Global Warming

by Seymour Simon

Overview

Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon gives you a full-color photographic introduction to the causes and effects of global warming and climate change.

Earth's climate has always varied, but it is now changing more rapidly than at any other time in recent centuries. The climate is very complex, and many factors play important roles in determining how it changes. Why is the climate changing? Could Earth be getting warmer by itself? Are people doing things that make the climate warmer?

Supports the Common Core State Standards

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061142529
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/26/2013
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	152,989
Product dimensions:	9.22(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Seymour Simon has been called “the dean of the [children’s science book] field” by the New York Times. He has written more than 300 books for young readers and has received the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children’s science literature, the Science Books & Films Key Award for Excellence in Science Books, the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people, and the Educational Paperback Association Jeremiah Ludington Award. He and his wife, Liz, live in Columbia County in Upstate New York. You can visit him online at www.seymoursimon.com, where students can post on the “Seymour Science Blog” and educators can download a free four-page teacher guide to accompany this book, putting it in context with Common Core objectives. Join the growing legion of @seymoursimon fans on Twitter!

Editorial Reviews

In a serious but not somber introduction to global warming, Simon, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, describes contributing factors, signs, and repercussions of rising Earth temperatures with enough statistics to inform school reports—“There is 30 percent more carbon dioxide in the air than there was 150 years ago”—and enough full-color photographs to engage. Endnotes list things individuals and families can do to help curb climate change, as a hopeful counterbalance. Ages 5-9. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

What exactly is global warming? What can you do to save the environment? Award-winning science writer, Seymour Simon, has written another outstanding volume in the Smithsonian series. Since the end of the last ice age, 11,000 years ago, the Earth has become warmer. In recent decades, there has been a dramatic rise in temperature. Why is the climate changing? Global warming is happening because of the greenhouse effect: heat is being trapped near the ground by carbon dioxide, water vapor, and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. People cause global warming by cutting down trees, driving cars and trucks, and burning coal and oil. There is thirty percent more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than 150 years ago and every year the Arctic Ocean ice shrinks in size and depth. Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting. At the end of this book, the author provides guidelines for what nations, families, and individuals can do on a daily basis to halt rapid global warming. In this informative and well-written book, Seymour Simon takes readers on a journey through the root causes of global warming and provides practical tips for how young people can make a difference in the world. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.

Children's Literature - Suzanna E. Henshon

Striking a cautious tone and noting that the Earth has been both warmer and colder in its past, Simon nonetheless suggests that current signs hint at an uncommonly rapid shift in global climate-possibly due to more than just human factors but nonetheless likely to cause disastrous near-future consequences. Though his moderation makes a refreshing change from the many strident calls to action clamoring for attention, it comes in a text that could use updating ("Greenland's enormous ice sheet will begin to melt") accompanied by generic photos of floods, lightning, smiling schoolchildren and autumn foliage that are at best only indirectly related to the topic at hand. Simon's huge (and deserved) fan base will ensure a wide readership for this clearly presented overview of the topic, but it has a slapdash feel and is not his best work. (Nonfiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Veteran writer Simon has tackled a myriad of subjects that fascinate young scientists—animals, the human body, the universe, oceans, weather—often presented with striking photographs. Here he undertakes to explain in simple language the complex phenomenon of global warming. Beginning with greenhouse gases and their accumulated effects from Earth's expanding population, Simon goes on to explore causes—fossil fuels, disappearing forests, methane from farm animals, nitrous oxide from chemicals. Concentrating on northern zones, the text explains that melting sea ice is changing the lives of walruses, seals, and especially polar bears. Disappearing glaciers and mountaintop snow cause sea levels to rise (illustrated with vivid photographs of flooded land and cities); rising ocean temperatures put coral reefs and their inhabitants in danger. Simon is quite clear that climate change affects every ocean and continent, leading to stronger storms, more or less rainfall in different locations, migration and even extinction of animals, and danger from wildfires. What can we do? Three pages relate efforts being made by governments and individual families—no surprises here—while a final page—accompanied by a color shot of gorgeous autumn foliage—stresses that change is affecting all of us, and we must "find ways to safeguard our own and future generations." This "Smithsonian" book is just one of many about global warming, but it is notable for its clarity of text and its very effective color photographs. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft

Gr 3–5—Outstanding full-page, full-color photographs are the highlight of this introduction to the theories and concerns regarding global warming and climate change. Simon offers much basic information on the subjects of rising sea levels, ocean temperatures, and greenhouse gases. In addition, he explores the resulting problems of animal survival as well as the standard solutions outlined for both governments and families. While he strongly suggests that global warming is due to man-made causes, he does include the possibility of cyclical warming trends. Although comprehensive for the intended audience, the text is somewhat flat. A short glossary and index may help with more complicated ideas. A useful addition for collections needing well-illustrated introductory material.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

School Library Journal