Roscoe and the Pelican Rescue

Gr 1—3—A boy visits his relatives on the Louisiana Gulf Coast during the summer of 2010 and discovers the disastrous results of the oil spill. The beach is closed, and there are all sorts of wildlife in distress on the shore. The family dog, Roscoe, helps the narrator, his cousin Addison, and his knowledgeable aunt and uncle (who are familiar with animal-rescue procedures) to find the oil-drenched pelicans, turtles, etc., and take them to a rescue station. There, the family helps rehabilitate the animals and eventually returns them to a cleaner ocean environment farther along the coast. Bright acrylic childlike paintings accompany the story. Dedicated to all the people who helped during the spill, the book was vetted by a bird-rescue expert for accuracy. Although simplified, the information is useful for the younger set and serves as a timely look at a serious ecological problem.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA