Orca Take Action

Humans create mountains of garbage, but did you know you can use that waste to help the planet? You can heat your house with poop, make coffee with filtered pee and blow your nose with your cereal box. People around the world are finding creative ways to transform food scraps, invasive plants and sea creatures into alternative fossil fuels and even plastics. There are cities reusing water and recycling paper, crops, and old clothes to help protect the land, forests and water. In What a Waste, young readers will learn about cutting-edge projects to reuse and repurpose garbage, and the people behind these innovations. Do you want to become a waste warrior? Don't just talk trash, reuse it! Key Selling Points: • This forward-looking STEM book explores how we can use garbage to fight the effects of the climate crisis, and protect land, forests and water everywhere. • Young people around the world are living with more floods, wildfires and other effects of climate change. A global survey in the Lancet reported that almost 60 percent of young people are "very worried" about climate change, and eco-anxiety among kids is on the rise. • According the UN Environment Programme, humans create more than 2 billion tons of garbage every year. We make more than 400 million tons of plastic, and two thirds of that becomes trash. • This book introduces young readers to innovative projects around the world that are using garbage to help the planet and gives readers practical actions they can take to waste less at home. • Karen Tam Wu is a lifelong advocate for clean energy policies and nature conservation. She's a member of the BC government's Climate Solutions Council and is a board member of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book examines practical ways waste can be transformed to protect the planet and fight the effects of the climate crisis. Karen Tam Wu is a nature lover, outdoor enthusiast and a climate-policy nerd. For the last decade, Karen has been researching and promoting ways to reduce carbon pollution and use more clean, renewable energy. She works with citizen groups, companies, Indigenous communities and governments to protect healthy ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Karen lives Vancouver, British Columbia, where she can smell cedars and the ocean, play in the mountains and ride her bike year-round. If you see Karen at conferences and meetings, she will likely have a container with her so she can rescue leftover food. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teaching. Her contributions have been recognized by educational institutions and government bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh. In 2024, she joined Orca Book Publishers, where she continues to bring stories to life through her illustrations. Bithi lives in Vancouver and loves exploring vibrant outdoor scenes in her spare time, finding inspiration in the city's natural beauty. What can you do? The problems facing the world today are big. Orca Take Action helps you understand important issues and shows how you can make changes. A better future for everyone starts with you! Waste warriors: 1. Find ways to reduce or reuse plastic. 2. Repair devices before replacing them. 3. Buy secondhand clothes or organize clothing swaps. What if what you toss out and flush away could be used to help the planet? Cutting-edge projects are turning food scraps, old jeans, invasive plants and even poop and pee into fossil fuel alternatives, new clothes, drinks and more! FIND OUT 9 WAYS YOU CAN HELP! Let's Talk Trash

These days, finding information is a simple click away. But how can you tell if what you're reading is true or false? Or if it's fact versus fiction? With fake news on the rise, fighting misinformation is more important than ever. But spreading false information isn't only a product of the internet era-the human tendency to lie or mislead has been around as long as we've been sharing stories. Did you know that the New York Sun printed articles about life on the moon in 1835 that were completely false just to sell papers? Or that a fake article claiming that American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wanted to create a "nationwide motorcycle ban" was shared more than 6000 times? Discover well-known episodes of misinformation throughout history. Read about real examples of fake news and learn how to spot it with ten concrete actions, including how to investigate a source, weigh the evidence, ask the experts and look in the mirror to check your own bias. Praise for Gregor Craigie: ★"This great STEAM offering has multiple applications and will be useful for report writers and aspiring architects alike."-Booklist, starred review for Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers ★"Finely detailed inside and outside...Broad in scope, perceptively organized, and enriched with fascinating entries."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review for Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers Key Selling Points: • This book gives young readers 10 practical actions they can take to fight misinformation, including how to consider the source, weigh the evidence of what they're reading, read past the headline, use fact-checking resources, how to be a skeptic rather than a cynic and how to check bias, among others. • Fake news and misinformation are timely issues. More kids and adults are getting their news and other information from online sources, and many people say they don't know which sources of information they can trust. • This book demonstrates that misinformation is an old problem, and includes examples of fake news-some recent and infamous, and others going as far back as the Roman Empire. • This SEL title introduces the terminology and context for important discussions about misinformation, disinformation and fake news. It deals with topical subjects including critical thinking, internet safety, echo chambers and media literacy. • Gregor Craigie is an award-winning author and journalist. He's been a working journalist for more than 20 years with stints at the BBC, CBS and the CBC. He's a published author in both nonfiction and fiction, for kids and adults. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book gives young readers tools to spot fake news and actions to take to fight misinformation and disinformation. Gregor Craigie is a radio journalist and writer. He has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for many years. Before that he worked in several cities, including London, England, where he was an announcer for the BBC World Service and a reporter for CBS Radio. Gregor's first book for adults, On Borrowed Time: North America's Next Big Quake, was a finalist for the Writers' Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. He is also the author of Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Temples, Towers and Skyscrapers and Walls: The Long History of Human Barriers and Why We Build Them, both part of the Orca Timeline series, as well as Saving Wolfgang, his children's fiction debut. Gregor lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teachin

About seventy percent of our planet is ocean, and over 250,000 species call it home. But most of the animals that live in it-from the biggest whales to the smallest plankton-are being affected by the climate crisis. In One Ocean, learn about practical ways to keep the ocean clean, the effects of the climate crisis, how to get political in your community and how small actions can have a big impact. Meet young activists and discover what inspires them, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, a singer-songwriter and actor from the Tla'amin Nation, and Finlay Pringle, who fought to stop raw sewage from being dumped in the ocean near his home in Scotland. Come away with actionable steps to take because protecting the ocean is up to us. And, since all oceans connect, there is really only one ocean for all. Praise for Mark Leiren-Young: ★"Vivid and fascinating...Budding scientists and animal lovers will keep this stellar title in full circulation as they learn the mysteries and history of octopuses."-School Library Journal, starred review for Octopus Ocean "Mark Leiren-Young is the kind of author who produces trustworthy works of nonfiction that will both entertain and educate children."–CM: Canadian Review of Materials Key Selling Points • This STEM title introduces young readers to seven practical actions they can take to protect oceans, including falling in love with the animals who live there, thinking small, sharing, keeping it clean, getting political, considering the climate crisis and using their words. They will also learn words to know when it comes to protecting oceans and discover species of note such as orcas, krill and sharks. • Readers will be inspired by the stories of young ocean activists from all over the world, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, a singer-songwriter and actor from the Tla'amin Nation in British Columbia, Rylee Grace, beach cleanup organizer and founder of Promise to Our Keiki in Hawaii, and Finlay Pringle, who campaigned against the dumping of raw sewage into the ocean near his home in Scotland, among others. • The health of the ocean is topical because of the effects of climate change and the problems of plastic waste––13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. The world's oceans cover 70 percent of the planet and 250,000 different species call it home. Every year, 2,000 more species are added to that list. • In a time of rising climate anxiety, this title gives young readers hope for the future and the belief that even small actions can make a big difference. • This book refers to a single ocean, rather than several, to help facilitate a shift in thinking that supports the idea that since all "oceans" connect, there is really only one ocean. • Mark Leiren-Young is an award-winning writer, documentary filmmaker, podcaster and orca activist. This is his fourth middle-grade nonfiction title with Orca. He's written Orcas Everywhere, Sharks Forever and Octopus Ocean in the Orca Wild series. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book examines practical ways young people can protect the ocean and the over 250,000 species that call it home. Mark Leiren-Young is a writer, documentary filmmaker, playwright, podcaster and orca activist. His book The Killer Whale Who Changed the World won a Science Writers and Communicators of Canada book award. He wrote, directed and produced an award-winning documentary The Hundred-Year-Old Whale, and his documentary about Moby Doll is being produced by Middle Child Films. Mark hosts Skaana, a podcast about orca and ocean stories, and is actively involved in the fight for the survival of the endangered southern residents. Mark has written for other young audiences for ABC, PBS, YTV, Treehouse and BBC Kids. His books for young readers include Big Whale, Small World, Orcas of the Salish Sea, Sharks Forever, Octopus Ocean and the City of Victoria Ch

These days, finding information is a simple click away. But how can you tell if what you're reading is true or false? Or if it's fact versus fiction? With fake news on the rise, fighting misinformation is more important than ever. But spreading false information isn't only a product of the internet era-the human tendency to lie or mislead has been around as long as we've been sharing stories. Did you know that the New York Sun printed articles about life on the moon in 1835 that were completely false just to sell papers? Or that a fake article claiming that American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wanted to create a "nationwide motorcycle ban" was shared more than 6000 times? Discover well-known episodes of misinformation throughout history. Read about real examples of fake news and learn how to spot it with ten concrete actions, including how to investigate a source, weigh the evidence, ask the experts and look in the mirror to check your own bias. Praise for Gregor Craigie: ★"This great STEAM offering has multiple applications and will be useful for report writers and aspiring architects alike."-Booklist, starred review for Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers ★"Finely detailed inside and outside...Broad in scope, perceptively organized, and enriched with fascinating entries."