Review by Booklist Review
Veteran science writer Cherry and award-winning photographer Braasch team up to make climate change less frightening by showing children how to empower themselves as citizen scientists. Cherry begins with a no-nonsense chapter about hypotheses and theories, facts versus belief. She goes on to explain how observation can help bring about climate-change strategies; the information about children involved with Project Budburst is particulary interesting. Along the way, there are examples of how nature is changing from migrations to melting icecaps to rising coastlines and how these changes have been observed. The second section, Fitting the Clues Together, considers what scientists do with their information and notes successes that have been achieved (for example, species saved and reduction of carbon footprints) and ways kids can help reduce energy. The can-do emphasis helps to make the topic less depressing, and the intriguing color photographs are thoughtful and upbeat. Many scientists were called upon during the writing of this book, and it shows.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Meant to be like a youth version of Braasch's Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World, this beautifully photographed global guide offers a look at how research in diverse fields leads to an understanding of the warming climate--and what children and adults are doing about it. The first and largest of the book's four sections, "Where We Find Clues About Climate Change," presents researchers, citizen scientists and schoolchildren examining the natural world and unearthing data about climate. Spreads jump from topic to topic, from rainforests to tree rings, oceanic mud samples to 800,000-year-old ice cores. The empowering "What Scientists and You Can Do" section provides practical, proactive suggestions, e.g., eating less meat, drinking tap instead of bottled water. While heavy on the jargon, Cherry (The Great Kapok Tree) immediately and clearly defines all science terms. The book would be overwhelming to read in one sitting; kids and educators will find this timely information is best served up via its bite-sized chapters. Readers young and old looking to make a difference will appreciate the book's hopeful tone as well as its comprehensive resource lists. Ages 10-14. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Research scientists studying climate change use observations and data collected by children and other citizen scientists around the world. Photos document their on-site investigations of butterfly and bird migrations, forest and tundra alterations, and other effects of climate change. the authors suggest ways individuals and communities can reduce carbon emissions. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) Front and center in this excellent book are the data upon which explanations for rapid climate change are built. Each double-page spread in the first two-thirds of the book features a research project revealing changes in ecosystems -- in the behaviors of butterflies and penguins, in the sizes of glaciers and sea levels, and in the amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The carefully built progression of cases -- just a small sampling of the vast amount of data out there -- drives home the message that change really is occurring, and that the rate of change is accelerating. A highlight of the book (and a hallmark of this field) is that data are being collected not just by scientists but also by naturalists, children, and other concerned citizens. Illustrations include sharp color photographs of researchers and children in the field and laboratories as well as age-appropriate graphs and tables that transform basic observations into evidence. A strong underlying message is that committed readers can make a difference; the last section of the book and the end materials include an index, an exhaustive list of resources, a directory of scientists, encouragement for readers to get involved in both science and conservation, and suggestions for making a difference that are laudably nontrivial.From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This clear, detailed explanation demonstrates that we know about climate change through research by scientists and students at home and in the field--patient observation and investigations that lead to information about Earth's climate history. Environmentalist Cherry collaborates with photojournalist Braasch to distill the information in the latter's adult Earth under Fire (2007), adding examples of young people whose participation in citizen science projects through their schools supports the ongoing work of documenting these changes. The topically organized text is informative and accessible, explicit in its message, positive in tone and particularly useful in its broad array of examples and suggestions for student involvement in both inquiry and solutions. Numerous small photographs show children and adults around the world, a wide range of affected wildlife and effects of climate change on the landscape. A lengthy "Resources" section includes both books and a variety of information and action sources with Internet addresses. The scientists whose work is described are listed in a separate index, identified by position. A must for school libraries, and science teachers may want copies of their own. (index) (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
