Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do

In 17 illustrated sections, this picture book offers a comprehensive look at elements of climate change, including rising sea levels, deforestation, ocean and air pollution, and the melting cryosphere. Fanelli's bright illustrations have an open, vintage appeal, integrating well with Minoglio's accessible prose. In each section, the verso page presents "Before," offering a look at the world in the present day, as the recto page shows "After," sharing a visualization of the near future alongside current data and scientists' projections. Diagrams show step-by-step explanations of how concepts and processes work, while boxes labeled "How You Can Help" and "How People Are Helping" provide individually accomplishable actions and information about larger initiatives. This impressive introduction to climate change will stimulate budding ecologists. Back matter includes a list of organizations and citizen science initiatives, glossary, index, and sources. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)

Gr 3-6—This book is packed with information about the climate crisis, from the rise in sea levels to intensive farming to threats to biodiversity. The narrative structure is purposefully organized: each section explains the problem, then includes a before-and-after section that describes what happened prior to the accelerating climate crisis and what is happening now. The following two pages outline how the problem works, how readers can help, and how others are helping. The eye-catching illustrations enhance the content, particularly in the "how" sections, where the artwork emphasizes the steps in the process being discussed. For example, a spread in the section "Extreme Weather Events" shows how a tropical cyclone starts. The images are infused with energy and movement that matches the event. These colorful illustrations fill the pages, with clear sectioning and symmetry between the topics. The back matter includes a glossary, an index, and a list of organizations focused on citizen science and protecting the planet. This English translation of a text originally released in Italian provides an excellent resource for classroom and library collections that seek contemporary works on climate change for young readers. VERDICT Purchase to help elementary readers understand the complexities of the climate crisis.—Jen McConnel, Longwood Univ., VA

"Our World Out of Balance is a wonderful introduction...Unlike so many other books about climate change, it does not traffic in fear. Instead, it presents the facts and shows what young people can do to help build a cleaner, safer and more equitable future for the planet." —Simon Donner, Professor, Climate Scientist, University of British Columbia

"Many of us are overwhelmed by climate change and not too sure of exactly what is happening to our Earth and why. Andrea Minglio and Laura Fanelli have given us a beautiful book that explains how many Earth systems work — from farms to coral reefs. These are pages readers of every age will want to linger over, marveling at the illustrations and savoring highly understandable explanations of what to do for nature and how. Our World out of Balance above all celebrates the amazing gift of life on Earth and will inspire actions to save it." — Mary Ellen Hannibal, Stanford Media Fellow and author of Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction