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Meltdown: Discover Earth’s Irreplaceable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do to Save Them
Meltdown introduces kids to the “what,” the “how,” and the “why” of global warming and climate change, exploring what will happen to our planet—and us—if the glaciers keep disappearing. Meltdown is a much-needed alarm bell, but it is also proactive, offering actionable steps for kids and their families to reduce their carbon footprints and save the environment.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2022
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48 people want to read
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April 20, 2022
No two ways about it. This is a book everyone ought to read.
All of us have heard of climate change. A few of us don’t believe in it. Some of us feel that it is not happening in “our country” so we don’t need to worry about it. Many of us know its dangers and are trying to do our little bit to combat the crisis. Each of us needs this book.
As climate change first came into focus as “global warming”, the focus stayed on rising temperatures. This increase in the scale impacted the entire world, including the areas where glaciers abide. The meltdown of glaciers is NOT something that will affect only those areas but will create repercussions throughout the world. We’ve already seen some signs of the disaster to come – extreme rainstorms, droughts, snowstorms, forest fires… the world is in crisis.
This book shows how glaciers impact all of us, whether we live near one or not. The content is excellently organised into easy-to-understand chapters and subsections with clear headings, loads of charts and illustrations and photos, accompanying definitions, and a detailed glossary at the end. In one word, the book is ‘comprehensive’!
Middle graders will find the book fairly absorbing as it explains the topics so well. There are a few tough words but the provided meanings help tremendously. Younger children might not understand the nitty-gritties of the topic but they can use the pictorial accompaniments to increase their knowledge.
I was happy to see the book acknowledge that the US is one of the worst offenders when it comes to environmental pollution, right up there with China. Fingers are usually pointed only at developing countries when it comes to implementing climate-friendly measures. The US has always set an example to the world in many things. I hope it can be an inspiration when it comes to climate change as well and begins leading by example right down to the individual level.
The intent of the book is to make us all ‘glacier-literate’ and it certainly succeeds in this. Even as an adult who is aware of climate change, I learnt a lot from the book.
If you think that staying in a tropical zone will keep you safe from glacier melt or that staying in a first world country ensures that you don’t have to worry about climate disasters, you are undeniably wrong. We are all in this together. Rich, poor, developed, developing, polar, tropical, coastal, desert, island, landlocked,… no country can afford to ignore the warning signs Mother Earth is sending us desperately.
Yes, you guessed right. The book shows a scary picture of the future. We don’t have the benefit of relying on future generations to clean up our mess. The warning bells have already rung. Thankfully, the book doesn’t end on a bleak note. There are also some suggestions on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference, whether big or small, towards better environmental habits. Each of us can take action, needs to take action, MUST take action, ASAP!
Will this book be useful in a home/school/library? Yes, to all three.
Should this book be considered a must-read nonfiction for middle graders? Yes.
Should it only be for middle-graders? No. A lot of children are quite aware nowadays when it comes to climate change, but adults still act like ostriches with their heads in the sand. Get this book in the hands of every idiot who claims that climate change is a myth perpetrated by governments and scientists to boost some ulterior agenda.
It is already late for preventive action. Better not wait till it is too late even for curative action. If we want our children to have a decent future on this planet, we all need to change our habits and think greener. The first step towards this will be through awareness of the extent of the problem, and that’s where this book will come in mighty handy.
5 stars.
My thanks to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the DRC of “Meltdown”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
All of us have heard of climate change. A few of us don’t believe in it. Some of us feel that it is not happening in “our country” so we don’t need to worry about it. Many of us know its dangers and are trying to do our little bit to combat the crisis. Each of us needs this book.
As climate change first came into focus as “global warming”, the focus stayed on rising temperatures. This increase in the scale impacted the entire world, including the areas where glaciers abide. The meltdown of glaciers is NOT something that will affect only those areas but will create repercussions throughout the world. We’ve already seen some signs of the disaster to come – extreme rainstorms, droughts, snowstorms, forest fires… the world is in crisis.
This book shows how glaciers impact all of us, whether we live near one or not. The content is excellently organised into easy-to-understand chapters and subsections with clear headings, loads of charts and illustrations and photos, accompanying definitions, and a detailed glossary at the end. In one word, the book is ‘comprehensive’!
Middle graders will find the book fairly absorbing as it explains the topics so well. There are a few tough words but the provided meanings help tremendously. Younger children might not understand the nitty-gritties of the topic but they can use the pictorial accompaniments to increase their knowledge.
I was happy to see the book acknowledge that the US is one of the worst offenders when it comes to environmental pollution, right up there with China. Fingers are usually pointed only at developing countries when it comes to implementing climate-friendly measures. The US has always set an example to the world in many things. I hope it can be an inspiration when it comes to climate change as well and begins leading by example right down to the individual level.
The intent of the book is to make us all ‘glacier-literate’ and it certainly succeeds in this. Even as an adult who is aware of climate change, I learnt a lot from the book.
If you think that staying in a tropical zone will keep you safe from glacier melt or that staying in a first world country ensures that you don’t have to worry about climate disasters, you are undeniably wrong. We are all in this together. Rich, poor, developed, developing, polar, tropical, coastal, desert, island, landlocked,… no country can afford to ignore the warning signs Mother Earth is sending us desperately.
Yes, you guessed right. The book shows a scary picture of the future. We don’t have the benefit of relying on future generations to clean up our mess. The warning bells have already rung. Thankfully, the book doesn’t end on a bleak note. There are also some suggestions on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference, whether big or small, towards better environmental habits. Each of us can take action, needs to take action, MUST take action, ASAP!
Will this book be useful in a home/school/library? Yes, to all three.
Should this book be considered a must-read nonfiction for middle graders? Yes.
Should it only be for middle-graders? No. A lot of children are quite aware nowadays when it comes to climate change, but adults still act like ostriches with their heads in the sand. Get this book in the hands of every idiot who claims that climate change is a myth perpetrated by governments and scientists to boost some ulterior agenda.
It is already late for preventive action. Better not wait till it is too late even for curative action. If we want our children to have a decent future on this planet, we all need to change our habits and think greener. The first step towards this will be through awareness of the extent of the problem, and that’s where this book will come in mighty handy.
5 stars.
My thanks to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the DRC of “Meltdown”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
November 30, 2022
The title suggests that melting glaciers are the focus of this book, but it's really about the climate as a whole, and the role glaciers play in nature. This book is packed full of approachable illustrations, fascinating photographs, charts, scientific findings and interesting facts, so much that it might seem overwhelming.
But I think that's the point. We're in a crisis, and the melting of glaciers is one piece of evidence we can see, understand, and focus on, without throwing our hands up and going "but it's too much, there's nothing we can do". Meltdown tells us how to take action, as individuals, instead of leaving us feeling helpless and frustrated about our changing climate.
The cover suggests it's for ages 8 and up, but I'd say the true ecological impact of glacier melt would be lost on children younger than middle school.
But I think that's the point. We're in a crisis, and the melting of glaciers is one piece of evidence we can see, understand, and focus on, without throwing our hands up and going "but it's too much, there's nothing we can do". Meltdown tells us how to take action, as individuals, instead of leaving us feeling helpless and frustrated about our changing climate.
The cover suggests it's for ages 8 and up, but I'd say the true ecological impact of glacier melt would be lost on children younger than middle school.
December 22, 2022
Starting for the facts, I would say this is an amazing work on documented basic knowledge on Glaciers and the impact of every human ill-work on nature, "our life provider".
Anita Sanchez clubbed all the terms and major-minor effects of 'what we do' on surrounding habitat and its overall impacts on whole earth no matter wherever we are staying or living. My fascination for the mountains & oceans took me away from these scary facts all the time that I read here. I do observed for facts that earlier when I was a child, winters started from late September & continued till late March; but as of now it starts from late November and ends by early or mid-March. Such a big change in the climatic conditions of shrinkage in winter season affecting overall environmental sustainability of ecosystem. Crops are not as much remained organic & increase in use of fertilizers impacting health directly, influencing our lives to a very high level.
This book though meant to educate children of lower and middlegrade but it is so much of data for them to digest and learn for actually to go on doing any real work on ground. And mentioning Greta Thunberg, a girl who stopped her schooling, is literally a very bad example to set for those who are/will going to read it. And for facts, about her visit to glacier and staying there to get noticed, she was made to visit there by travelling through a car sponsored by a NGO that supported her. How convenient for a fake environmental activist to produce more black carbon while ironically amplifying her irresponsible voice for saving it. So, basically it was all planned rather than her real work of screaming from top of the altitude to show how a child of that age knew much more about the subject. If more children are posed to achieve the agendas of getting fame and money by getting sympathy from people all over the world, their real education will go in scrap and their respective individual future left untouched from academic knowledge eventually spoiling their whole life. Volunteering is job need base of Proper education and not some funding of wrong directional short-term fame. (Deducing 1-star from rating)
I would suggest, more examples must be included of renowned educated & certified Climatologists & Environmental Activists to let readers knew about their work and steps they took to become one such to finally impact the activites in saving earth in real sense on real ground.
Guidance must be incorporated to let one know how to become an aspiring part of RACi matrix for resisting acts that are ruining Nature's condition. (Deducing 1-star from rating)
I do remember a tagline from a program on Nat-geo Channel, "If you mess with Nature, it'll not remain silent".
So better be more accountable than just a vocalist for real changes in right direction.
For rest parts, I am very much impressed with the collection of facts on 'Glacial Science'.
My NetGalley review: https://www.netgalley.com/book/252097...
Anita Sanchez clubbed all the terms and major-minor effects of 'what we do' on surrounding habitat and its overall impacts on whole earth no matter wherever we are staying or living. My fascination for the mountains & oceans took me away from these scary facts all the time that I read here. I do observed for facts that earlier when I was a child, winters started from late September & continued till late March; but as of now it starts from late November and ends by early or mid-March. Such a big change in the climatic conditions of shrinkage in winter season affecting overall environmental sustainability of ecosystem. Crops are not as much remained organic & increase in use of fertilizers impacting health directly, influencing our lives to a very high level.
This book though meant to educate children of lower and middlegrade but it is so much of data for them to digest and learn for actually to go on doing any real work on ground. And mentioning Greta Thunberg, a girl who stopped her schooling, is literally a very bad example to set for those who are/will going to read it. And for facts, about her visit to glacier and staying there to get noticed, she was made to visit there by travelling through a car sponsored by a NGO that supported her. How convenient for a fake environmental activist to produce more black carbon while ironically amplifying her irresponsible voice for saving it. So, basically it was all planned rather than her real work of screaming from top of the altitude to show how a child of that age knew much more about the subject. If more children are posed to achieve the agendas of getting fame and money by getting sympathy from people all over the world, their real education will go in scrap and their respective individual future left untouched from academic knowledge eventually spoiling their whole life. Volunteering is job need base of Proper education and not some funding of wrong directional short-term fame. (Deducing 1-star from rating)
I would suggest, more examples must be included of renowned educated & certified Climatologists & Environmental Activists to let readers knew about their work and steps they took to become one such to finally impact the activites in saving earth in real sense on real ground.
Guidance must be incorporated to let one know how to become an aspiring part of RACi matrix for resisting acts that are ruining Nature's condition. (Deducing 1-star from rating)
I do remember a tagline from a program on Nat-geo Channel, "If you mess with Nature, it'll not remain silent".
So better be more accountable than just a vocalist for real changes in right direction.
For rest parts, I am very much impressed with the collection of facts on 'Glacial Science'.
My NetGalley review: https://www.netgalley.com/book/252097...
