Change Is in The Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us by Debbie Levy (review)

Reviewed by: Change Is in The Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us by Debbie Levy Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Levy, Debbie Change Is in The Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us; illus. by Alex Boersma. Bloomsbury, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9781547612062 18. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781547612079 13. 29 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 3-5 This straightforward, kid-friendly look at climate change begins with a simple explanation of what carbon is, its place in the natural world, and how human activities are releasing an excess of CO2 into the atmosphere and driving the climate crisis. It's a dire start, but the book then takes a hopeful and instructive tone, highlighting the various ways Earth's environments essentially trap carbon and "repair the air. " Fast-growing kelp forests gobble carbon up; mangroves "soak up carbon from the air"; and even the simple soil below our feet can play a role in carbon capture. Lest readers think that nature will take care of its own, the latter half of the text End Page 256 details the various ways humans can protect, change, and invent to better act as Earth's caretakers. The no-nonsense tone is neither overly hopeful nor needlessly indicting but rather direct, clear, and honest, emphasizing responsibility over blame. The structure makes the topic easily accessible, with succinct but informative sections, and that skillful organization extends to the author's note, laying out "THE PROBLEM, " with some more info on fossil fuels, and "THE POWERS, " giving examples of real-world successes in climate activism and noting what work can still be done. The pen-and-digital art pull double duty, visualizing scientific processes like the greenhouse effect and photosynthesis with labeled diagrams and focused vignettes while full spreads of marine life or vast, hilly fields remind readers of the majesty of the natural world and the stakes in the crisis. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois