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The Magic School Bus #12
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge
Trust the bestselling science series of all time to get down to the facts on global warming, so kids can understand the crisis—and how they can help solve it.
Like it or not, global warming is a hot topic, and it will affect the younger generation the most. So why not turn to the teacher kids like the most, Ms. Frizzle! Only the Friz can boil all the hoopla down to the scientific facts in a fun and informative way.
With trademark simplicity and wit, Joanna Cole explains why the earth is getting warmer, and Bruce Degen's bright, action-filled illustrations make the science easy to understand and fun to learn. This team brings a new, improved understanding to climate change, engaging kids and empowering all. Teachers will cheer!
Like it or not, global warming is a hot topic, and it will affect the younger generation the most. So why not turn to the teacher kids like the most, Ms. Frizzle! Only the Friz can boil all the hoopla down to the scientific facts in a fun and informative way.
With trademark simplicity and wit, Joanna Cole explains why the earth is getting warmer, and Bruce Degen's bright, action-filled illustrations make the science easy to understand and fun to learn. This team brings a new, improved understanding to climate change, engaging kids and empowering all. Teachers will cheer!
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2010
About the author
Joanna Cole
496 books209 followersJoanna Cole, who also wrote under the pseudonym B. J. Barnet, was an author of children’s books who teaches science.
She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.
Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books. Joanna Cole wrote over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus.
Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher she says was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school. Cole subsequently became a letters correspondent at Newsweek, and then a senior editor for Doubleday Books for Young Readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 25, 2026
"Before you could say 'North Pole,' the Friz herded us onto the bus. She pushed a few buttons and pulled a few levers. Then we were on our way ..."The children of Ms. Frizzle's class are putting on a play about global warming but they only have a very old book as their source. Upon realizing this, Ms. Frizzle decides that the class must go on an adventure to collect firsthand information.
And so off they go to learn about the meltdown happening in the Artic, how the sea levels are rising, how some areas are in a drought, and the damage being done to the coral reefs.
Hurricanes, tornados, forest fires, blizzards - all happing with greater ferocity and frequency than ever before.
"This is terrible!"
Overall, this was an informative but sobering look into a decades-long problem that many prefer not to believe in.
"Most of today's warming is caused by the increasing level of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere," said the Friz.
I appreciated how Joanna Cole was able to keep some levity to the situation through the kids' antics and the enthusiasm of Ms. Frizzle's teachings, but even then...ouch.
I did rather like how this book also went into ways to help reduce global warming - from energy alternatives, to ride sharing, to cycling, to recycling. There are some things that only adults can do but also the book provides several ideas on how kids can make a difference.
January 5, 2020
I admire Greta Thunberg for initiating School Strike for Climate movement. It’s good that the youngest generation is starting to fight for their future. Books like this one may have had their part in forming this movement too.
The science that is presented here is accurate. It is simplified, but there is no way to do this in a children’s book without simplifying. Still it may be a little complex for the youngest readers or listeners, but the main story is quite fun, and I think it’s typical for The Magic School Bus series.
The science that is presented here is accurate. It is simplified, but there is no way to do this in a children’s book without simplifying. Still it may be a little complex for the youngest readers or listeners, but the main story is quite fun, and I think it’s typical for The Magic School Bus series.
August 7, 2022
Ms. Frizzle, the Magic School Bus and the class find out about Climate Change. As usual, this is solid science, delivered with a delightful sarcastic humor from the kids of the class. Arnold plaintively asks if he could swap schools with their visiting South Korean student while sliding down some heat energy coming towards the earth. The kids crack puns and jokes throughout the story except when they are appropriately upset about what is happening to the earth. In between the fun, groans, and magic, a lot of excellent science gets explained. I would highly recommend this as a beginning lesson on Climate Change for anyone, not just the youth. This is a case where I think and hope that the youth are more aware of the issue than the grownups. Because this is going to turn out to be the crisis of their lives. I would give this more than five stars if I could!
Addendum: after 12 years, I could find only one minor dated item: using compact fluorescents instead of LED lights! Awesome work here!
Addendum: after 12 years, I could find only one minor dated item: using compact fluorescents instead of LED lights! Awesome work here!
