Product Description
When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that Earth’s climate is changing? Here is the science behind the headlines – evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from young “citizen-scientists.” And here is what young people, and their families and teachers, can do to learn about climate change and take action. Climate change is a critical and … More >>
How We Know What We Know about Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming
Tags: About, birds, butterflies, Changing, changing climate, citizen scientists, Climate, climate change, climate scientists, Explore, frogs, glaciers, Global, global warming, Kids', Know, scientists, warming, weather changes
#1 by b.elseware on May 10, 2010 - 12:13 am
Very nice composition, art work and presentation. A beautiful book.
Unfortunately, herein is a lot of valid science that is irrelevant to the central thesis. Yes, climate change is probably real. Yes, humanity is contributing to the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. However, together these observations do not scientifically demonstrate that humanity is destroying the earth and must retrogress civilization or die. In fact, there are other potentially valid explanations and possible outcomes.
I wish all the kids subjected to this stuff had the insight to parse it properly. Without that, charting when the leaves turn, or when birds migrate, could make many young minds paranoid.
(real name withheld to avoid the inevitable “Denier” flaming)
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Christine M. Irvin on May 10, 2010 - 2:24 am
This is a great book for kids, especially, but for adults as well; I read it and enjoyed it and learned some things I didn’t know about our changing climate. It is loaded with facts and information about climate change and global warming. The tightly written text is accompanied by a host of beautiful, glossy photographs as well as numerous charts and graphs. Science terms are both italicized and well defined in the text.
The book is set up in four sections. “Section one: Where We Find Clues About Climate Change” shows how data has been collected and research is being done about the changes in bird, butterfly and penguin populations as well as the changing tundra and landscapes in different parts of the world. “Section two: Fitting the Clues Together” tells how the facts and data collected in Section One are used to create models and computer programs showing changes that have already occurred and modeling and predicting what other changes will take place if the trend in global warming continues. “Section Three: What Scientists and You can Do” lists a whole array of things that can be done to reduce our “climate (carbon) footprint”. “Section Four: Resources” gives all the resources used in the book and tells where readers can go for more information.
A Teacher’s Guide is available from the publisher for teachers who would like to use this book in their classrooms. I believe this book would make an excellent classroom resource. There’s lots of information about student groups worldwide that are helping scientists with their data collections.
There are so many good things to say about this book I hate to even mention the bad ones. But, alas, almost every book seems to have at least one thing about it that could be improved; this book has three. Let’s not call them bad things, though; let’s just say there are a couple of things I would do to improve the book.
First, I would correct the typo on page 39. (See if you can find it!). Then, I would add a glossary to the end of the book. There are a lot of science terms that are used throughout the book that are both italicized and defined in the text, keeping the text flowing and the narrative going. But, I think a glossary would be an added bonus for both students and teachers. If you want to find the meaning of a term, say tree cookies, you could leaf through the pages until you came to it on page 22; but, wouldn’t it be easier to just go to a glossary at the back of the book and find the term listed there? Just a thought. . .
Even if you don’t believe in global warming, you should appreciate the beautiful photos and the rich text of this fact-filled book. I give it 4 stars.
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by Carol Luther on May 10, 2010 - 5:20 am
One of the worst things about reading global warming books is that feeling of helplessness that sets in as statistic is added to statistic. Now, at last, Lynne Cherry has produced a well illustrated text that tells us how we can help by observing and documenting changes in the world around us. There are no grand claims, no easy solutions, but the hope that as we know more about what is happening, the better we will know what to do. At the back of the book, Cherry lists where we can submit our observations. As one who works in community service, I am impressed at how this book takes education into the real world. I have given it to our 5th grade faculty for service learning.
How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate is highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Amy J. Murray on May 10, 2010 - 5:32 am
I purchased the book to serve as a reference for my First Lego League robotics team as our 2008 challenge is about climate and global warming. The text and format are engaging and the photos are awesome. As a former teacher, I can see how this could serve as an effective instructional tool and informational resource for teachers and students.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by R. Myers on May 10, 2010 - 8:08 am
b.elsewhere,
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), publisher of the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Science, strongly disagrees with your opinion. The AAAS just released its list of top science books for children and teens, and this book was on it.
See http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-12/aaft-aat120508.php
A book that’s good enough for the AAAS is good enough for any kid interested in science. I’m ordering this one for my niece.
Rating: 5 / 5