appreciation. At the end of the book, suggestions on how to change your lifestyle to better suit your Earth are made. As a class, we can participate in some of these suggestions throughout the unit and continue to throughout the school year. When the unit is over, the book will still be available in the classroom library for students to view and read at any time.
 * What is your suggested method to use this book in the classroom?**