April 11, 2025
There is WAY too much going on on each page
April 14, 2022
I'm glad we drive a hybrid because otherwise we would be in big trouble with the 6yo.
August 27, 2013
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge is the twelfth installment of the original Magic School Bus series that spawned the Emmy Award-winning television series. As such, it maintains the original class of approximately thirty students, most of whom are nameless beyond the children included in the show. The Climate Challenge also adds a new character, a visiting student from South Korea named Joon. (It's obvious from the book's dedication that there was some significant reason behind Joon's inclusion, though the book made no mention of what that might be; it baffled me enough that I tracked down this article, which offers up some background.)
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge, being the first Magic School Bus book to be published in the current decade, addresses a very modern, topical issue: global warming.
I will state up front that the book offers a fairly black and white view of global warming, presenting the mainstream aspects of the issue in a way that children can understand while mostly neglecting other aspects of and contributing factors to climate change (such as desertification, habitat destruction, the difference between natural climate change and anthropogenic climate change, etcetera). So while the book includes a lot of information on "going green", it's not as nuanced as I feel it should have been.
When Ms. Frizzle's class begins a unit on global warming, theTime Lord teacher takes them on a trip around the world to see the effects of climate change in person. They see the melting ice of the Arctic, Greenland, and the Antarctic; they (very briefly) glimpse the melting permafrost of the tundra, the desertification of formerly fertile farmland, rising sea levels, dying coral reefs, intense weather, animal die-outs and migrations, and crop failures.
As they continue to fly around the globe, Ms. Frizzle introduces them to the concepts of greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect, fossil fuels and CO2, anthropogenic climate change, and alternative energy sources.
The last several pages also include tips on what children can do to help curb their family's carbon footprints.
All in all, this isn't the most well-put-together Magic School Bus book; obviously, global warming and anthropogenic climate change are massively nuanced issues, and so this book suffers on two fronts. In it, Cole endeavors to teach a lot of information, so much so that most of it is mentioned more than it is explained. And on the other hand, there's a lot that she only alluded to (desertification, habitat destruction, natural climate change) that really deserved to get more in-depth coverage.
So I suppose The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge is a good book for introducing a child to the concepts of climate change and global warming, but I would suggest that it be used in conjunction with other relevant books that can fill in some of the information gaps. Beyond that, children may need a bit of previous familiarity with molecules and atoms to fully understand the pages on greenhouse gases (to familiarize a young child with the concept of molecules, I would suggest the Magic School Bus episode "Meets Molly Cule").
And, of course, I'd highly recommend looking into other Magic School Bus books and the television show. They're a wonderful resource for getting young children interested in science, even if some of the older works may be rather dated.
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge, being the first Magic School Bus book to be published in the current decade, addresses a very modern, topical issue: global warming.
I will state up front that the book offers a fairly black and white view of global warming, presenting the mainstream aspects of the issue in a way that children can understand while mostly neglecting other aspects of and contributing factors to climate change (such as desertification, habitat destruction, the difference between natural climate change and anthropogenic climate change, etcetera). So while the book includes a lot of information on "going green", it's not as nuanced as I feel it should have been.
When Ms. Frizzle's class begins a unit on global warming, the
As they continue to fly around the globe, Ms. Frizzle introduces them to the concepts of greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect, fossil fuels and CO2, anthropogenic climate change, and alternative energy sources.
The last several pages also include tips on what children can do to help curb their family's carbon footprints.
All in all, this isn't the most well-put-together Magic School Bus book; obviously, global warming and anthropogenic climate change are massively nuanced issues, and so this book suffers on two fronts. In it, Cole endeavors to teach a lot of information, so much so that most of it is mentioned more than it is explained. And on the other hand, there's a lot that she only alluded to (desertification, habitat destruction, natural climate change) that really deserved to get more in-depth coverage.
So I suppose The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge is a good book for introducing a child to the concepts of climate change and global warming, but I would suggest that it be used in conjunction with other relevant books that can fill in some of the information gaps. Beyond that, children may need a bit of previous familiarity with molecules and atoms to fully understand the pages on greenhouse gases (to familiarize a young child with the concept of molecules, I would suggest the Magic School Bus episode "Meets Molly Cule").
