The Day the River Caught Fire by Barry Wittenstein and Jessie Hartland -

The Day the River Caught Fire: How the Cuyahoga River Exploded and Ignited the Earth Day Movement by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jessie Hartland. PICTURE  BOOK. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. $19. 9781534480834

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In August of 1969, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio caught fire. How does a river catch fire? It caught fire with all the sludge, oil, and sewage that had been dumped in it. This was not the first time a river caught fire, but this fire created enough publicity that people started talking about saving our environment. Cleveland became the symbol of the nation’s pollution crisis. Within a year, on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day took place.  

This book brings awareness to our need to take care of the only world we have. The writing is clear, yet sometimes preachy. While the illustrations add to the storyline, they appear jumbled with unnecessary signage.

MOMMMAC