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Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet
The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.
Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.
Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2019
6 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Rusch
31 books73 followersELIZABETH RUSCH is an award-winning book author, magazine writer, editor, writing teacher and speaker. Her wide-ranging passions include astronomy, volcanology, art, music, history, nature, waves, jokes, crayons, and mud — anything that catches her fancy. She is inspired by stories of exploration and discovery, stories that have been overlooked by history, and stories that grapple with persistent questions. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, opens possibilities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 3, 2019
BRILLIANT. Rusch tells the life story of Mario Molina, a Mexican American chemist and a key player in discovering how CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons in hair spray cans, refrigerators, air conditioners) were depleting the ozone. Beginning in the 1970s, his work led him and others to advocate that this was a global crisis and eventually the world turned the problem around. THIS STORY GIVES US HOPE THAT THE WORLD CAN TURN AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE!!!
Rusch's clear writing and Martinez's dynamic illustrations are a strong, charming combination. Readers will learn about Mario's fascination with chemistry at a young age and then about his research focused on CFCs. (Molina was born in Mexico and later became a U.S. citizen.) Complex concepts like the role of the ozone in protecting us, the presence of CFCs in everyday items, and Molina’s complicated research are accessible to elementary age students. The last page tells about how Molina is now focused on stopping climate change and the last line of the book is a quote from Molina – “We saved our planet once. We can do it again.”
In the BACK MATTER, there's a picture of Mario Molina and an epilogue entitled "Mario Takes on Global Warming." The majority of the epilogue (nearly two pages of running text), though, is about Molina's current work focused on climate change. There is a discussion of how climate change is a bigger problem to solve than the CFCs depleting the ozone but that there's still hope. Rusch includes several direct quotes of Molina.
Another part of the BACK MATTER is a two-page layout comparing "The Ozone Hole" problem-solution to the "Global Warming" problem-solution. Rusch uses a diagram - a web - and the reader can compare and contrast the two issues - problem, science, threat to our planet, scientific consensus, outcome, hope, solutions, etc.
LOVE the "Author's Note: The Research Process" in the BACK MATTER. Rusch discusses her interviews with Molina as well as all the primary and secondary sources she studied. Readers of nonfiction deserve this information because it assures us of Rusch’s accuracy and authority in telling this story.
I’d read this aloud to students. The illustrations are eye-catching and informative. You might pause in particular spots and pose the following questions for student-led conversations:
o For any of the first several pages about his childhood – “How do the author and illustrator reveal Mario Molina’s fascination with chemistry?” or “What do the author and illustrator reveal about Molina on this page?”
o Two-page layout about “stores were full of NEW AND IMPROVED PRODUCTS” – “How does Martinez reveal that products with CFCs were common?”
o Two-page layout about “Mario discovered something scary” with diagram showing how CFCs deplete the ozone and scared look on Molina’s face – “What do you notice?” and “How does Martinez’s illustration help you understand what Molina discovered? And the impact of that discovery?”
o Two-page layout that starts “For more than ten years” which includes comments of doubt “A load of rubbish” and “It’s a science-fiction tale” – “How do you think Mario Molina felt during this time?” and “What’s your response to the last line on this page – ‘He never gave up’? What does that reveal about Molina?”
o The last two-page layout is an illustration of an older Molina helping a young person learn to use a microscope – clearly ties back to the beginning of the story. You might ask, “What do you notice about Mario Molina in this illustration? Why do you think Martinez included this?”
One reviewer indicated this book seems to be “partisan”—the way the facts about the President are presented in two places in the back matter. These statements are brief; not the major focus. In the epilogue there are two sentences; one about President Trump calling "climate change a hoax" and another about his intent to "withdraw from the Paris Agreement" (November 2020). (Both of these statements are true.) And in the diagram comparing the two crises, there is one smaller circle on the web entitled “global efforts” that describes the Paris Agreement and then states “President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the United States from the agreement as soon as the treaty allows.” DON’T LET THIS BE A DEAL BREAKER. If this is bothersome, then ask (older) students for their thoughts. You might pose a question like—
o What is Rusch’s argument in this story? And in the back matter? What are details in the text that make you think so?
o What might these statements (about the President) reveal about Rusch’s point of view?
o Why do you think Rusch picked these particular facts to share? What would be the difference if she'd left these out?
This is also an opportunity to EXPLORE OTHER VIEWPOINTS. How do other author's use the same facts to shape a different point? Rusch’s “research process” might inspire students to do their own research on this as well as a variety of other topics.
Rusch's clear writing and Martinez's dynamic illustrations are a strong, charming combination. Readers will learn about Mario's fascination with chemistry at a young age and then about his research focused on CFCs. (Molina was born in Mexico and later became a U.S. citizen.) Complex concepts like the role of the ozone in protecting us, the presence of CFCs in everyday items, and Molina’s complicated research are accessible to elementary age students. The last page tells about how Molina is now focused on stopping climate change and the last line of the book is a quote from Molina – “We saved our planet once. We can do it again.”
In the BACK MATTER, there's a picture of Mario Molina and an epilogue entitled "Mario Takes on Global Warming." The majority of the epilogue (nearly two pages of running text), though, is about Molina's current work focused on climate change. There is a discussion of how climate change is a bigger problem to solve than the CFCs depleting the ozone but that there's still hope. Rusch includes several direct quotes of Molina.
Another part of the BACK MATTER is a two-page layout comparing "The Ozone Hole" problem-solution to the "Global Warming" problem-solution. Rusch uses a diagram - a web - and the reader can compare and contrast the two issues - problem, science, threat to our planet, scientific consensus, outcome, hope, solutions, etc.
LOVE the "Author's Note: The Research Process" in the BACK MATTER. Rusch discusses her interviews with Molina as well as all the primary and secondary sources she studied. Readers of nonfiction deserve this information because it assures us of Rusch’s accuracy and authority in telling this story.