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review for Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers Key Selling Points: • This book gives young readers 10 practical actions they can take to fight misinformation, including how to consider the source, weigh the evidence of what they're reading, read past the headline, use fact-checking resources, how to be a skeptic rather than a cynic and how to check bias, among others. • Fake news and misinformation are timely issues. More kids and adults are getting their news and other information from online sources, and many people say they don't know which sources of information they can trust. • This book demonstrates that misinformation is an old problem, and includes examples of fake news-some recent and infamous, and others going as far back as the Roman Empire. • This SEL title introduces the terminology and context for important discussions about misinformation, disinformation and fake news. It deals with topical subjects including critical thinking, internet safety, echo chambers and media literacy. • Gregor Craigie is an award-winning author and journalist. He's been a working journalist for more than 20 years with stints at the BBC, CBS and the CBC. He's a published author in both nonfiction and fiction, for kids and adults. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book gives young readers tools to spot fake news and actions to take to fight misinformation and disinformation. Gregor Craigie is a radio journalist and writer. He has worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for many years. Before that he worked in several cities, including London, England, where he was an announcer for the BBC World Service and a reporter for CBS Radio. Gregor's first book for adults, On Borrowed Time: North America's Next Big Quake, was a finalist for the Writers' Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. He is also the author of Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Temples, Towers and Skyscrapers and Walls: The Long History of Human Barriers and Why We Build Them, both part of the Orca Timeline series, as well as Saving Wolfgang, his children's fiction debut. Gregor lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teachin

Humans create mountains of garbage, but did you know you can use that waste to help the planet? You can heat your house with poop, make coffee with filtered pee and blow your nose with your cereal box. People around the world are finding creative ways to transform food scraps, invasive plants and sea creatures into alternative fossil fuels and even plastics. There are cities reusing water and recycling paper, crops, and old clothes to help protect the land, forests and water. In What a Waste, young readers will learn about cutting-edge projects to reuse and repurpose garbage, and the people behind these innovations. Do you want to become a waste warrior? Don't just talk trash, reuse it! Key Selling Points: • This forward-looking STEM book explores how we can use garbage to fight the effects of the climate crisis, and protect land, forests and water everywhere. • Young people around the world are living with more floods, wildfires and other effects of climate change. A global survey in the Lancet reported that almost 60 percent of young people are "very worried" about climate change, and eco-anxiety among kids is on the rise. • According the UN Environment Programme, humans create more than 2 billion tons of garbage every year. We make more than 400 million tons of plastic, and two thirds of that becomes trash. • This book introduces young readers to innovative projects around the world that are using garbage to help the planet and gives readers practical actions they can take to waste less at home. • Karen Tam Wu is a lifelong advocate for clean energy policies and nature conservation. She's a member of the BC government's Climate Solutions Council and is a board member of the Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book examines practical ways waste can be transformed to protect the planet and fight the effects of the climate crisis. Karen Tam Wu is a nature lover, outdoor enthusiast and a climate-policy nerd. For the last decade, Karen has been researching and promoting ways to reduce carbon pollution and use more clean, renewable energy. She works with citizen groups, companies, Indigenous communities and governments to protect healthy ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Karen lives Vancouver, British Columbia, where she can smell cedars and the ocean, play in the mountains and ride her bike year-round. If you see Karen at conferences and meetings, she will likely have a container with her so she can rescue leftover food. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teaching. Her contributions have been recognized by educational institutions and government bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh. In 2024, she joined Orca Book Publishers, where she continues to bring stories to life through her illustrations. Bithi lives in Vancouver and loves exploring vibrant outdoor scenes in her spare time, finding inspiration in the city's natural beauty. What can you do? The problems facing the world today are big. Orca Take Action helps you understand important issues and shows how you can make changes. A better future for everyone starts with you! Waste warriors: 1. Find ways to reduce or reuse plastic. 2. Repair devices before replacing them. 3. Buy secondhand clothes or organize clothing swaps. What if what you toss out and flush away could be used to help the planet? Cutting-edge projects are turning food scraps, old jeans, invasive plants and even poop and pee into fossil fuel alternatives, new clothes, drinks and more! FIND OUT 9 WAYS YOU CAN HELP! Let's Talk Trash

Being an ally is about learning and action. It's a constant, ongoing willingness to engage in the hard, confronting work of standing alongside those who don't have the same privileges. As a young person, it can be difficult to take a stand for others when the need to fit in is so strong. But everyone can be an ally. Learn to acknowledge the privileges you have based on your identity, the difference between allyship and being a performative ally and how to address mistakes when we make them. In this book, young readers will work through realistic scenarios that show allyship in action and develop tools to become the best allies they can be. Key Selling Points • Introduces young readers to allyship, what it means and what it looks like, and gives them practical, age-appropriate tools to be better allies. • Includes key definitions, realistic scenarios that display messy situations young people may encounter, and reflection questions and activities that could be helpful to individuals and in the classroom. • Discusses topical themes including SEL, self-awareness, social justice, bullying, othering, oppression, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and privilege. • The gentle, non-judgmental voice is meant to guide and invite discussion and reflection on allyship rather than lecture or talk down to young people. • Includes colorful and vibrant illustrations throughout to bring the scenarios to life. • Tanya is a teacher and award-winning YA author. She identifies as a queer woman of color and says her relationship to allyship is strong and ever-evolving. She prioritizes decolonization and anti-oppressive practices in her classroom, as well as in her role as the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Lead at her school. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book introduces young readers to what it means to be an ally and realistic actions they can take to practice allyship in their own lives. Tanya Boteju is a teacher and writer living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, BC). Her debut novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, was named a Top Ten Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association and her second book, Bruised, was selected as a Gold Standard book by the Junior Library Guild. Tanya holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University's Teachers College and earned her English and Education degrees from the University of British Columbia. As an educator committed to anti-oppressive teaching and learning, and as an imperfect ally herself, she hopes her books bend the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teaching. Her contributions have been recognized by educational institutions and government bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh. In 2024, she joined Orca Book Publishers, where she continues to bring stories to life through her illustrations. Bithi lives in Vancouver and loves exploring the vibrant outdoor scenes in her spare time, finding inspiration in the city's natural beauty. What can you do? The problems facing the world today are big. Orca Take Action helps you understand important issues and shows how you can make changes. A better future for everyone starts with you! Show up, speak up, take action!

Being an ally is about learning and action. It's a constant, ongoing willingness to engage in the hard, confronting work of standing alongside those who don't have the same privileges. As a young person, it can be difficult to take a stand for others when the need to fit in is so strong. But everyone can be an ally. Learn to acknowledge the privileges you have based on your identity, the difference between allyship and being a performative ally and how to address mistakes when we make them. In this book, young readers will work through realistic scenarios that show allyship in action and develop tools to become the best allies they can be. Key Selling Points • Introduces young readers to allyship, what it means and what it looks like, and gives them practical, age-appropriate tools to be better allies. • Includes key definitions, realistic scenarios that display messy situations young people may encounter, and reflection questions and activities that could be helpful to individuals and in the classroom. • Discusses topical themes including SEL, self-awareness, social justice, bullying, othering, oppression, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and privilege. • The gentle, non-judgmental voice is meant to guide and invite discussion and reflection on allyship rather than lecture or talk down to young people. • Includes colorful and vibrant illustrations throughout to bring the scenarios to life. • Tanya is a teacher and award-winning YA author. She identifies as a queer woman of color and says her relationship to allyship is strong and ever-evolving. She prioritizes decolonization and anti-oppressive practices in her classroom, as well as in her role as the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Lead at her school. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book introduces young readers to what it means to be an ally and realistic actions they can take to practice allyship in their own lives. Tanya Boteju is a teacher and writer living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, BC). Her debut novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, was named a Top Ten Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association and her second book, Bruised, was selected as a Gold Standard book by the Junior Library Guild. Tanya holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University's Teachers College and earned her English and Education degrees from the University of British Columbia. As an educator committed to anti-oppressive teaching and learning, and as an imperfect ally herself, she hopes her books bend the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice. Bithi Sutradhar is a Bangladeshi illustrator and graphic designer who holds a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Dhaka. Alongside her professional illustration work, Bithi enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills through teaching. Her contributions have been recognized by educational institutions and government bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh. In 2024, she joined Orca Book Publishers, where she continues to bring stories to life through her illustrations. Bithi lives in Vancouver and loves exploring the vibrant outdoor scenes in her spare time, finding inspiration in the city's natural beauty. What can you do? The problems facing the world today are big. Orca Take Action helps you understand important issues and shows how you can make changes. A better future for everyone starts with you! Show up, speak up, take action!

