Climate Change

Earth's climate is changing more quickly than ever before. Temperatures are getting higher. Ice in the Arctic and Antarctic is melting in places where it once stayed frozen all year. Storms and hurricanes are becoming more frequent and powerful. Why are these changes taking place-and what can be done to slow them down? Look inside to find the answers and learn how everyone can help protect the planet.

Children's Literature

A logical discussion of the topic rather than the typical emotional screed, this is one of the better books about climate change that I have encountered. For the most part, this title, a part of the "Earth in Danger" series, presents facts as facts and theories as possibilities, but slips in a couple of places and uses imperative language to describe things that might or might not happen in the future. Orme addresses the multi-million year history of climate change, provides an easily grasped explanation of the greenhouse effect, and avoids alarmist statements in the first half of the book, but overuses exclamation points in the second half while implying that all potential effects of climate change would be negative. The book ends on a positive note, suggesting that with small, simple behavior changes, Earth can recover from the traumatic effects of human activities. Going beyond efforts to stop climate change is noted in one of the full-page sidebars in the "Just the Facts" section which deals with the often overlooked issue of changes people can make to cope with climate change. Another offers an overview of alternative methods of producing electricity that includes both the benefits and the drawbacks of each. Throughout the text, brief factoids introduced with a storm cloud graphic appear on each two-page spread. Backmatter includes a "How to Help" page, glossary, an index, and sources for further information. Reviewer: Heather N. Kolich