December 11, 2022
I have always been fascinated by the oceans but little do i know about the glaciers and its importance to the earth and how climate change is affecting them until i found this book here on NetGalley. I owed my thanks to the author and the publisher, the Workman Publishing Company for providing me an insightful read about the glaciers and the climate change.
From this book,we are exposed to not only about what are glaciers, how they are formed and the types of glaciers but also their importance in giving us the insights into the earth's history and past conditions but also as predictors of the future climate change through studying the ice cores done by the researchers who study the glaciers known as glaciologists and paleoclimatologists.
The ice cores hold a record of what our planet was like hundreds of thousands of years ago,for instance by providing the physical evidence of past global events such as major volcanic eruptions and also provides continuous data and information including evidence for climate change which is timely and crucial in today's time. So this book not only educates us the important functions of the glaciers (as a fresh source of water as well as the climate regulators and controllers (apart from the oceans) but also opens our eyes on how today's climate change is greatly affecting the glaciers by making them melt and decrease at a more accelerating speed (hence the meltdown) and how the meltdown is affecting all of us (not only those who live near the glaciers but also those who live farther from it) and what we can do to save the earth from the glacial meltdown.
The intended audience for this book is 8 to 12 years old children but the book is also beneficial for the adult readers as well as the scientific explanations and issues covered seemed to also suit the latter category (especially the activism part which i also liked). However, fret not the book also comes with a very colourful illustrations of the glaciers (which is also among my favourite parts of the book) to help enhance the understanding and keeps the readers more interested and focused! (especially a visual learner like me!) and lots of glossaries for the scientific terminologies used. The scientific explanations is also kept to be much simpler and more easy to understand by the young readers. However, as an adult who knows little about the glaciers (since my country do not have glaciers), i learned a lot of beneficial and very interesting information about the glaciers like the bluer the colour of the ice indicates the older the age of the ice is!.
In conclusion, i'd totally recommend this book to anyone who are interested to learn and to know more about the glaciers and its importance to our earth, as the planet's natural air conditioners,but also early indicators of climate changes and how the impact of the changes is affecting all of us today in the most visible ways (regardless where we live, we are all affected by the climate changes. Among the most visible signs would be the raising sea water levels and the raising floods all over. I rated this book a solid 5🌟over 5!.
From this book,we are exposed to not only about what are glaciers, how they are formed and the types of glaciers but also their importance in giving us the insights into the earth's history and past conditions but also as predictors of the future climate change through studying the ice cores done by the researchers who study the glaciers known as glaciologists and paleoclimatologists.
The ice cores hold a record of what our planet was like hundreds of thousands of years ago,for instance by providing the physical evidence of past global events such as major volcanic eruptions and also provides continuous data and information including evidence for climate change which is timely and crucial in today's time. So this book not only educates us the important functions of the glaciers (as a fresh source of water as well as the climate regulators and controllers (apart from the oceans) but also opens our eyes on how today's climate change is greatly affecting the glaciers by making them melt and decrease at a more accelerating speed (hence the meltdown) and how the meltdown is affecting all of us (not only those who live near the glaciers but also those who live farther from it) and what we can do to save the earth from the glacial meltdown.
The intended audience for this book is 8 to 12 years old children but the book is also beneficial for the adult readers as well as the scientific explanations and issues covered seemed to also suit the latter category (especially the activism part which i also liked). However, fret not the book also comes with a very colourful illustrations of the glaciers (which is also among my favourite parts of the book) to help enhance the understanding and keeps the readers more interested and focused! (especially a visual learner like me!) and lots of glossaries for the scientific terminologies used. The scientific explanations is also kept to be much simpler and more easy to understand by the young readers. However, as an adult who knows little about the glaciers (since my country do not have glaciers), i learned a lot of beneficial and very interesting information about the glaciers like the bluer the colour of the ice indicates the older the age of the ice is!.