About seventy percent of our planet is ocean, and over 250,000 species call it home. But most of the animals that live in it-from the biggest whales to the smallest plankton-are being affected by the climate crisis. In One Ocean, learn about practical ways to keep the ocean clean, the effects of the climate crisis, how to get political in your community and how small actions can have a big impact. Meet young activists and discover what inspires them, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, a singer-songwriter and actor from the Tla'amin Nation, and Finlay Pringle, who fought to stop raw sewage from being dumped in the ocean near his home in Scotland. Come away with actionable steps to take because protecting the ocean is up to us. And, since all oceans connect, there is really only one ocean for all. Praise for Mark Leiren-Young: ★"Vivid and fascinating...Budding scientists and animal lovers will keep this stellar title in full circulation as they learn the mysteries and history of octopuses."-School Library Journal, starred review for Octopus Ocean "Mark Leiren-Young is the kind of author who produces trustworthy works of nonfiction that will both entertain and educate children."–CM: Canadian Review of Materials Key Selling Points • This STEM title introduces young readers to seven practical actions they can take to protect oceans, including falling in love with the animals who live there, thinking small, sharing, keeping it clean, getting political, considering the climate crisis and using their words. They will also learn words to know when it comes to protecting oceans and discover species of note such as orcas, krill and sharks. • Readers will be inspired by the stories of young ocean activists from all over the world, including Ta'Kaiya Blaney, a singer-songwriter and actor from the Tla'amin Nation in British Columbia, Rylee Grace, beach cleanup organizer and founder of Promise to Our Keiki in Hawaii, and Finlay Pringle, who campaigned against the dumping of raw sewage into the ocean near his home in Scotland, among others. • The health of the ocean is topical because of the effects of climate change and the problems of plastic waste––13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. The world's oceans cover 70 percent of the planet and 250,000 different species call it home. Every year, 2,000 more species are added to that list. • In a time of rising climate anxiety, this title gives young readers hope for the future and the belief that even small actions can make a big difference. • This book refers to a single ocean, rather than several, to help facilitate a shift in thinking that supports the idea that since all "oceans" connect, there is really only one ocean. • Mark Leiren-Young is an award-winning writer, documentary filmmaker, podcaster and orca activist. This is his fourth middle-grade nonfiction title with Orca. He's written Orcas Everywhere, Sharks Forever and Octopus Ocean in the Orca Wild series. Part of the nonfiction Orca Take Action series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book examines practical ways young people can protect the ocean and the over 250,000 species that call it home. Mark Leiren-Young is a writer, documentary filmmaker, playwright, podcaster and orca activist. His book The Killer Whale Who Changed the World won a Science Writers and Communicators of Canada book award. He wrote, directed and produced an award-winning documentary The Hundred-Year-Old Whale, and his documentary about Moby Doll is being produced by Middle Child Films. Mark hosts Skaana, a podcast about orca and ocean stories, and is actively involved in the fight for the survival of the endangered southern residents. Mark has written for other young audiences for ABC, PBS, YTV, Treehouse and BBC Kids. His books for young readers include Big Whale, Small World, Orcas of the Salish Sea, Sharks Forever, Octopus Ocean and the City of Victoria Ch