Capstone Publishes Oil Spills Book, Proceeds to Benefit Gulf Mammal Rescue Program

MANKATO, MN, August 27, 2010 (Press-News.org) Capstone imprint Capstone Press, children's publisher of accessible, engaging nonfiction for beginning, struggling, and reluctant readers, is developing a new book to help kids understand the 2010 oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil Spills, written for young elementary grade students, will answer kids' questions about how oil spills happen, their effects on animals and the environment, and how people work to clean them up.

Partial proceeds from the book will be donated to the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP), coordinated by the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas based in New Orleans, La. LMMSTRP is the primary responder for the state of Louisiana for rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles affected by the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

"The Gulf oil spill has captured the interest and concern of students across the country. It's important to us to give educators and parents a resource to help address kids' questions and calm their fears. It's also important to us to give back to the communities forever changed by the disaster," said Matt Keller, President of Capstone Nonfiction.

"Helping young people understand what happened in the Gulf of Mexico has enormous implications for our future," said Ron Forman, President and CEO of Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. "Through telling the story of the spill, we can engage kids and give them hope that there can be some success stories to emerge out of tragedies when people pull together for a common cause."

Consulting on the book is noted oceanographer and professor at Florida State University Dr. Ian R. MacDonald, who was among the first scientists to question the size of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill initially reported by the government and became an advocate for more accurate, scientific estimates.

"Kids have a lot of questions about the oil spill and our book is specifically written at their level. It offers them accessible information, to help alleviate their fears and maybe even inspire them into action. With many curriculum tie-ins, Oil Spills will be a useful resource for educators to incorporate into lesson plans about this and other environmental disasters," said Nick Healy, Editorial Director of Capstone Nonfiction.

Oil Spills will debut Oct. 15, but is available now for pre-purchase through the publisher's website http://www.capstonepub.com under its Capstone Press imprint in the First Facts brand. Later in the fall, the title will also be available in Capstone Digital's Capstone Interactive LibraryTM as part of Capstone's commitment to making titles available in multiple formats so that all types of readers can find the information they need. Oil Spills will be available in the school library and trade markets.

Oil Spills
By Christine A. Caputo
Publication Date: Oct. 15, 2010
Pre-purchase at http://www.capstonepub.com
ISBN: 978-1-4296-6658-9
Copyright 2011
Pages: 24
Hardcover List: $23.99
Hardcover S/L: $17.99
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4296-6765-4
Paperback: $6.95
Interest Level: Grades 1 - 3 (Ages 6-9)
Reading Level: Grades 1-2 (Ages 6-8)
Trim Size: 8 1/8 x 8

About the Author
Christine A. Caputo is a Florida-based writer who has written educational materials for more than 20 years. She works to make scientific concepts accessible to children and relate the significance of scientific principles to their everyday lives. Her writing has been published in numerous earth, life, and physical textbooks and extensively in online educational materials.

About the Consultant
Dr. Ian R. MacDonald is a Professor of Biological Oceanography at Florida State University. In his research, he uses imaging and GIS techniques to investigate the ecology of deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. He was among the scientists to question the size of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Dr. MacDonald used satellite imagery to challenge estimates of the size of the spill by BP and U.S. governmental scientists, and to produce independent scientific evidence of the spill's significance, which BP and the U.S. governmental scientists eventually confirmed. He holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University.

About Capstone
Capstone is the leading publisher of children's books and digital products and services, offering everything from nonfiction, fiction, and picture books to interactive books, audio books, and literacy programs. Imprints and divisions include Capstone Press, Compass Point Books, Picture Window Books, Stone Arch Books, Red Brick Learning, Capstone Digital, and Heinemann-Raintree. Visit us at http://www.CapstonePub.com.

About Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program
Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP) is a volunteer organization based out of Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. It is funded in part through the National Marine Fisheries Service's Prescott Grant Program. LMMSTRP is the primary responder for the state of Louisiana for rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles affected by the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Audubon and LMMSTRP are collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that the most up to date information about the oil spill and any possible animals in its path. For more information, visit http://www.auduboninstitute.org/gulf-oil-spill-resources.