Hole in the Bottom of the Sea - Hardcover

Christine Lavin; Betsy Franco Feeney

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 097264878X ISBN 13: 9780972648783

Publisher: Puddle Jump Press, 2012

Synopsis

A hopeful tale and song inspired by the Gulf Oil tragedy, this book shows how clean energy can help save wildlife and power our world without harm to the environment. Includes music CD. How ironic that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill began on EARTH Day 2010. Using a traditional tune with all-new lyrics, Christine Lavin has created a simple yet powerful message that will have children feeling for the plight of our wildlife while at the same time, giving them ideas on how to make the world a cleaner and safer place. The book has already garnered high praise from Kirkus: If the future of our planet is in the hands of our children, then reading them books like this one might be a wise idea...Franco Feeney's thoughtfully detailed illustrations of oil-slicked sea critters will tug at young readers' heartstrings. Experts from the fields of environmental science, wildlife rehabilitation, education, marine biology, renewable energy and earth science all contributed to the science-filled appendix.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

t all began with a hole in the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. In April 2010 there was a “crack in the pipe in the hole in the bottom of the sea . . .” So goes the song by celebrated songwriter Christine Lavin in this updated version of a familiar folk tune. Hole in the Bottom of the Sea (HITBOTS), a musical retelling of the oil disaster, follows four creatures living in and around the Gulf of Mexico who were affected by the spill. In a story that only the musical genius of Ms. Lavin could create, HITBOTS weaves a hopeful tale of how clean energy can help save wildlife. Accompanying Ms. Lavin's clever lyrics are lively illustrations by Betsy Franco Feeney, following the plight of the animals who stick together through thick and thin right to the squeaky-clean end! A science-filled appendix written by Ms. Franco Feeney, with the collaboration of several experts, follows the song. Not only will kids read about how we care for our precious wildlife when accidents happen, they also learn about the benefits of renewable energy. To illustrate wind energy in a fun way, instructions on how to make a pinwheel are included, along with the first page of sheet music for the song (complete sheet music available as a download at www.holeinthebottomofthesea.com). A portion of the net proceeds from the sale of this book and song will go to the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA). The NWRA board of directors has shared this statement of support: “The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association compliments the author, Christine Lavin, and the artist, Betsy Franco Feeney, for their book, Hole in the Bottom of the Sea, which introduces children to the value of wildlife and to habitat preservation necessary for survival of wild creatures. Children are the hope for a better future. By making them aware of the human dependence on oil and the inherent problems associated with oil production, young people may be encouraged to conserve and to develop better alternatives for use in the future. With a simple text and stimulating graphics, the children can learn important lessons that still are fun for them.” Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy inks

About the Author:

Christine Lavin is the recipient of numerous music and writing awards, recently accepting an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for her memoir Cold Pizza for Breakfast, A Mem-wha?? The book The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet written by Neil deGrasse Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC, includes the complete lyrics to Christine's song Planet X which details Pluto's history and planetary status debate in rhyme. Her first collaboration with Betsy Franco Feeney, a picture book and song titled Amoeba Hop won a Best Books Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She writes for various publications, including The Washington Post, The St. Petersburg Times, The Performing Songwriter, and Delta Sky Magazine. Christine performs concerts all over the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Israel, and hosts knitting circles backstage prior to each show. Songs of hers have been performed by artists as diverse as Broadway stars Betty Buckley, Sutton Foster, and David Burnham, cabaret divas Andrea Marcovicci and Colleen McHugh, the college a cappella Dartmouth Decibelles, and The Accidentals, winners of the National Harmony Sweepstakes championship. She has recorded 20 solo albums and lives in Geneva, New York.

Betsy Franco Feeney is an illustrator, graphic designer and photographer working in commercial art for over twenty-five years. She has illustrated eleven children s books and several book covers for houses including Charles Scribners Sons, Harcourt Brace, McGraw Hill, Berkley Publishing Group, Ballantine Books (a division of Random House), Robin & Adler Books, Joshua Morris Publishing, and Longmeadow Press. In a starred review in Kirkus, her art was described as meticulously detailed with rare humor and imagination.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puddle Jump Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 097264878X
• ISBN 13: 9780972648783
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Editor: Patricia McHugh, Kathryn Feeney
• Illustrator: Betsy Franco Feeney