In narrative detail, The Exxon Valdez’s Deadly Oil Spill chronicles one of the worst oil-spill disasters in U.S. history. Readers will meet Joseph Hazelwood, the Valdez’s captain, who accidentally ran the tanker aground in March 1989, rupturing the hull and spilling gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. Kids will read how nearly 10,000 workers and volunteers-including animal rescuers-rushed to help with the clean-up. The accident was, above all, an environmental disaster that led to new government regulations monitoring oil tankers, and spawned new environmental groups. Through this book, kids will appreciate the interdependence between plants and animals, and understand the impact humans have on the environment. Emphasizing the human drama, a “Profiles” section lists people related to this historic oil spill.
