Spring after spring: How Rachel Carson inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson

I do not dislike all picture book biographies, I just find very few that I think are actually useful and not just pointless artistic exercises. I was surprised and pleased to find this one met all of my (many) requirements.

The first half of the book tells the story of Rachel Carson's childhood; her love of exploration and nature, and the time she spent observing and listening to the world around her. The second half gives a simple overview of her pivotal research, showing the effects of pesticides, her presentation to President Kennedy, and a final joyful spread showing a diverse group of people enjoying the natural world she loved. A quiet night scene shows Carson continuing her observation and care of the natural world. An extensive author's note, notes, and bibliography offer more resources for older readers interested in learning more about Carson's brief but influential life.

Sisson's art is a large part of the appeal of this book for me; paneled drawings show Carson as a child exploring the world filled with birds, animals, and green. As an adult, a stark, dark panel shows the rapidly disappearing wildlife. Carefully drawn diagrams explain how pesticides affected the birds and wildlife. Young readers don't need a lot of context to understand Carson's story and the attractive, clear art is seamlessly blended with the narrative. While there are more aspects to Carson's life, such as the sexism she faced, and more history, including the tumultuous issues of the 1960s, Sisson has done a great job of explaining why Rachel Carson is important in a way that young children can easily understand.

Verdict: This is a good choice for use in classrooms and libraries for children interested in the natural world, female scientists, and some simple history about the environmental movement.

ISBN: 9781626728196; Published August 2018 by Roaring Brook; Borrowed from another library in my consortium