I’d read this aloud to students. The illustrations are eye-catching and informative. You might pause in particular spots and pose the following questions for student-led conversations:
o For any of the first several pages about his childhood – “How do the author and illustrator reveal Mario Molina’s fascination with chemistry?” or “What do the author and illustrator reveal about Molina on this page?”
o Two-page layout about “stores were full of NEW AND IMPROVED PRODUCTS” – “How does Martinez reveal that products with CFCs were common?”
o Two-page layout about “Mario discovered something scary” with diagram showing how CFCs deplete the ozone and scared look on Molina’s face – “What do you notice?” and “How does Martinez’s illustration help you understand what Molina discovered? And the impact of that discovery?”
o Two-page layout that starts “For more than ten years” which includes comments of doubt “A load of rubbish” and “It’s a science-fiction tale” – “How do you think Mario Molina felt during this time?” and “What’s your response to the last line on this page – ‘He never gave up’? What does that reveal about Molina?”
o The last two-page layout is an illustration of an older Molina helping a young person learn to use a microscope – clearly ties back to the beginning of the story. You might ask, “What do you notice about Mario Molina in this illustration? Why do you think Martinez included this?”
One reviewer indicated this book seems to be “partisan”—the way the facts about the President are presented in two places in the back matter. These statements are brief; not the major focus. In the epilogue there are two sentences; one about President Trump calling "climate change a hoax" and another about his intent to "withdraw from the Paris Agreement" (November 2020). (Both of these statements are true.) And in the diagram comparing the two crises, there is one smaller circle on the web entitled “global efforts” that describes the Paris Agreement and then states “President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the United States from the agreement as soon as the treaty allows.” DON’T LET THIS BE A DEAL BREAKER. If this is bothersome, then ask (older) students for their thoughts. You might pose a question like—
o What is Rusch’s argument in this story? And in the back matter? What are details in the text that make you think so?
o What might these statements (about the President) reveal about Rusch’s point of view?
o Why do you think Rusch picked these particular facts to share? What would be the difference if she'd left these out?
This is also an opportunity to EXPLORE OTHER VIEWPOINTS. How do other author's use the same facts to shape a different point? Rusch’s “research process” might inspire students to do their own research on this as well as a variety of other topics.
February 16, 2020
A great introduction to Mexican American Mario Molina, the Nobel Prize-winning chemist who discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer.
July 20, 2020
What a well-done bioghraphy! I had never heard of Mario Molina, and I had no idea it took so very long--a decade!--for anyone to take the hole in the ozone seriously. I also loved the shade thrown toward 45 in the notes at the back of the book. :)
November 20, 2019
Thanks to Charlesbridge for this copy! Elizabeth Rusch tells the inspiring life story of Mario Molino, scientist, the person that is great to have on a "climate change" team.
When Mario Molino was eight he was given a microscope for his birthday, thus beginning his journey of "what ifs?". His chemist aunt brought more tools for his "lab" and eventually he talked his parents into creating his own laboratory from an extra bathroom. Here's a picture of that "new" room, illustrated whimsically by Teresa Martinez as she shows Mario's swirls of lab equipment.
After earning his PhD and beginning work in the US, he continued his earlier questioning about the new "sprays" and their effects in the air. This led to a breakthrough of the deadly ways CFCs were changing the Ozone. He had a partner, F. Sherwood Rowland (Sherry) and they confirmed that the Ozone was being destroyed--by CFCs! Then came shouts from the detractors, of "A load of Rubbish", "It's a Science-Fiction Tale" and "Utter Nonsense".
"He never gave up." The text tells us that twenty-eight countries all over the world eventually agreed to stop making CFCs. Now, Nobel prize winner Mario Molino, has taken on a new challenge, to face the current crisis of global warming. As seen in his life's timeline at the back, he was part of the support to join other countries in the Paris Agreement, signed in 2016. Unfortunately, President Trump calls global warming a hoax and has made the US withdraw from that agreement. Teresa Martinez's illustrations set a tone through the books with lights and darks, offering cartoon-like pictures like the one above.
In speaking before the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Molino says, "Climate change is perhaps the most worrisome global environmental problem confronting human society today." This is found in a fine epilogue, sharing all of Molino's amazing accomplishments.
In the backmatter, one can also find similarities between the research of "The Ozone Hole" and "Global Warming" in an easy to navigate graphic. Also included is a page of sources (Read More) and a short piece of actions ("Do More"). An author's note explains her research process.
Most recently, courage and persistence are two traits that have been admired and written about in various ways. This book can be another to be placed on a list of picture book biographies that celebrate those traits. Also, in story fashion, the book offers an admirable role model for children, where those who are fascinated by something as Mario was with his microscope, can find their passions and be proud.
When Mario Molino was eight he was given a microscope for his birthday, thus beginning his journey of "what ifs?". His chemist aunt brought more tools for his "lab" and eventually he talked his parents into creating his own laboratory from an extra bathroom. Here's a picture of that "new" room, illustrated whimsically by Teresa Martinez as she shows Mario's swirls of lab equipment.
After earning his PhD and beginning work in the US, he continued his earlier questioning about the new "sprays" and their effects in the air. This led to a breakthrough of the deadly ways CFCs were changing the Ozone. He had a partner, F. Sherwood Rowland (Sherry) and they confirmed that the Ozone was being destroyed--by CFCs! Then came shouts from the detractors, of "A load of Rubbish", "It's a Science-Fiction Tale" and "Utter Nonsense".
"He never gave up." The text tells us that twenty-eight countries all over the world eventually agreed to stop making CFCs. Now, Nobel prize winner Mario Molino, has taken on a new challenge, to face the current crisis of global warming. As seen in his life's timeline at the back, he was part of the support to join other countries in the Paris Agreement, signed in 2016. Unfortunately, President Trump calls global warming a hoax and has made the US withdraw from that agreement. Teresa Martinez's illustrations set a tone through the books with lights and darks, offering cartoon-like pictures like the one above.