And, of course, I'd highly recommend looking into other Magic School Bus books and the television show. They're a wonderful resource for getting young children interested in science, even if some of the older works may be rather dated.
October 14, 2021
Apparently we’re still not listening to Ms. Frizzle… our planet is still warming and getting worse in 2021. And she told us this would happen in 1995! Amazing.
November 4, 2018
Summary: The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge is about the much "heated" topic, global warming. A lot of people can argue about this topic, but this book brought a more scientific view on this subject. Mrs. Frizzle took her kids on a field trip to learn about all the greenhouse gasses that are affecting the environment. The field trip was a big eye-opener for the kids because a lot of what is affecting the environment are ourselves. This book gave several different examples of simple ways that people can help the environment, such as not use so much plastic water bottles, or ride a bike somewhere instead of driving. The kids came back from the field trip wanting to make the world a better and cleaner place, and that is what I wanted to do after reading this book.
My thoughts: Personally, I love the Magic School Bus series. I haven't read this one yet, but I remember reading and watching a lot of them in elementary school. Every time I engage in a Magic School Bus story, I always learn a lot. This book had several important scientific facts and ways that people should help the environment. I am a very environmentally friendly person, and I think that every person needs to do their part to take care of the earth. Overall, I really liked this book.
In my classroom: I would definitely read this book out loud to my class. After reading this, I would want to talk to my students about the effects of greenhouse gasses. I would make them all write a paper on the simple things they can do to help out the environment and make the world a better place. I think that that would be a fun activity, and the students would hopefully become passionate about protecting our environment after reading this book. There are several different projects that teachers could assign for students to do after reading this as well. Hopefully, it would inspire my students to pick up trash, not use as much greenhouse gasses, and save the environment one person at a time. I think children need to know from a young age that everyone has an important part in making the world a better place.
My thoughts: Personally, I love the Magic School Bus series. I haven't read this one yet, but I remember reading and watching a lot of them in elementary school. Every time I engage in a Magic School Bus story, I always learn a lot. This book had several important scientific facts and ways that people should help the environment. I am a very environmentally friendly person, and I think that every person needs to do their part to take care of the earth. Overall, I really liked this book.
In my classroom: I would definitely read this book out loud to my class. After reading this, I would want to talk to my students about the effects of greenhouse gasses. I would make them all write a paper on the simple things they can do to help out the environment and make the world a better place. I think that that would be a fun activity, and the students would hopefully become passionate about protecting our environment after reading this book. There are several different projects that teachers could assign for students to do after reading this as well. Hopefully, it would inspire my students to pick up trash, not use as much greenhouse gasses, and save the environment one person at a time. I think children need to know from a young age that everyone has an important part in making the world a better place.
May 19, 2018
"Our only chance is to work together --every person, every city, every country."
I: 8 years and older
R: 3rd - 5th grade
I read this book for a project in my Children's Literature class.
Reading this book reminded me of watching Magic School Bus episodes as a child! The explanations and scenarios in the book are helpful for children learning more about climate change and the importance of protecting our planet. There are also "assignments" or "journal entries" on every page created by Ms. Frizzle's students that further help readers gain a better understanding. At the end of the story, Ms. Frizzle's students answer questions from emails they receive about climate change. Aspects like this helped to bring a more modern feel to the Magic School Bus series. I love that this book approached the concepts in an informative and child-friendly way. I plan on reading more Magic School Bus books to my future students.
In the classroom, students can create their own journal entries or assignments like Ms. Frizzle's students did throughout the book. In preparation for using this book in a class project, I also created a crossword puzzle using terms and concepts that were discussed in the book. Students can try to solve the crossword puzzle on their own, in a group, or can refer back to the book.
I: 8 years and older
R: 3rd - 5th grade
I read this book for a project in my Children's Literature class.
Reading this book reminded me of watching Magic School Bus episodes as a child! The explanations and scenarios in the book are helpful for children learning more about climate change and the importance of protecting our planet. There are also "assignments" or "journal entries" on every page created by Ms. Frizzle's students that further help readers gain a better understanding. At the end of the story, Ms. Frizzle's students answer questions from emails they receive about climate change. Aspects like this helped to bring a more modern feel to the Magic School Bus series. I love that this book approached the concepts in an informative and child-friendly way. I plan on reading more Magic School Bus books to my future students.
