When animals or plants invade a new habitat, they can upset the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Aliens are everywhere! And they are not creatures from another planet, but real living things right here on Earth.
These outsiders spread out underwater, smothering sea plants. They multiply and invade wooded areas, destroying the native flora and fauna. They travel by air, water, boat--even on the shoes and clothes of humans!
Aliens From Earth is an intriguing introduction to the serious and ongoing environmental problems caused by invasive plant and animal species. Describing various examples--from the accidental release of gypsy moths into the United States to the deliberate introduction of rabbits to Australia--the text shows how these foreign intrusions have disturbed the delicate balance of local ecosystems. At the end of the book, the author offers young readers a list of things they can do to minimize their own impact on local environments.
Artist Beverly Doyle's striking, full-color illustrations realistically depict a variety of ecosystems and highlight the diversity of the natural world.
Excerpt
Today every living thing imaginable--viruses, bacteria, insects, plants, and creatures--travels on the same planes and ships that carry people and cargo. Invaders move rapidly all over the globe. It is becoming harder to maintain the delicate balance in the world's ecosystems.
Islands are especially vulnerable to aliens. Because islands are surrounded by water, they are cut off from other lands. Their native species have evolved in isolation and often have not developed defenses to protect them from aliens. Until very recently in Earth's history, few new species were able to cross the miles of ocean to reach distant islands, but today every ship or plane that goes to an island may carry an alien invader.
Even a large island continent like Australia can suffer damage from such alien invasions.
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Professional Reviews
Science Teachers of Missouri
"Every Elementary and middle school in the country needs this wonderful book!"
Elizabeth C. Petersen
Past-President, Science Teachers of Missouri
National Science Teachers Association
". . . an excellent introduction to exotic invasives for third through sixth grade students. . . . This book does a very good job of explaining a complex topic in a thought-provoking, non-frightening way and offers concrete ways that readers can think globally and act locally. . . Aliens from Earth would be a great addition to any elementary school library."
National Science Teachers Association
Booklist
"From the book title and first line of text to the information-packed, full-page color illustrations, this overview of ecological missteps is nonstop intriguing."
Booklist
Explore the mystery of how nature makes unexpected gifts of creative wonders to an unsuspecting caregiver one late night and early morning in southeastern Georgia, USA.
A book of nature inspired poems and essays, written from the heart and soul of a life-long nature, animal, and wilderness lover, and dedicated to today’s children - Earth's only hope for a better tomorrow.
This book won 'The Poetry Category'