In speaking before the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Molino says, "Climate change is perhaps the most worrisome global environmental problem confronting human society today." This is found in a fine epilogue, sharing all of Molino's amazing accomplishments.
In the backmatter, one can also find similarities between the research of "The Ozone Hole" and "Global Warming" in an easy to navigate graphic. Also included is a page of sources (Read More) and a short piece of actions ("Do More"). An author's note explains her research process.
Most recently, courage and persistence are two traits that have been admired and written about in various ways. This book can be another to be placed on a list of picture book biographies that celebrate those traits. Also, in story fashion, the book offers an admirable role model for children, where those who are fascinated by something as Mario was with his microscope, can find their passions and be proud.
February 10, 2020
"Mario told Congress that CFC's were destroying the ozone layer. Still no one took action."
"For more than ten years, Mario continued to study the problem and warn people about the danger."
"'But why in the world would I make this up?' Mario thought. 'I'm a SCIENTIST.'"
"There seemed to be a huge hole in the ozone over the Antarctic--a hole the size of the United States."
"Finally, people believed the scientists."
"Humans had created the first global environmental problem--and they found a way to fix it."
"But Mario has hope for our planet. His work on the ozone layer has shown that nations, together, can solve global problems."
With an inspiring and relatable narrative about a young scientist and environmental hero, a timely message illustrating the surprising similarities to our current environmental crisis, well researched back matter and a message of hope--this book should be on everyone's reading list.
"For more than ten years, Mario continued to study the problem and warn people about the danger."
"'But why in the world would I make this up?' Mario thought. 'I'm a SCIENTIST.'"
"There seemed to be a huge hole in the ozone over the Antarctic--a hole the size of the United States."
"Finally, people believed the scientists."
"Humans had created the first global environmental problem--and they found a way to fix it."
"But Mario has hope for our planet. His work on the ozone layer has shown that nations, together, can solve global problems."
With an inspiring and relatable narrative about a young scientist and environmental hero, a timely message illustrating the surprising similarities to our current environmental crisis, well researched back matter and a message of hope--this book should be on everyone's reading list.
January 4, 2020
Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet is a children's picture book written by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Teresa Martainez. It is a biographical picture book of Mario Molina and his discovery of how chlorofluorocarbon gases have made a hole in the Earth's protective ozone layer.
Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez is a Mexican chemist known for his pivotal role in the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. He was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in elucidating the threat to the Earth's ozone layer of chlorofluorocarbon gases.
Rusch's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The compelling narrative captures the dread and frustration felt by Molina and fellow University of California-Irvine chemist Sherwood Rowland as they race to head off the depletion of the ozone layer. A succinct epilogue summarizes Molina’s many accomplishments, and a chart comparing the similarities between ozone depletion and global warming is appended. Martinez's Disney-esque illustrations, set against dark or murky-colored backgrounds, detract only slightly from the strong storyline.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Excessive amounts of chlorofluorocarbons are being released into the atmosphere from air conditioners, refrigerators, spray cans, and the like, at an alarming rate. Their initial, unsuccessful efforts to convince the media and Congress about the serious chemical threat to everyone on this planet parallels Nobel Prize winner Molina’s current struggle to address our current crisis of global warming.
All in all, Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet is a wonderful, albeit cursory biography about Mario Molina – a Nobel Laureate that discovered the hole in the ozone layer and the cause of it.
Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez is a Mexican chemist known for his pivotal role in the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. He was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in elucidating the threat to the Earth's ozone layer of chlorofluorocarbon gases.
Rusch's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The compelling narrative captures the dread and frustration felt by Molina and fellow University of California-Irvine chemist Sherwood Rowland as they race to head off the depletion of the ozone layer. A succinct epilogue summarizes Molina’s many accomplishments, and a chart comparing the similarities between ozone depletion and global warming is appended. Martinez's Disney-esque illustrations, set against dark or murky-colored backgrounds, detract only slightly from the strong storyline.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Excessive amounts of chlorofluorocarbons are being released into the atmosphere from air conditioners, refrigerators, spray cans, and the like, at an alarming rate. Their initial, unsuccessful efforts to convince the media and Congress about the serious chemical threat to everyone on this planet parallels Nobel Prize winner Molina’s current struggle to address our current crisis of global warming.
All in all, Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet is a wonderful, albeit cursory biography about Mario Molina – a Nobel Laureate that discovered the hole in the ozone layer and the cause of it.
August 6, 2019
Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Teresa Martinez is a must-read for kids of all ages, and probably for most adults as well.
Rusch's writing is crisp and accessible, and she tells the vital story of Mario Molina in a way that is easy to relate to. We see how curious Molina is from a young age and how he applies that curiosity to studying chemistry and to helping the planet. I think it's so great to see representation of a young Latinx man involved in science and nature in such an active way, and I have to imagine this story would be incredibly relatable and inspiring for many children. I think that even for children who don't specifically see themselves in this story, they can see the hard facts of the Ozone Crisis as well as Global Warming, all presented in a way that doesn't dumb it down but still keeps it accessible.
Teresa Martinez offers up some really incredible illustrations that are lovely to look at, appealing to viewers of all ages, and still presents the story and the information in a way that is visually easy to absorb and understand.
Overall, I appreciated this book far more than I expected to, and I definitely think it will be one I recommend to folks going forward. As far as picture book biographies go, especially concerning contemporary figures, this is cream of the crop.
