Creekfinding

Illustrated by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

“No water – no water bugs, no frogs, no birds, and no brook trout. The lost creek was quiet under the sun.”

Creekfinding tells the inspiring true story of Mike Osterholm, a man who set out to restore a lost creek in northern Iowa. Once a thriving hub of life, Brook Creek became lost when a farmer filled the bank with soil in order to expand his cornfield. The creek remained lost until years later when Mike purchased the land, hoping to grow a prairie there. After hearing about a previous brook trout that had once been fished in the land, Mike set out to restore the creek. He used machines to uncover the stream from the dirt and started reintroducing different ecosystem elements into the creek. As seasons passed, creek life slowly returned, and Mike was able to reintroduce the prized brook trout back into the flourishing ecosystem.

Winner of the 2018 Green Earth Book Award, Creekfinding is a beautifully illustrated picturebook that teaches readers about the importance of environmental restoration projects. Through its detailed, step-by-step explanation of the creek restoration process, Creekfinding places a strong emphasis on the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Each part of the process is shown to not be possible without another, demonstrating how all parts of an ecosystem depend on each other. The recurring line, “a creek isn’t just water,” emphasizes this as well and reminds readers of the rich biodiversity that thrives within these natural habitats. By showcasing the richness of ecosystems and the unexpected places where biodiversity can be found, the book calls readers to explore and appreciate the natural world that exists around them.

The destruction of Brook Creek also highlights the pressing issue of habitat/biodiversity loss as driven by human expansionism. Mike’s story provides hope against these acts of destruction showing that we can reverse environmental destruction if we try. Interestingly, despite the fact that the problem was initially caused by industrial machinery, Mike ended up using similar equipment for his restoration project. By utilizing the machines in a different capacity, he redirected their impact towards a positive mission, emphasizing the notion of environmental damage reversal. The book urges readers to embrace their role as conservationists and inspires them to take meaningful steps towards preserving and protecting the environment, even in the face of doubt.

©2024 ClimateLit (Alexandra Delacruz)

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Publisher: University of Minnesota Press, 2017

Pages: 36

Lexile Score: 640L

ISBN: 978-0816698028

Audience: Ages 4-7

Format: Biographies, Nonfiction, Picturebooks

Science Standards: 2-PS1-1

Topics: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Loss, Conservation, Earth Care, Earth Stewardship, Ecological Restoration, Habitat Loss, Habitat Preservation, Habitats, Human Expansionism, Interconnectedness, Land Stewardship, Nearby Nature