Earth Matters

August 1, 2008
Gr 5 Up-This environmentally friendly book is sure to appeal to students who will be drawn to the look and feel of the package in addition to the spectacular color photographs. The text is divided into sections corresponding to the Earth's regions: polar, temperate forests, deserts, grasslands, tropical forests, mountains, freshwater, and oceans. Maps locate the areas, and a scale guide based on average adult and child heights helps readers judge the size of the animals inhabiting the region under review. Page layouts vary, and there is a plethora of information presented in catchy, attention-grabbing ways. Web site references are offered on many pages, as are ideas for making a difference and helping to save the planet. The introduction offers the "big bang" theory as the explanation for Earth's creation. The author tells of his plan to sail a boat made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles from the United States to Australia to bring attention to the mass (the size of Texas) of plastic pieces floating in the Pacific. Facts like this are sure to bring lots of "wows" from readers. A first-rate addition to all collections."Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley College, Mt. Carmel, IL"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2008
Grades 3-8 Probably best used for browsing or in a family collection, this title is certainly not an encyclopedia of ecology as we usually think of an encyclopedia. It is, however, an attractive, fact-filled volume that may inspire young people to learn more about their earth. Following a 40-page introductionthat touches on thethe greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle, water consumption, and other topics, the book covers eight biomes. Polar regions, temperate forests, deserts, grasslands, tropical forests, mountains, freshwater, and oceans are described in 2030 pages thatpresents facts aboutthe ecosystem, specific organisms, modern problems (logging, warming tundra, controversial crops), and what young people can do to make a difference.Information is presented on exciting two-page spreads with maps, photographs, charts, and intriguing commentary, much like exhibits at a modern nature center. Every Making a Difference section has some doable suggestions (use a reusable water bottle) along with a fewimpractical or contradictory ones (Walk to school whatever the weather and Take a mountain vacation, but Vacation without flying). With no sources provided, its hard to know where some of the facts come from. (How was it figured that 18 gallons of water are needed to produce one apple?) The index is adequate, but it does not includeplastic and several other itemsthat are mentioned in the text. Upper-elementary through middle-school students and their teachers will find plenty of attractive pages here for browsing but will need to go elsewherefor much substance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)