What Is Climate Change?

What was...?

by Gail Herman

Learn more about what climate change means and how it's affecting our planet.

The earth is definitely getting warmer. There's no argument about that, but who or what is the cause? And why has climate change become a political issue? Are humans at fault? Is this just a natural development? While the vast majority of scientists who study the environment agree that humans play a large part in climate change, there is a counterargument. Author Gail Herman presents both sides of the debate in this fact-based, fair-minded, and well-researched book that looks at the subject from many perspectives, including scientific, social, and political.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Climate Change, Animals, Middle Grade, History

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

Gail Herman, formerly a children's book editor in New York City, has written picture books, easy-to-reads, and chapter books, including many titles in the Who Was/What Was series. She lives in Newton, Massachusetts with her family.

Reviews

[Esraa Gibreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

التغيرات المناخية مشكلة حقيقية وعاجلة تواجه الكوكب كله، وتتسبب في مشكلات بيئية ضخمة مثل الجفاف والتصحر ونضب الموارد المائية التي تؤدي بدورها إلى مزيد من المشكلات مثل المجاعات، ومنها المجاعة التي حدثت في الصومال وشرق أفريقيا في الفترة 2010-2012. على جميع الدول تبني طرق توليد الطاقة النظيفة مثل طاقة الرياح أو استحدام الألوح الشمسية أو الطاقة النووية واستبدال أو تقليل استخدام البترول والفحم، والحد من الأنشطة التي تزيد من انبعاث ثاني أكسيد الكربون وغازات الصوبا الزجاجية، والأفراد أيضا يستطيعوا ترشيد استهلاكهم للكهرباء والوقود الحفري، والتوجه لاستخدام المنتجات المعاد تدويرها، والضغط على الحكومات لاصدار قوانين من شأنها تقليل التلوث ووضع حد لانباعاثات الكربون.

من الأفضل لنا جميعا أن نحافظ على الكوكب، أو نبحث لنا عن واحد جديد.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy reading most of the books in this series, especially on topics that I have previously read about as I keep alert for discrepancies; mostly the authors do a great job presenting good basic factual information in a short youth format. In this case with What Is Climate Change? by Gail Herman is too filled with talking points from the church of global warming/climate change fear mongering. Many of the settled science points are not settled and are disputed in many other books that I have read using actual facts and statistics to put doubt on many of these "undisputed" claims. When the cries about how we are doomed within 10-12 years if we don't buy in to their agenda have to be reset every 10-12 years because the world hasn't ended yet, the catastrophic disasters we've been warned about haven't happened, and politicians and those pushing this agenda seem unconcerned as they purchase oceanfront properties telling me they are not really serious. For a more scientific look at this subject I can recommend The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism by Christopher C. Horner; The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World's Top Climate Scientists by Roy W. Spencer; Climate Change: The Facts by Alan Moran; The Bad Science and Bad Policy of Obama's Global Warming Agenda by Roy W. Spencer; The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change by Marc Morano that I have read as well as many others on my list to read. What impressed me was that they tended to avoid repeating bullet points and resorted to references to facts and studies that have been conducted using the scientific method we legitimate scientists and engineers should be using for peer reviewed papers and books. If science was truly done by consensus as some would have us believe, then the Earth would be flat and the center of the universe. There are some correct and useful details contained in this book but for young and inexperienced readers it may be difficult for them to sort out proven facts versus unscientific speculation. We should be up for another warning of imminent disaster that will happen in 10-12 years again in a few more years.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I am learning about a new subject, I love reading kids books on the topic to get a basic understanding. This is why I chose a children's book on climate change. I know this is a hot-topic issue, and I didn't feel like I was very informed. After reading this book, I feel like a have a better understanding about what causes climate change and the politics surrounding this issue. I found the chapter on the politics of climate change to be very interesting and informative. If you want to know the basics about climate change, this is a great book to start out with.

[Debra McEathron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this for my students as a book on current events. This has facts as recent as 2017. It discusses climate change in a way upper elementary students can gain an understanding about it. it discusses ways countries and states can make adjustments in their practices to help make the world a better place.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great starter book on climate change for kids. The book offers simple to understand information along with resources for more information.

[Shahd Rdawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plus audiobook narrated by: Suzanne Elise Freeman

[Joanne Eglon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick/easy read. Educational and full of fact based information.
Lovely little illustrations throughout 💕

[Kyle Govert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. straightforward, informative, and a quick read on a subject.

[S.E. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The political commentary was unnecessary.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying most of the who was/what is series of books are excellently written and great material for children such as my 4th grade son. This book however is full of half truths and political biases when it comes to climate change.

Issues such as flooding in New Orleans in 2005 were as much the fault of local governments not following their own evacuation plans for instance, and the political discussion fails to mention that the Kyoto Protocol still doesn't have enough signatory countries to apply enforcement, and that larger countries were simply buying carbon credits from smaller countries prior to 2012 (first stage of KP) .

Is the environment changing? Yes. Is climate changing? Yes. Is it due to human influence? Very likely, however climate models are still highly inaccurate and the economics of enforcing regulation on large developing countries (yes you China and India) producing a majority of worldwide manufacturing goods is improbable to say the least.

The book also avoids discussing issues with renewable energy equipment- which relies heavily on strip mined resources to be manufactured into solar panels and fiberglass wind turbines. And where do those resources come from? Since 2014 more than 50% of the photovoltaic material is produced in China a country known for extremely lax environmental laws and even worse enforcement.