In the classroom, students can create their own journal entries or assignments like Ms. Frizzle's students did throughout the book. In preparation for using this book in a class project, I also created a crossword puzzle using terms and concepts that were discussed in the book. Students can try to solve the crossword puzzle on their own, in a group, or can refer back to the book.
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June 23, 2022Read as an audiobook
NO RATING
The thing I love about the Magic School Bus is that it educates young readers without talking down to them and using language anyone can follow along with. This installment, The Climate Challenge, did that at first, but quickly entered into "preachy" territory, in my opinion. Children might here the adults around them discussing global warming and even some adults might not fully understand it. I am fine with books explaining what it means and what the affects are on the environment, but I'm not okay with preaching at people, especially children, that humanity is killing Earth. Particularly since people's respective circumstances cannot revolve entirely around it.
My ranting aside, I decided to not give this book a rating as the content is to each their own and, overall, I do enjoy The Magic School Bus books.
NO RATING
The thing I love about the Magic School Bus is that it educates young readers without talking down to them and using language anyone can follow along with. This installment, The Climate Challenge, did that at first, but quickly entered into "preachy" territory, in my opinion. Children might here the adults around them discussing global warming and even some adults might not fully understand it. I am fine with books explaining what it means and what the affects are on the environment, but I'm not okay with preaching at people, especially children, that humanity is killing Earth. Particularly since people's respective circumstances cannot revolve entirely around it.
My ranting aside, I decided to not give this book a rating as the content is to each their own and, overall, I do enjoy The Magic School Bus books.
November 20, 2025
This is a very fun and informative book that helps students understand what climate change is and why it matters. Ms. Frizzle took her class on an exciting adventure around the world to see how human actions affect the environment, from melting glaciers to rising temperatures. I really like how the book combines humor, adventure, and science in a way that makes a complicated topic easy to understand. It also encourages students to think about ways they can help the planet, showing that even small actions can make a difference. After reading, students will create a Climate Action Plan. They can write or draw ways they can help the environment in their own lives, like recycling, saving energy, or planting trees. Then, they can share their plans with the class and talk about how their actions can make a difference. I would do this activity with 4th or 5th graders.
August 26, 2023
The Magic School Bus tackles climate change with the sort of optimistic attitude that feels like it’s in bad faith, even though a series for kids has to be optimistic. The facts about climate change are simplified as necessary for a kids series, and doesn’t take into account that kids may have climate change denying parents. Some of the facts and solutions are helpful and presented in an interesting way. Not all of them are necessary, but it’s hard to explain to kids how much one individual person’s actions don’t matter in combatting climate change. Climate change is happening though, and this book is pretty good at presenting the science so kids can understand.
December 7, 2024
As a kid i have watched and read the magic school bus as many times i can count and it never disappoints. These stories are fun, engaging and so informational for students and especially a way to make learning fun. This class in the story is just not an ordinary class but a class who works together that educates themselves and everyone around them. Learning is supposed to be fun, exciting especially when we learn about our climate changes. These stories make learning exciting and turn it to something adventurous. Mrs. Friz is just not an ordinary teacher, but she is a very exciting teacher who loves to teach her students in extravagant way. This story is not only fun, exciting and adventurous, but you can also imagine their journey as you read.
June 8, 2017
In this installment of the classic Magic School Bus series, Mrs. Frizzle tackles climate change. This book uses fantasy as a vehicle to discuss facts about our earth's critical contemporary problem. Perfect for children and climate-change deniers, this book offers plenty of scientific facts to its readers.
Instructional suggestions: questioning, inferring, connecting, human vs. nature conflict, text structures: (description, sequence, problem and solution, cause and effect, compare and contrast)
Genres: multigenre, nonfiction, faction, sci-fi
Instructional suggestions: questioning, inferring, connecting, human vs. nature conflict, text structures: (description, sequence, problem and solution, cause and effect, compare and contrast)
Genres: multigenre, nonfiction, faction, sci-fi
October 14, 2023
"The Magic School Bus" stories have always been one of my favorites. This particular book takes a real-life issue and puts it in the form of a fictional adventure with Miss Frizzle and her students. Joanna Cole's writing is perfect for this story, and the illustrations are wonderful. I would recommend this story for students in older elementary school, as this is a current world issue that this story could open up a great discussion for. All of the "Magic School Bus" stories are great, however I love that this story can be applied to a current issue in the world to discuss with students.