Rusch's writing is crisp and accessible, and she tells the vital story of Mario Molina in a way that is easy to relate to. We see how curious Molina is from a young age and how he applies that curiosity to studying chemistry and to helping the planet. I think it's so great to see representation of a young Latinx man involved in science and nature in such an active way, and I have to imagine this story would be incredibly relatable and inspiring for many children. I think that even for children who don't specifically see themselves in this story, they can see the hard facts of the Ozone Crisis as well as Global Warming, all presented in a way that doesn't dumb it down but still keeps it accessible.
Teresa Martinez offers up some really incredible illustrations that are lovely to look at, appealing to viewers of all ages, and still presents the story and the information in a way that is visually easy to absorb and understand.
Overall, I appreciated this book far more than I expected to, and I definitely think it will be one I recommend to folks going forward. As far as picture book biographies go, especially concerning contemporary figures, this is cream of the crop.
October 20, 2017
What a great book...until the epilogue! Young Mario began life with an interest in science that his parents fostered. His curiosity led him to create a lab in an unused room in his house and set him on a path to higher education and research into environmental issues. Author Elizabeth Rusch combines vivid text, full of a variety of figurative language elements, with beautiful, bold artwork from David Diaz to tell an inspiring story of a Mexican American’s quest to get CFCs banned in order to protect Earth’s ozone layer. I loved every page until I got to the final pages when Rusch takes a clearly partisan path in the telling of Dr. Molina’s current project in the area of global warming. There was no balance to her narrative and in my library, we try to either present both sides of an issue or remain neutral. There is no place in a children’s book for the bashing of any president and the obvious bias in a non-fiction book is unfortunate.
July 30, 2019
What an insightful book about a very helpful man! Readers of any age will appreciate this book about a chemist who is dedicated to righting the environmental wrongs of humans. Please do not be misled by the negative review here-- Rusch's epilogue has no bashing of any kind, just pure facts and statements that can be backed up with clear, written evidence. I think the actions and thought behind those facts speak for themselves.
March 31, 2021
Picture book biography. I have of course heard of the ozone layer, but I don't know that I had heard about Mario Molina, who won the Nobel Prize as part of the team responsible for the Montreal Protocol where countries around the world pledged to stop using CFCs. This book does a great job telling us about his life, how he went from his first microscope to getting his PhD. I love seeing parents support their children's interests, and seeing his parents remodel a bathroom in their home to a science lab was very cool (I would have loved to see more of the finished lab!), as well as seeing his aunt gift him with a chemistry set. It was also interesting to see how scientific discoveries built on each other-- Molina's research on CFCs was inspired by hearing another scientist had found tiny amounts of CFCs in the air. In turn, a British researcher took measurements of the ozone in the atmosphere and found the infamous hole in the ozone layer. Finally after even more research, the groundwork for the Montreal Protocol was set.
This book is very well done, sharing complicated chemical ideas with clarity (chemistry was never my strong suit). In addition to the main story, there is a lot of useful back matter. There is am epilogue on what happened to Molina after the story ended (he took up global warming with the same passion), similarity charts for the issues surrounding the ozone hole and global warming, suggested reading, tips for the reader to help in the fight against global warming, author's note on her research, and a timeline. I do wish the timeline had been slightly more integrated with the story, but that's my personal preference. Overall a great introduction to a Hispanic-American scientist who fought for the health of the world.
This book is very well done, sharing complicated chemical ideas with clarity (chemistry was never my strong suit). In addition to the main story, there is a lot of useful back matter. There is am epilogue on what happened to Molina after the story ended (he took up global warming with the same passion), similarity charts for the issues surrounding the ozone hole and global warming, suggested reading, tips for the reader to help in the fight against global warming, author's note on her research, and a timeline. I do wish the timeline had been slightly more integrated with the story, but that's my personal preference. Overall a great introduction to a Hispanic-American scientist who fought for the health of the world.
January 2, 2021
Fantastic picture book biography of a Mexican American scientist who discovered the ozone problem and advocates about climate change. A compelling story of his life with engaging illustrations and excellent back matter (epilogue about Mario, comparison bubble charts of ozone hole & global warming, author's note about the research process, read more suggestions, do more tips, timeline)
September 23, 2020
WOW! I loved this book! I have a particular passion for children's biographies of scientists, as those scientists are often strange, funny dreamers with big personalities, and Mario Molina was no exception. I loved the way this book explained complicated chemistry, the makeup of ozone layers, and information about climate change in a way that was accessible and clear to children. I also loved learning about Mario Molina, and his tireless pursuit over ten years to get the world to take ozone depletion seriously. A really enjoyable book!
March 2, 2020
This is the story of a boy named Mario Molina, who grew up fascinated by the worlds he could see under his microscope. Growing up in a booming era that mass-produced refrigerators and aerosol spray cans that put harmful chemicals into the air, Mario found that these chemicals were tearing holes in the Earth's ozone layer. Mario worked hard to bring awareness to the problem at hand, and it took a while--and even more research--but eventually world leaders started to pay attention and make a change.
This informative children's nonfiction picture book will fascinate scientifically-minded young readers with the life of one chemist who helped save our planet.
Mario is given a microscope as a birthday present and quickly becomes immersed in the world of science and discovery. He spent his life fascinated by what he found under his microscope and made a career of it. Later he would go on to help save the planet after discovering the link between CFCs and the ozone layer.
Not just a biography, this book covers the chemistry of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, and how Mario discovered their dangerous effects on the ozone layer. It also points out the similarities in the Ozone Hole and Global Warming and explains them with helpful facts that are easy to understand.
This edition includes an epilogue about Mario Molina and his take on Global Warming, a 'Read More' section with information on both Mario Molina and the Ozone Hole as well as information on Global Warming and what we can do to help!
This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature
This informative children's nonfiction picture book will fascinate scientifically-minded young readers with the life of one chemist who helped save our planet.
Mario is given a microscope as a birthday present and quickly becomes immersed in the world of science and discovery. He spent his life fascinated by what he found under his microscope and made a career of it. Later he would go on to help save the planet after discovering the link between CFCs and the ozone layer.
Not just a biography, this book covers the chemistry of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, and how Mario discovered their dangerous effects on the ozone layer. It also points out the similarities in the Ozone Hole and Global Warming and explains them with helpful facts that are easy to understand.
This edition includes an epilogue about Mario Molina and his take on Global Warming, a 'Read More' section with information on both Mario Molina and the Ozone Hole as well as information on Global Warming and what we can do to help!
This review was originally shared on Lazy Day Literature
October 2, 2023
This informational/biographical picture book deserves more than 5 stars! Kudos to Elizabeth Rusch who put so much research into this book (and everyone who helped). What a hero we have in Dr. Mario Molina! What a jerk Donald Trump is! I hope we can all work together to solve global warming. I love how the author quoted Mario regarding his donation of "two hundred thousand dollars of his Nobel Prize money to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a fellowship program for young scientists from developing countries.":
"You never know which young, bright mind holds the solution to a serious problem we face in the world. We need every one."
This I believe!
I admire this author for showcasing Mario and explaining how "we" all worked together to solve the ozone problem, and then links to the next big thing which is solving the global warming problem. We've done it once...we can do it again! But it really does take all hands on deck, in other words, UNITY.
"You never know which young, bright mind holds the solution to a serious problem we face in the world. We need every one."
This I believe!
I admire this author for showcasing Mario and explaining how "we" all worked together to solve the ozone problem, and then links to the next big thing which is solving the global warming problem. We've done it once...we can do it again! But it really does take all hands on deck, in other words, UNITY.
March 15, 2020
Informative and inspiring
March 11, 2020
Another fabulous picture book biography - this one about Mario Molina who discovered and then worked tirelessly to end the production of cfc's which were destroying the ozone. Fun illustrations.
December 30, 2019
Wow! This is a great book that explains the hole in the ozone. It asks the people of the world to learn more about Earth's problems and how we can help the Earth together.
January 19, 2020
Fantastic narrative on Mario and his life-changing impact on society and science.
July 13, 2021
Necessity may be the mother of invention but is convenience the mother of innovation or destruction, or both? Humanity’s hunger for a “cheaper, better, and easier” lifestyle has grown exponentially in the last half century with little thought to the consequences of such easy living. Dedicated to “all who choose science over silence,” Mario and the Hole in the Sky tells the story of Mario Molina and his tireless fight to save the Earth from our increasing dependence on chemical convenience.
Mario Molina, born in Mexico City in 1943, grew up within the cloud of post-WWII innovation – a literal cloud of chemicals propelled from millions of spray cans. While everyone around him was blinded by the novelty of this science, Mario couldn’t help but ask: were these chemicals actually safe?
Perhaps it was destiny, or just a really good coincidence, that young Mario developed a passion for chemistry. His aunt, Esther, was a chemist, and Mario’s parents gifted him a microscope for his eighth birthday. Mario had tools of discovery that very few children could lay their hands on, including his own bathroom laboratory! He studied chemistry at a boarding school in Switzerland and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Mario could never shake his scientific curiosity or that nagging question about how the chemicals of convenience reacted with things in the environment.
While teaching chemistry at the University of California, Irvine, Mario met a fellow scientist, F. Sherwood Rowland. Rowland was studying air samples and he found small amounts chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) floating in the air. CFCs! That mysterious ingredient in new refrigerators, air conditioners, and spray cans. Th3 chemical cloud of Mario’s childhood had found its way into his head once again: when these CFCs were sprayed into the air, he wondered, what happened to them? Mario and Rowland began a series of experiments to find out. While most chemicals dissolve in water, the CFCs did not; some chemicals break down when exposed to light, not CFCs; most chemicals decompose in the Earth’s lower atmosphere, but not CFCs. This was a serious problem! Science had created a virtually indestructible chemical. Mario discovered that if the CFCs reached the upper atmosphere and were broken down by the sun’s radiation, the chlorine within them would break free and begin to eat away at the ozone layer protecting the Earth. “Just one atom of chlorine,” he noted, “could knock out tens of thousands of molecules of ozone!”
Mario and Rowland took these findings to the press and to Congress, but they were dismissed under the assumption that humankind could never endanger the entire planet. Was it possible that Mario’s science was wrong; was he blowing this crisis out of proportion? For ten years, Mario and Rowland’s work was labeled a hoax until a British scientist discovered a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. This hole was the size of the United States and further examination revealed Mario was right and chlorine was destroying the ozone. This was the Earth’s first global crisis, and it would require the whole planet to take in action to fix it. By the late 1980s, Mario and Rowland could finally celebrate their success when more than 190 countries agreed to stop making CFCs. Now, the world faces another global crisis: pollution and global warming. Mario saw how a united effort saved the ozone layer and if we could save the planet once, why can’t we do it again?
Elizabeth Rusch’s thoroughly researched narrative showcases the déjà vu of the contemporary response to global warming, the “fake news” psychology that Mario fought in the 1970s and 1980s. The surprising similarities charts at the end of the book provide significant context to the science of our current crisis and Rusch allows Mario’s own words to shine in the epilogue. For all the future scientists and environmental crusaders, this book is a must read. Even adult readers can gain new insights from Mario and the Hole in the Sky.
Mario Molina, born in Mexico City in 1943, grew up within the cloud of post-WWII innovation – a literal cloud of chemicals propelled from millions of spray cans. While everyone around him was blinded by the novelty of this science, Mario couldn’t help but ask: were these chemicals actually safe?
