The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming

June 11, 2008

The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming
by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon
Illustrations by Stephen Schudlich
Ages 9-12
Orchard Books
Paperback $15.99

Somebody thought it might be possible to write a book for kids about global warming and ways to save the planet that was (a) informative and (b) not depressing. Apparently, two somebodies, both heaven-bent on doing all in their power to save the planet by educating as many of its inhabitants (especially the young) as possible. Founder of the Stop Global Warming Virtual March and a producer of An Inconvenient Truth with Al Gore, Laurie Gordon co-authored the book with environmentalist and children’s book author Cambria Gordon. It worked. Not only is this book  capable of inspiring kids to save the planet, I’d read it again and again just to experience the comic genius of Stephen Schudlich’s illustrations. Therefore, at the top of my list of books to save the planet is this down-to-earth guide. Yes, it’s about global warming. And yes, global warming is a bummer. But kids these days are not dummies; they know they’re inheriting a mess, and they appreciate it when we don’t sugar-coat the fact. They also appreciate getting those facts with a little nutty humor thrown in. Kids as well as adults instinctively seem to understand that, if we lose our sense of humor–even about a subject as serious as global warming–we’re toast.

The book is written for readers aged 9-12, but much younger kids will be intrigued enough by Schudlich’s drawings to want to be included in The Down-to-Earth Guide’s irreverent world of save-the-planet science. Be prepared to flip through these surprisingly fun pages with a willingness to dig into the ways in which our actions affect the planet we share. Savvy parents will welcome this book as a springboard to greater learning and opportunities for community action. If, like me, you look at our kids and grandkids and realize that learning how we can save our planet is a basic requirement of residence on Earth, you’ll welcome this book into your home.