Change Is in the Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us

by Debbie Levy, Alex Boersma (Illustrator)

A nonfiction picture book about amazing ways that the Earth removes carbon from the air, and amazing ways people can help, offering a fresh and hopeful perspective on climate change.

The Earth has a there's too much carbon in the air.

Luckily, the Earth also has amazing powers to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere-like the power of kelp, mangroves, and dirt. Although these powers alone cannot get us out of the climate crisis we're facing, the Earth has another important the power of people! People have the power to change, protect, innovate, and invent.

In this informational picture book, Debbie Levy and Alex Boersma paint an encouraging yet honest picture of the problems at hand and some of the ways that we can address them. Thanks to the power of nature and the ingenuity of people, change is in the air!

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Environment, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid informational picture book that covers human impact on the Earth’s environment and what we can do to help slow down the process of destruction. This is a great introductory book to use for those who want to know more about conservation.

[Emily Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as a part of CPL’s adult summer reading program! i haven’t read a picture book in a while, but it distilled a complex and scary topic into something that was approachable and honestly kind of calming? it was empowering in a nice way that i feel like is the polar opposite of climate change content i consume!

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a hopeful book! It really emphasizes what people are doing, and are capable of doing, to help natural carbon sequestration processes. It breaks the info down to a kid (or grown up who got a D in organic chemistry) friendly level, and the information on the inner covers isn't covered up by the dust jackets. Little details that absolutely get noticed. :)

[Scout Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Overall, this book is an excellent introduction for kids to understand why there are climate issues and what some solutions are in a very brief and simplified way.

A little iffy about the "we have science to save us" message... this made me take the rating down from 5 to 4. In many ways, the solution is more political/economic than it is 'scientific' - we need to address capitalism, overconsumption and overproduction - and move forward with green energy at the POLITICAL level. I know this is hard to explain to kids, but this is a message that needs to be shared with everyone.

The back of the book says:
"At sea, by the shore, and on land, the Earth's powers are mighty. But they are not enough. For the Earth to keep helping us, we must help the Earth. And people have amazing powers to do that."

I will use this book at one of my environmental kids' camps. Glad I saw it on display at the library and checked it out.

I would recommend this book.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! This is an author who has clearly read the latest research on how to share climate change with kids! Wonderful, hopeful message and really good explanations (the fabulous resources and info in endpapers and author note can make this book work for 5th grade). Clarity and hope -- just what we are looking for in climate lit! A Winner!

(My only quibble was that I don’t think eating fish ("finfish") is the solution to the beef problem (though eating bivalves and kelp is); if you research fish resources, we are already harvesting far too much. Tell the truth -- fighting climate change requires a mostly plant based diet. If you are going to push fish, at least use the information about how to eat it sustainably.)

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Change is in the Air just might be the best children's climate change book I've seen. It perfectly explains scientific fact for the early elementary school audience. Readers will understand the cause of excess carbon in the air, how plants remove it, and why we need to augment what the planet does naturally. By using short sentences accompanied by detailed, realistic illustrations, Levy and Boersma create a book that makes the climate crisis concrete and comprehensible for young readers. Back matter provides greater detail.

If you are looking for climate books, Change is in the Air should be among them for sure!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative nonfiction picture book about the carbon that is in the air, how and why there is too much of it, and what we can and are doing to fix the problem. It clearly explains how the earth has ways to repair the air and gives examples of how it's done by kelp, mangroves, and dirt. The accessible text and illustrations are straightforward in laying out the facts, but it's message is a hopeful one that change is still possible. A useful book to include in units about climate change.

"People have the power to protect. People have the power to invent. We have the power of science!"

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bloomsbury Children’s Books for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. This well-written nonfiction with detailed illustrations explains the effect of Carbon on climate, earth, and us in easy to understand language for young readers. The book also suggests ways to protect and preserve the environment. This is a great addition to a science classroom and library.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explains how carbon gets into our atmosphere, how it became a fossil fuel, how it helps to heat our planet, and how to relieve the planet. Gets a tad preachy at times. Good science information on the inside covers.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple introduction to the greenhouse effect, and global warming, and some things that people can do to help.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to carbon, climate change and what we can do to help the Earth.

[Sarah Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from a beautiful children's book. excellent. A must read.