Perhaps it was destiny, or just a really good coincidence, that young Mario developed a passion for chemistry. His aunt, Esther, was a chemist, and Mario’s parents gifted him a microscope for his eighth birthday. Mario had tools of discovery that very few children could lay their hands on, including his own bathroom laboratory! He studied chemistry at a boarding school in Switzerland and earned a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Mario could never shake his scientific curiosity or that nagging question about how the chemicals of convenience reacted with things in the environment.
While teaching chemistry at the University of California, Irvine, Mario met a fellow scientist, F. Sherwood Rowland. Rowland was studying air samples and he found small amounts chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) floating in the air. CFCs! That mysterious ingredient in new refrigerators, air conditioners, and spray cans. Th3 chemical cloud of Mario’s childhood had found its way into his head once again: when these CFCs were sprayed into the air, he wondered, what happened to them? Mario and Rowland began a series of experiments to find out. While most chemicals dissolve in water, the CFCs did not; some chemicals break down when exposed to light, not CFCs; most chemicals decompose in the Earth’s lower atmosphere, but not CFCs. This was a serious problem! Science had created a virtually indestructible chemical. Mario discovered that if the CFCs reached the upper atmosphere and were broken down by the sun’s radiation, the chlorine within them would break free and begin to eat away at the ozone layer protecting the Earth. “Just one atom of chlorine,” he noted, “could knock out tens of thousands of molecules of ozone!”
Mario and Rowland took these findings to the press and to Congress, but they were dismissed under the assumption that humankind could never endanger the entire planet. Was it possible that Mario’s science was wrong; was he blowing this crisis out of proportion? For ten years, Mario and Rowland’s work was labeled a hoax until a British scientist discovered a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. This hole was the size of the United States and further examination revealed Mario was right and chlorine was destroying the ozone. This was the Earth’s first global crisis, and it would require the whole planet to take in action to fix it. By the late 1980s, Mario and Rowland could finally celebrate their success when more than 190 countries agreed to stop making CFCs. Now, the world faces another global crisis: pollution and global warming. Mario saw how a united effort saved the ozone layer and if we could save the planet once, why can’t we do it again?
Elizabeth Rusch’s thoroughly researched narrative showcases the déjà vu of the contemporary response to global warming, the “fake news” psychology that Mario fought in the 1970s and 1980s. The surprising similarities charts at the end of the book provide significant context to the science of our current crisis and Rusch allows Mario’s own words to shine in the epilogue. For all the future scientists and environmental crusaders, this book is a must read. Even adult readers can gain new insights from Mario and the Hole in the Sky.
November 25, 2020
This picture book biography tells the story of scientist Mario Molina whose love of chemistry began at an early age when he was given a microscope for his birthday. It discusses his role in discovering what chlorofluorocarbons can do to destroy the Earth’s ozone layer and his advocacy work to eliminate the production and use of this man-made chemical.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was written and eventually all the nations of the world signed on to this historic global effort to correct a looming environmental crisis. It is predicted that the hole will completely close by 2070.
The obvious interest in this book will be for the science related content, but Mario’s story is also one of determination and persistence. The story is perfectly suited for early elementary read aloud sessions. It could also be used for intro or discussion by classes of any grade that may be studying chemistry, environmental science, or careers. The digital artwork is kid friendly, colorful and large enough to be seen when being read in a group setting.
The book has many extras including an epilogue on global warming, a for more reading section, simple things kids can do to use less energy, a discussion of the author’s research process, and a time-line for events in the book.
I would highly recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was written and eventually all the nations of the world signed on to this historic global effort to correct a looming environmental crisis. It is predicted that the hole will completely close by 2070.
The obvious interest in this book will be for the science related content, but Mario’s story is also one of determination and persistence. The story is perfectly suited for early elementary read aloud sessions. It could also be used for intro or discussion by classes of any grade that may be studying chemistry, environmental science, or careers. The digital artwork is kid friendly, colorful and large enough to be seen when being read in a group setting.
The book has many extras including an epilogue on global warming, a for more reading section, simple things kids can do to use less energy, a discussion of the author’s research process, and a time-line for events in the book.
I would highly recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
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November 28, 2021Mario Molina, a Mexican-American chemist and 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry co-recipient, discovered that chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) were entering our atmosphere and causing health problems and damage to the Earth's ozone layer.
In this biography, Elizabeth Rusch tells the story of Mario's life and budding chemistry interests, combined with a description of his scientific discoveries peppered with academic vocabulary throughout. As a read-aloud, this book would be appropriate for 3-5th grade students. Though this book is given a Lexile level of 730, making it a third grade appropriate text, if a student was trying to read this on their own, this book may not be approachable until 6th or 7th grade.
This book is helpful to teach students about scientists with diverse backgrounds, who are frequently not taught about in textbooks. If chemistry/earth science is not part of your curriculum, this may be an interesting book to bring into the classroom during Hispanic History Month. With phrases in Spanish woven throughout the text and glimpses of Mario's youth in Mexico City, this book may serve as a mirror for students who also speak Spanish or have an interest in science.
This book has won many awards, including AAAS/Subaru Prize for Science Picture Books (AAAS stands for American Association for the Advancement of Science) and The Cook Prize, which honors STEM books for students aged 8-10.
In this biography, Elizabeth Rusch tells the story of Mario's life and budding chemistry interests, combined with a description of his scientific discoveries peppered with academic vocabulary throughout. As a read-aloud, this book would be appropriate for 3-5th grade students. Though this book is given a Lexile level of 730, making it a third grade appropriate text, if a student was trying to read this on their own, this book may not be approachable until 6th or 7th grade.
This book is helpful to teach students about scientists with diverse backgrounds, who are frequently not taught about in textbooks. If chemistry/earth science is not part of your curriculum, this may be an interesting book to bring into the classroom during Hispanic History Month. With phrases in Spanish woven throughout the text and glimpses of Mario's youth in Mexico City, this book may serve as a mirror for students who also speak Spanish or have an interest in science.
This book has won many awards, including AAAS/Subaru Prize for Science Picture Books (AAAS stands for American Association for the Advancement of Science) and The Cook Prize, which honors STEM books for students aged 8-10.
September 3, 2023
Science is full of possibilities.
Mario had such a loving and supportive family. They even cleared out an unused bathroom in their house so he could perform science experiments when he was a kid! I smiled as I read about the many other ways they supported his interest in science even when it led to a few unpleasant mixtures of chemicals. That’s exactly the sort of home every child should grow up in!
This picture book didn’t seem to be written with a clear audience in mind. Some portions were lighthearted, playful, and seemed to be meant for preschoolers. Other sections were much more serious and complex and probably would be more appealing to middle schoolers or even adults. As much as I enjoyed learning about Mario Molina’s life and scientific achievements, I’d struggle to figure out who to share this with and how to simplify the science in it for kids who haven’t studied chemistry yet.
With that being said, it was so interesting to learn the history of who discovered that humans were causing the destruction of the ozone layer around Earth back in the 1980s and how he convinced the world to stop using products that were making this problem worse. It was inspiring to learn how everyone pulled together to solve this crisis, and it gave me a lot of hope for all of the current efforts to reduce pollution and slow down or maybe even figure out how to reverse climate change today.
Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet was exciting.
Mario had such a loving and supportive family. They even cleared out an unused bathroom in their house so he could perform science experiments when he was a kid! I smiled as I read about the many other ways they supported his interest in science even when it led to a few unpleasant mixtures of chemicals. That’s exactly the sort of home every child should grow up in!
This picture book didn’t seem to be written with a clear audience in mind. Some portions were lighthearted, playful, and seemed to be meant for preschoolers. Other sections were much more serious and complex and probably would be more appealing to middle schoolers or even adults. As much as I enjoyed learning about Mario Molina’s life and scientific achievements, I’d struggle to figure out who to share this with and how to simplify the science in it for kids who haven’t studied chemistry yet.
With that being said, it was so interesting to learn the history of who discovered that humans were causing the destruction of the ozone layer around Earth back in the 1980s and how he convinced the world to stop using products that were making this problem worse. It was inspiring to learn how everyone pulled together to solve this crisis, and it gave me a lot of hope for all of the current efforts to reduce pollution and slow down or maybe even figure out how to reverse climate change today.
Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet was exciting.
March 24, 2020
Wow is there a lot to love about this book:
-the illustrations are both fun and beautiful
-Mario's interest in chemistry begins early in his childhood (encouraging kids that their early interests can become lifelong interests!), is encouraged by his parents--and especially his scientist aunt (yay women scientists!)
-Mario is Latino (diverse representation!)
-As a scientist, Mario demonstrates important qualities to teach children: questioning (are all those "new and improved" chemicals and products really good?), persevering in the face of opposition when it's for a good cause (warning the world about the ozone layer), not resting on your laurels (he wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry but continues to do important scientific work), paying it forward (he donates a portion of his Nobel Prize money to future scientists in underdeveloped countries).
-The problem of the ozone layer, while solved, is connected to a problem we haven't yet solved (global warming), which shows kids that there is still work to be done to protect and sustain the planet.
-While I'm not a child, I don't understand chemistry very well, but the science was explained so even I (or a child) could understand it.
I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone's children, but especially Latinx children, little scientists, and little activists.
-the illustrations are both fun and beautiful
-Mario's interest in chemistry begins early in his childhood (encouraging kids that their early interests can become lifelong interests!), is encouraged by his parents--and especially his scientist aunt (yay women scientists!)
-Mario is Latino (diverse representation!)
-As a scientist, Mario demonstrates important qualities to teach children: questioning (are all those "new and improved" chemicals and products really good?), persevering in the face of opposition when it's for a good cause (warning the world about the ozone layer), not resting on your laurels (he wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry but continues to do important scientific work), paying it forward (he donates a portion of his Nobel Prize money to future scientists in underdeveloped countries).
-The problem of the ozone layer, while solved, is connected to a problem we haven't yet solved (global warming), which shows kids that there is still work to be done to protect and sustain the planet.
-While I'm not a child, I don't understand chemistry very well, but the science was explained so even I (or a child) could understand it.
I would absolutely recommend this book for anyone's children, but especially Latinx children, little scientists, and little activists.
February 10, 2021
Rounded up because of the hope it gives for the world to come together and deal with global warming.
A biography of the Mexican American chemist who discovered that CFCs were destroying the ozone layer. For more than ten years the world ignored his warnings, and attacked him. Then a British scientist found a huge hole in the ozone over the Antarctic - the size of the US. Still people demanded more proof and after counting clorine and ozone from a high-flying plane the results wer horrifyingly clear. Finally, people believed the scientists. The world finally acted on the Earth's first global environmental issue. First 28, then 46, then more than 190 agreed to the Montreal Protocol. Since the Earth slowly makes ozone the hole in it is expected to heal by 2070. Humans found a way to fix the first global environmental problem they created. Mario is hopeful that we can act together again against global warming.
The Epilogue tells how Mario donated 200,000 of his Nobel prize money for a fellowship program for young scientists from developing countries. He then worked to convince the world to act on global warming. Despite Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement state governors, city mayors and business CEOs have stepped up.
A biography of the Mexican American chemist who discovered that CFCs were destroying the ozone layer. For more than ten years the world ignored his warnings, and attacked him. Then a British scientist found a huge hole in the ozone over the Antarctic - the size of the US. Still people demanded more proof and after counting clorine and ozone from a high-flying plane the results wer horrifyingly clear. Finally, people believed the scientists. The world finally acted on the Earth's first global environmental issue. First 28, then 46, then more than 190 agreed to the Montreal Protocol. Since the Earth slowly makes ozone the hole in it is expected to heal by 2070. Humans found a way to fix the first global environmental problem they created. Mario is hopeful that we can act together again against global warming.
The Epilogue tells how Mario donated 200,000 of his Nobel prize money for a fellowship program for young scientists from developing countries. He then worked to convince the world to act on global warming. Despite Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement state governors, city mayors and business CEOs have stepped up.
April 3, 2024
What I especially liked about this biography is how the text compares the threats presented to the ozone layer a few decades ago to those causing global warming through burning fossil fuels. Because scientists and other activists rallied to make a change, getting rid of CFCs then, it's certainly possible that something similar could happen now. Maybe it's naive on my part, but I'd like to think so. This well-written biography about Mario Molina, a Mexican American chemist, and pitched to a young audience attests to the importance of curiosity, resilience, and determination as well as reminding readers that the science behind certain changes in the world needs to be followed rather than ignored. It's impossible to wonder what might have happened had the world's leaders not listened to Mario and others who realized the dangers of CFCs and the hole in the ozone layer. This important story, perhaps a cautionary tale of sorts, is accompanied by handsome digital artwork that breathes even more life into the already fascinating subject. Add this one to a collection about individuals who have made a difference in the world around them.
August 26, 2020
Mario And The Hole In The Sky are about scientist Mario Molina's discovery of the ozone layer deteriorating. The Ozone layer is very important to all humans on this earth we would not be here without it. Mario has spent a lifetime on how to heal the ozone before it is too late. This book tells his story.
I was surprised that I had not heard of Mr. Molina. As I grew up I heard plenty about how we as the world found out the ozone had a hole in it. We were told to not use certain products, and to carpool so there would be fewer fumes. I never really wondered who was the first person to figure this out.
After the story, there is an epilogue that describes what Mr. Molina is doing now and the awards he has won. The epilogue is interesting but it is written differently than the biography that was just read.
I think this is an excellent book for children to read who may have to do research for a report on scientists or on the science of the earth. It is very informative and a good start. It a joy to learn new things and a bonus when it is an illustrated kids' book.
I was surprised that I had not heard of Mr. Molina. As I grew up I heard plenty about how we as the world found out the ozone had a hole in it. We were told to not use certain products, and to carpool so there would be fewer fumes. I never really wondered who was the first person to figure this out.
After the story, there is an epilogue that describes what Mr. Molina is doing now and the awards he has won. The epilogue is interesting but it is written differently than the biography that was just read.
I think this is an excellent book for children to read who may have to do research for a report on scientists or on the science of the earth. It is very informative and a good start. It a joy to learn new things and a bonus when it is an illustrated kids' book.
June 13, 2021
About Mario Molina from childhood to the mid/late 2010s, focused on his investigation of CFCs. The book is very clear about collaborative work and a lot of what was alarming about CFCs in the atmosphere.
Some parts of this dated themselves pretty quickly (a year and a half after publication, the US has rejoined the Paris Agreement and Dr. Molina has died), but that largely doesn't affect the book.
Where chemical equations appear, chlorine is written just as Cl without the radical, which is reasonable here but is not quite how we'd normally write things.
The timeline in the backmatter shows time scaled correctly! This is pretty unusual and nice to see. Other things I appreciated in the backmatter: parallel maps around the issues of CFCs/the ozone hole and global warming, a thorough explanation of the kind of research the author did (including some hints at the the timeline this book took from beginning of research to publish date, which was over a decade!).
Some parts of this dated themselves pretty quickly (a year and a half after publication, the US has rejoined the Paris Agreement and Dr. Molina has died), but that largely doesn't affect the book.
Where chemical equations appear, chlorine is written just as Cl without the radical, which is reasonable here but is not quite how we'd normally write things.
The timeline in the backmatter shows time scaled correctly! This is pretty unusual and nice to see. Other things I appreciated in the backmatter: parallel maps around the issues of CFCs/the ozone hole and global warming, a thorough explanation of the kind of research the author did (including some hints at the the timeline this book took from beginning of research to publish date, which was over a decade!).
December 1, 2021
Mario Molina was born in Mexico City on March 19, 1943. He grew up fascinated by science. The book starts with him as a boy (and supports kids being interested in STEM); as an adult he begins researching CFCs. The book and pictures does a great age-appropriate way of explaining what CFCs are and the ways they impact the Ozone layer. This is particularly pertinent for New Zealand which is heavily impacted by the hole in the ozone layer and has increased risks of skin cancer because of it. The book tracks his perseverance over many years to have people listen to his research and the eventual global summits to take action because of it.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 7 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
January 15, 2022
A story that makes me simultaneously hopeful and incredibly depressed. As a kid I *remember* the hole in the ozone being a major environmental crisis. It was a big deal. Mario Molina was the spark that began the healing of that particular issue. So if all I focus on is the ozone problem, and the fact that research and persistence and political pressure finally led to the beginning of a solution, then I'm left with an uplifting feeling.
But then I think about the entire climate change issue that's coming at us all like a freight train, and I'm exhausted just thinking about the amount of work that it's going to take to get people/corporations/politicians to actually take action. And while things are promising for the ozone layer, the rainforests have been in trouble since I was a kid, too.
But yay ozone layer. And yay Mario Molina because he is legit awesome and his story should be much more widely known, especially to all those '80s and '90s kids who were sad about the ozone layer.
But then I think about the entire climate change issue that's coming at us all like a freight train, and I'm exhausted just thinking about the amount of work that it's going to take to get people/corporations/politicians to actually take action. And while things are promising for the ozone layer, the rainforests have been in trouble since I was a kid, too.
But yay ozone layer. And yay Mario Molina because he is legit awesome and his story should be much more widely known, especially to all those '80s and '90s kids who were sad about the ozone layer.
September 9, 2020
The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.
Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.
Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth's protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned--and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.
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