Take the book for what its worth, a biased but ok introduction for kids to get a glimpse into one of the biggest issues they will face in their lifetime. But please take the opportunity to discuss the issues at large with an open mind and critical view of the author's writing.

[Kristen Schutzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an informational book that gives a kid-friendly overview of climate change and how it has and will affect the planet. The book goes through what climate change is, what causes it, how scientists discovered that the planet was heating up, how it is affecting the planet, and ways that we can stop the planet from heating too fast. Even though this book is at a level that elementary students can read, I learned some things that I did not know about climate change and climate science. I think this book is important for students to read because this is an issue that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

This book would be a good read aloud for first grade and older. I think it is suitable as and independent or instructional level book for second or third graders. It would be a perfect resource for students who are studying climate and climate change in science class. I would use it in the classroom as a book students can go to for filling out study guides or reports about climate change. Also, it would be a good book to have available for students who want to do their own independent research on this topic.

[Martha Chango · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book “What Is Climate Change?” by Gail Herman, is an informative book that offers a friendly overview of climate change and how it has affected and is currently affecting the planet. The book explains the ways in which different countries and states are acting against climate change, giving examples such as solar panels and wind turbines. I love the idea that he tries to capture in this book by informing children what climate change is and how close it is to the world today. The genre presented by this book is informative, and the topic it addresses is climate change. It is a fairly clear book with what it wants to communicate. This book is a WOW for me since it includes elements of reading for reading comprehension through basic inferences about the purpose of the text. This element clearly shows the message that the author wants to convey: to inform. I consider this book to be anti-bias, since it mentions the reality that is happening in the world, and tries to inform children in a friendly way about ways to take care of the planet.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a nice, digestible overview of climate change for the interested young person or adult. It covers the history of earth's climatic changes since our planet was formed, while focusing on how human activity that combusts fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) has raised carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere from around 280 parts per million in the 1700s to now over 400 parts per million, with far-reaching consequences for life on earth. These consequences include a warming planet, coral bleaching and die-off, more heavy rainfall events causing more floods, more likelihood of droughts and heat waves, increased wildfires, melting of permafrost and in some cases the costly relocation of Arctic villages, famine resulting from crop failures, and more. The book ends on an empowering note, asking the reader how they will help be a part of the solution. It's a quick read that can be completed in under an hour.

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

This young reader’s volume provides good information and a somewhat balanced approach regarding the idea and theory behind climate change the potential impact on our planet.

The report inquiries into the cause of warmer temperatures, and why this has become a major political issue. The human element plus the natural development of weather trends appear to combine to aggravate and accelerate the changes in climate worldwide.

Much of the included scientific data is heavily based on evolutionary theory and controversial conclusions. This “hot” topic demands an understanding from our young readers and this quick read offers a nice summary.

[Kristin Feliciano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of a great deal of information. If your student or child is into facts this is a great informative book. I think if you are using it in the classroom, then it could be used to support another book or as research for an assignment. If I used this as a read aloud, I would use only specific chapters to support a project or theme we are working on in class. It has great pictures in it for kids to look through.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, basic introduction to the issue of climate change. It's very basic, though, so you'll definitely want to delve deeper and really examine the issues. The chapter on politics was too simplistic, painting with a much broader brush than reality, but politics and money do have a MAJOR impact on what humans do or do not do about climate change. Like I said, this is just an introductory treatment of the issue and it's written at a level that kids ages 8+ can understand.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Climate Change and how bad it is, and that we need to stop it.
This book is a nonfiction book
My favorite part in this book is when in the book they talk about how we are helping
This is my favorite part because after all the bad information then it show the good things we're doing

[Addystin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and easy to understand this book explains what climate change is and how it is hurting the earth. From flooding to politics everything is covered in this short chapter book. This isn’t something I am incredibly passionate about but it is something I advocate for and learning a little more about it was nice.

[Lady Washizu · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting YA read. a quick read as well.

it gives a lot of detail and thoroughly explains the issues with climate change, weather, why it happens and why it's a big issue, not just in the now but the long term as well. and most importantly what we and companies would do to reverse it or at least make it better.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So slowly but surely, let's start using more and more renewable energy. We don't have to eradicate everything immediately, no one would go for that, but we can start doing small changes and build up to that. I would rather have gorgeous wind turbines than ugly, steel poles.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for elementary students, a bit older than my grandkids. My granddaughter wants to learn about Climate Change so I think a chapter to start each science day of homeschooling will interest her.

She's in second grade and highly motivated so I think she'll enjoy it.

[Denielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great introduction to climate change. This would be a great resource for a middle or high school student doing a paper on climate change. Good for adults who aren't scientist to understand climate change.

[Steve Worsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and simple introduction to climate change, covering key aspects of science, present day objections, present and future implications. A good book to give someone who is trying to get their head round it

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and informative book. The reader will learn a lot about the various factors that have caused the change in the climate over time as well as the many changes that have happened over the Earth's history.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad this book started at the beginning and went up through now and included the ups and downs of getting people to believe in climate change and how political this issue is. Well done.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty boring and didn't really learn that much.

[Erica Drum · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son had to read for school with me

[Kozue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in plain language, it is an appropriate reading material for English learners. For it was published in 2018, with some updated information, I’d like to use it in my teaching as well.

[Alessia]

great detailed information in this book