In conclusion, i'd totally recommend this book to anyone who are interested to learn and to know more about the glaciers and its importance to our earth, as the planet's natural air conditioners,but also early indicators of climate changes and how the impact of the changes is affecting all of us today in the most visible ways (regardless where we live, we are all affected by the climate changes. Among the most visible signs would be the raising sea water levels and the raising floods all over. I rated this book a solid 5🌟over 5!.
May 9, 2022
This book is amazing! The writing is easy to follow, the illustrations add depth to the storytelling, and the science bits are so potent. I felt like I have a better handle of the issue of climate change and why it's so important for our future. I like that the book gave plenty of information and resources on how a student might be able to help. The book dealt with the entire reality of the situation and didn't dumb anything down for young people. This one will be added to my elementary school library collection.
July 12, 2022
A well-written, straightforward look at our current climate crisis. I found the title to be a little too specific—since I see that the title isn’t yet finalized—it’s about so much more than glaciers. I wonder if the subtitle could somehow indicate that. I like “Meltdown”, but looking at the title and the cover imply that it will go into far more depth about only glaciers. When, in fact, it addresses so many more aspects of climate change. I learned a lot. This is an important book for middle grade readers. Those kids who will one day be adults addressing this very issue in a different way than we have—hopefully, we’ll be on a better path by that time.
April 15, 2022
This book for the educator's library is an excellent look at a single subject, proving highly illustrated (and well illustrated, too) and yet packed with words to get its topics across. We start with an introduction to glaciers, and how they're melting and what this potentially irreversible change is meaning to us. How we can tell it's happening leads us to the cause, which is strong writing about the carbon crisis. The glaciers factor in again, as it's their bubbles that tell us what the atmosphere was like millions of years ago, proving there is no cycle causing global warming, and that it is all down to us. The further consequences of this where glaciers are concerned lead the student into pages of climate activism talk, which is very much like that in any other ecologically-bent book of the last few years, but if you consider it unimportant to include you haven't been paying attention. An ideal way to cover the themes for schoolchildren (don't ask me what age, I'm not an expert) – this has earnt five stars through doing everything it wanted to, and doing it very well indeed.
March 28, 2022
This middle grade, nonfiction chapter book introduces students to the glaciers that are slowly disappearing. With tons of great information as well as very informative photographs and beautiful illustrations, this book will give young readers a peek at a very important part of our natural world that needs saving. From the science and history behind the glaciers, the impact of climate change on our collective future and actionable steps children and adults can do to make a difference. As a grade 3 teacher I could definitely see having this book in my classroom library. I think it is perfect for middle grade students to learn about the environment in a slightly longer text than the average non-fiction book usually written for this age group. I would recommend this book for families and teachers of children in the grade 2-7 age range. Thank you to Netgalley and he publisher for the opportunity to read and review this great book!
October 4, 2022
Meltdown, by Anita Sanchez, does a fantastic job of disclosing the scientific truths of climate change in a way that leaves kids feeling called to action rather than powerless. I read this ARC with my daughter, and we both loved the illustrations and overall book format. While the illustrations are very kid-friendly, the science and text are surprisingly complex. I would recommend this book to 3-6th grade students who are interested in learning more about climate change and its effect on glaciers; particularly students who want to take a deeper dive into the what they can do to help.
April 17, 2022
I will without a doubt be watching for this book to publish. I teach about glaciers in my science curriculum and this one of the most comprehensive books I’ve seen. Chockfull of facts, photographs, diagrams, and relevant information. This is a book that we can use and reference during our study. My student will enjoy this as a read aloud and being able to go back and use as guide in their own research and study.
Very well done!
Very well done!
July 5, 2022
Informative, engaging and empowering. Accessible to students as early as Grade 3 and through to high school. Organized into chapters and filled with artwork, photos, diagrams, and an easy to read glossary, this non-fiction title about glaciers is a perfect addition to any classroom library or to be used in science units on climate, weather or biodiversity. My favourite chapter is the one that empowers readers on ways they can step up and take action to protect glaciers. Highly recommend!
