Melissa Ferguson - Earth Day

TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS

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by Melissa Ferguson

Pebble Explore is published by Pebble, an imprint of Capstone. 1710 Roe Crest Drive North Mankato, Minnesota 56003 www.capstonepub.com

Copyright 2021 by Capstone. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored on a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of thepublisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Ferguson, Melissa, author.Title: Earth Day / by Melissa Ferguson.Description: North Mankato, Minnesota : Pebble 2021. | Series: Pebble explore. Traditions and celebrations | Includes bibliographical referencesand index. | Audience: Ages 6-8 | Audience: Grades 2-3 | Summary: Earth Day celebrates our beautiful planet and calls us to act on its behalf. Some people spend the day planting flowers or trees. Others organize neighborhood clean-ups, go on nature walks, or make recycled crafts. Readers will discover how a shared holiday can have multiple traditions and be celebrated in all sorts of ways-- Provided by publisher.Identifiers: LCCN 2020038001 (print) | LCCN 2020038002 (ebook) | ISBN 9781977131867 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781977132888 (paperback) | ISBN 9781977154132 (pdf) | ISBN 9781977157645 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Earth Day--Juvenile literature. | Environmentalism--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC GE195.5 .F47 2021 (print) | LCC GE195.5 (ebook) | DDC 394.262--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020038001 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020038002

Image Credits Alamy: ClassicStock/H. Armstrong Roberts, 7, Michael Wheatley, 11; Getty/SOPA Images, 8; iStockphoto: Johnce, 29, Kenishirotie, 26, PeopleImages, 22, recep-bg, 18, SDI Productions, 24; Newscom: ENRIQUE CASTRO-MENDIVIL/REUTERS, 9, Jim West/ZUMA Press, 10; Shutterstock: amophoto_au, 23, David Pereiras, 19, frantic00, 1, FreeBird7977, 27, Janis Smits, 4, Monkey Business Images, 5, 25, New Africa, 28, Piyaphong25, 16, Rawpixel.com, 21, sarayut_sy, cover, SeventyFour, 15, sirikorn thamniyom, 14, vchal, 13, wavebreakmedia, 17

Artistic elements: Shutterstock/Rafal Kulik

Editorial Credits Editor: Jill Kalz; Designer: Juliette Peters; Media Researcher: Kelly Garvin; Production Specialist: Spencer RosioAll internet sites appearing in back matter were available and accurate when this book was sent to press.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Words in bold are in the glossary.

OUR HOME

We all share one home. We share it with every plant and animal too. Its a big home! Its planet Earth.

Our surroundings on Earth are calledthe . Land, water, and air are all parts of it. A clean and safe environment is important for everyone.

WHAT IS EARTH DAY?

Earth Day is a of ourplanet. It happens every year on April 22.

The first Earth Day was in 1970. A man named Gaylord Nelson started it. He knew our environment needed tobe . It gives us water, food, and the air we breathe. If those things arent clean, the whole planet gets sick. Earth Day asks people around the world to take care of their home.

First Earth Day in 1970

Earth Day events take place around the world. People of all ages join in.

Events happen in big cities and small towns. They happen in libraries andnature centers. They happen in schoolsand peoples homes.

Helping the environment can seemlike a huge job. It is! Thats why everyone needs to help. Lots of small tasks add up to a big difference.

PEOPLE ANDTRADITIONS

Some people do the same things on Earth Day every year. makethe day even more special. Anyone can start a tradition. Try starting one on Earth Day this year! There are lots of ideas in this book.

Park cleanup day

Earth Day parade

Cleanup days are a common tradition. People gather to cleanparks and other places. They may also build bird or butterfly houses.

Going to an Earth Day parade isanother tradition. Parades are heldin cities around the world.

A TIME TO LEARN

Earth Day is a time to celebrate. Its also a time to learn. Lots of things harm our air, water, and land every day. is a big one. It makes things dirty.

Smoke from fires pollutes the air.Spilled oil pollutes oceans, rivers,and other bodies of water. Garbagepollutes the land. People can make a lot of pollution. But they can stop a lot of it too.

On Earth Day, some people go to the library. They learn about pollution andother dangers to our planet. They read books or news stories on the internet. They ask questions and try to find answers.

What things are hurting Earth? Where do they come from? Can the problems be fixed? How do we work together? How do we keep our world safe and healthy?

Some libraries have special Earth Day programs. Museums and naturecenters may have them too. Speakers talk about the environment. They oftenshow photos or videos. Speakers teachothers how to care for the planet. Sometimes, seeds or tiny trees aregiven away for people to plant.