September 13, 2019
This is a great book of children of all ages. I like it as a transition book for students that are only into graphic novels. I feel like it can open a window to explore the chapter book. It provides a lot of information about the challenges of climate change along with ideas of how students can have a voice. It gives realistic idea of students about how they can make a difference. I would definitely have this book in my classroom.
April 30, 2023
This book takes climate change and global warming and presents it in a way that children will understand. This can become a heated topic in today's world, but this book presents it in a way that children can appreciate and understand. As all of the Magic School Bus stories go, the illustrations are great, and the children have a sarcastic sense of humor that those who are reading can relate to and enjoy.
December 11, 2023
I enjoyed this book, Miss Frizzle is a wonderful main character who keeps readers engaged with all the crazy adventures. This one specifically discusses the changes in the climate due to global warming and all the things it is damaging such as the oceans, animals, and plants. They talk about how heat is trapped in the atmosphere and that is why the earth is getting warming. All of this is done while riding on the magic school bus.
December 10, 2017
A great summary of the greenhouse effect and the major causes of climate change. It shows the science behind greenhouse gases as well as the way they act to trap heat. There is also a great explanation of alternative energy sources and what kids can do to help. It wasn't as humorous as some of the others in the series, but very informative.
February 2, 2021
Final of the twelve Magic School Bus books, there are associated series, this is the last of the "original' series, although this one is clearly written later.
This one focuses on climate change, and the challenge we face.
It is intensely pragmatic and non-political, and it is a fine book to read, and to get examples of how to do more for our planet.
Well recommended.
This one focuses on climate change, and the challenge we face.
It is intensely pragmatic and non-political, and it is a fine book to read, and to get examples of how to do more for our planet.
Well recommended.
May 1, 2023
The Magic School Bus series was always my favorite when I was a kid, especially the show episodes! This book speaks of and explores many relevant topics, such as global warming and climate change. It serves to explain why the earth is getting warmer and provides a sense of understanding towards these important, relevant topics.
December 11, 2023
The Magic School bus books are always good choice books for the classroom. This books talks about climate change and global warming in a way children can understand. The illustrations are great and well detailed and it has a great sense of humor that those reading can stay engaged, relate to, and enjoy the book more.
December 5, 2024
I grew up loving the magic school bus. in this story in particular Ms. Frizzle takes her class on an adventure to explore the issue of climate change. The kid witnesses extreme weather patterns. the students then use their newfound knowledge to take action at school and at home to reduce their carbon footprint. This book would be perfect for teaching children a little lesson on weather.
April 5, 2025
I have always loved all the Magic School Bus books! This book is engaging and informative for young readers. Ms. Frizzle and her class explore global warming. It encourages children to take care of the environment by using practical tips and colorful illustrations. It combines storytelling and factual science content; it is an awesome book for children who love science.
September 20, 2018
Great book. It is very informative along with being very fun. Tis book not only teaches about climate change, but also what we can do about it, both as teachers and students. It can be inspiring to read about kids being able to make a difference in their community, just like they do in this book.
March 14, 2023
Um lindo livrinho sobre uma professora muito especial que consegue levar seus pequenos alunos a entenderem a consequência do aquecimento global e a importância dos cuidados com o meio ambiente para evitar maiores problemas, com muita magia e imaginação. Muito bom.
August 9, 2023
Every elementary school classroom should have this book. Great introduction to the "challenges" of climate change. With the basic info in large type, and more in-depth explanations on sidebars (as always). Mrs. Frizzle still has it!!
November 9, 2024
The book describes the climate in the Arctic, where a teacher brings her students on a plane bus to discover the changes happening in climate and why our earth's weather is becoming warmer. It is an interesting book to read to children, with a lot of science information.
July 9, 2025
Preachy and condescending, as if it were written by late-period Adam McKay. Does not have the verve of early Ms. Frizzle. Clearly written in a different era from the classics, confirmed by the publication year. Probably largely accurate.
March 20, 2018
The science is accurate, though lacks the depth and detail that most adults need. Still, it's a great place to start the conversation!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews