Books with author Stuart A. Kallen

On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless―landfills and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers. Learn more about the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ocean Cleanup Array, the zero waste movement, and the many other government, business, research, and youth efforts working to solve our planet's garbage crisis.

On a global scale, humans create around 2.6 trillion pounds of waste every year. None of this trash is harmless—landfills and dumps leak toxic chemicals into soil and groundwater, while incinerators release toxic gases and particles into the air. What can we do to keep garbage from swallowing up Earth? Reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling are some of the answers. Learn more about the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ocean Cleanup Array, the zero waste movement, and the many other government, business, research, and youth efforts working to solve our planet's garbage crisis.

As the planet's human population explodes, so does the demand for water. About one out of every nine people in the world does not have access to safe drinking water, while one out of every five―almost 1.5 billion humans―lives in a region where water demand is outstripping supply. But as demand grows, supplies do not. Climate change has led to severe drought, flooding, and massive storms in key agricultural areas of the world. Industrial and agricultural water pollution threatens public health around the world. Environmental protection measures are not keeping up with energy-production technologies such as fracking and the corn-for-fuel market, all of which affect water usage rates and safety. Both developed and undeveloped areas of the world face challenges with water-delivery infrastructure. For example, undeveloped nations lack even the most basic water-delivery systems. Millions of global citizens are without sanitation altogether, polluting waterways with raw sewage. In the developed world, water-delivery infrastructures are aging and wasteful. Domestic and industrial overconsumption of water resources draws down supply capacity, depleting Earth's freshwater resources at an alarming rate. And, in the last few decades, private corporations have begun to take over municipal water delivery, buying the rights to freshwater supplies and selling bottled water, all for large profits. As the cost of clean water rises, many people can't afford the water they need for everyday use. Competition for clean water is increasing, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Running Dry investigates some tough questions. In a crowded world with limited water supplies, will we be able to deliver safe, clean water to an increasingly thirsty world? Can governments, businesses, and individuals work together to clean up and protect Earth's water resources? Are water conservation strategies enough to ensure a water-rich future? Or will we run dry?

The student-led March For Our Lives movement, formed in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, captured widespread attention in 2018. The raw emotion and eloquence of these student activists have made a strong impression on the nation and the world. Many other students in cities and towns all across the country have taken on other causes. Whether their efforts are local or global, whether they generate headlines or not--all of these student activists seek to create a better world for themselves and others. Teen Guide to Student Activism features stories about teens who are making a difference and shows other teens how they can do the same. The book discusses organizing, reaching out, and student rights. It also features insights from student activists about the challenges of balancing school and activism and the many lessons learned from their own activities and from earlier activists. The book includes many fully documented quotes from teens as well as an annotated list of Resources for Student Activists.

Featuring quirky horse-riding dance moves and an infectious electronic beat, an unlikely music video and its leading man made history in 2012. In December of that year, "Gangnam Style" reached one billion hits on YouTube―the most views ever. Seemingly overnight, the South Korean pop star behind the hit―Psy (Park Jae-sang)―became a household name. But Psy is just part of the story. Other South Korean pop sensations such as Girls' Generation, 2NE1, and BigBang are part of a global sensation called Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. South Korean bands are performing to sold out arenas all over the world, and fans can't get enough of South Korean music, films, television, food, and manhwa (cartoons). K-Pop: Korea's Musical Explosion traces the journey of South Korean pop music, from the early influences of American rock 'n' roll in the 1950s to the success of a tiger-eyed sensation called Rain, who wowed American audiences in the early 2000s. Discover how this Korean Justin Timberlake, and those who came after him, rose through South Korea’s star-making system through grueling hard work to seduce international audiences with their tight choreographies, irresistible beats, outrageous outfits, and exciting stage shows. You'll become part of the K-Pop fandom world too!

In 1540 Francisco Vázquez de Coronado marched from northern Mexico in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola, reputed to hold great treasures. He found Cibola, but discovered that this Zuni village didn't have the treasures he sought. Coronado kept searching for gold-filled cities but came up empty-handed―though his men became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon. By studying maps, quotations, and works of art created in his lifetime, we can learn what the journey was like for Coronado and the Native peoples he encountered. Take an expedition with Coronado and primary sources to learn more about his travels.

Long before Europeans explored the lands and waters above the Arctic Circle, several Inuit groups lived in this harsh, snowy landscape. They spoke different languages and developed unique ways to thrive in the ice and snow. These include making homes from whalebones and animals skins and hunting seals with spears through holes in the ice. Many Inuit still live in the Arctic. While many aspects of Arctic life have changed, the Inuit are working to preserve their traditional practices and languages. Find out more about the history and culture of the Inuit.

In the South Pacific in 1944 and 1945, military battles raged between the United States and Japan. Surrounded by rattling bullets and exploding bombs, a group of Navajo Marines sent secret messages back and forth. They used a code they had created from the Navajo language, a code the enemy was never able to crack. These young men had been recruited from their homes in the American Southwest. They brought with them incredible physical stamina and a language that had never been written down. Learn more about the Navajo code talkers—brave, creative heroes who used their unbreakable code to help the Allies win the war.