November 8, 2022
Written for children, this is a must read for Everyone. Sanchez and illustrator Lily Padula do a wonderful job of explaining what glaciers are and why they matter. The last chapter on global warming and what we can all do to fight it it straightforward and unstinting in describing what the planet’s future will be like. Every school library and parent and teacher needs to not only read this book, but do their best to effect change.
December 3, 2022
This is engaging nonfiction about an important topic. The backmatter covers a particularly interesting breakdown of all the scientific jobs that are actively involved in fighting climate change. Adults may know the difference between botanists and glaciologists, but kids may not. The only thing I don't like is the trim size, since I find older kids don't want to read books shaped like a picture book.
March 25, 2023
I received a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
This is a great book!
It's a beautiful read about glaciers - what they are, how we measure them, why they're shrinking, and what we can do about it. The book has great drawings and is written to be approachable and accessible to kids. There's a lot of great information on glaciers and how they impact our ecosystems and the animals that live in them.
This is a great book!
It's a beautiful read about glaciers - what they are, how we measure them, why they're shrinking, and what we can do about it. The book has great drawings and is written to be approachable and accessible to kids. There's a lot of great information on glaciers and how they impact our ecosystems and the animals that live in them.
July 22, 2022
Beautifully illustrated and written. This is a work of art.
Scientific concepts are explained in finer points, succinct, and easy for children to digest and learn by heart. This will not only help build their love for sciences, but also help cultivate in them the love for planet Earth.
Great for children of all ages.
Thank you very much for sending me this e-ARC.
Scientific concepts are explained in finer points, succinct, and easy for children to digest and learn by heart. This will not only help build their love for sciences, but also help cultivate in them the love for planet Earth.
Great for children of all ages.
Thank you very much for sending me this e-ARC.
December 27, 2022
A quite difficult book to digest, yet super interesting with facts and information about glaciers. What is glacier? Who lives in it, and the impact of glaciers for humanity. Why should we slow down and go green. The things that we do daily actually have an impact on glaciers, so it makes them hot and melted. So what should we do then?
March 22, 2022
Meltdown is a look into the world of glaciers. We loved utilizing this for a melting glacier sensory bin.
Thank you to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2022
Meltdown is a middle-grade book aimed at educating children about glaciers and how they affect the world and how we are affecting them. Included are photos and illustrations to help give the reader a visualization of what's being said.
As it is middle-grade, Meltdown reads simpler than the standard non-fiction fare and goes out of the way to explain concepts for the reader. It begins by explaining what glaciers are, the parts of glaciers, how they are formed, how they affect the larger world, and finally, how climate change affects them and what we can do to prevent further melting.
Overall, a detailed but easy-to-read look at glaciers. An easy way to introduce children to glaciers and science. Though like all science books, the prose can be dry at times.
As it is middle-grade, Meltdown reads simpler than the standard non-fiction fare and goes out of the way to explain concepts for the reader. It begins by explaining what glaciers are, the parts of glaciers, how they are formed, how they affect the larger world, and finally, how climate change affects them and what we can do to prevent further melting.
Overall, a detailed but easy-to-read look at glaciers. An easy way to introduce children to glaciers and science. Though like all science books, the prose can be dry at times.
Read
May 5, 2023Paired with Two Degrees by Alan Gratz (Tim Protiva)
November 12, 2023
Meltdown: Discover Earth's Irreaplacable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do to Save Them by Anita Sanchez and Illustrated by Lily Padula is my hardcover children's book about... You guessed it! Global Warming and our melting glaciers!
This book goes into what is causing global warming and why that is bad for us and our fellow creatures of earth, and how disappearing glaciers and arctic ice is going to harm the world in the long-term.
I always like seeing books for kids that teach them that this planet should be cared for and that our actions do have consequences.
This book goes into what is causing global warming and why that is bad for us and our fellow creatures of earth, and how disappearing glaciers and arctic ice is going to harm the world in the long-term.
I always like seeing books for kids that teach them that this planet should be cared for and that our actions do have consequences.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews