Heos, Bridget. It’s Getting Hot In Here.

Heos, Bridget.    It’s Getting Hot In Here.     Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2015  231p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-544-30347-8      ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BN           

This is a well-written book that explains the history and climatic changes that have resulted in the global warming facing us today, with special attention to the islands that are drowning in the sea (Kiribati) and ice caps melting and sloughing off icebergs, thus greatly reducing our fresh-water reserves. The author also warns her readers that our evil twin, Venus, was probably like us, but being closer to the sun, its oceans dried up. Therefore, it would benefit us to be more careful with our natural resources.

The author also points out that our earth was approximately nine degrees warmer during the last ice age and changed very slightly in the past. In recent years, our temperatures have warmed up more quickly, causing more extreme weather patterns. The areas that are dry got much drier, and the wetter climates became very wet.  We are seeing more floods and severe storms throughout the world. As the earth warms, the ice packs melt and much less surface ice is left to reflect sunlight, so that the climate stays cooler.

This is a well-written and beautifully formatted book with topical challenges included throughout. The size and colorful illustrations make it a wonderful addition to any library. In addition, it contains a glossary, notes, a select bibliography, and an index. It has been recommended for our Books of Note.   

Summary: This is a clear, concise text that relates the causes and concerns about our changing planet.  It explains the history of how were got where we are and why our actions are causing earth’s changes, and concludes with a call to action.

Global warming                                                    --Linda McNeil

Heos, Bridget. It’s Getting Hot In Here.

Heos, Bridget.    It’s Getting Hot In Here.     Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2015  231p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-544-30347-8      ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BN           

This is a well-written book that explains the history and climatic changes that have resulted in the global warming facing us today, with special attention to the islands that are drowning in the sea (Kiribati) and ice caps melting and sloughing off icebergs, thus greatly reducing our fresh-water reserves. The author also warns her readers that our evil twin, Venus, was probably like us, but being closer to the sun, its oceans dried up. Therefore, it would benefit us to be more careful with our natural resources.

The author also points out that our earth was approximately nine degrees warmer during the last ice age and changed very slightly in the past. In recent years, our temperatures have warmed up more quickly, causing more extreme weather patterns. The areas that are dry got much drier, and the wetter climates became very wet.  We are seeing more floods and severe storms throughout the world. As the earth warms, the ice packs melt and much less surface ice is left to reflect sunlight, so that the climate stays cooler.

This is a well-written and beautifully formatted book with topical challenges included throughout. The size and colorful illustrations make it a wonderful addition to any library. In addition, it contains a glossary, notes, a select bibliography, and an index. It has been recommended for our Books of Note.   

Summary: This is a clear, concise text that relates the causes and concerns about our changing planet.  It explains the history of how were got where we are and why our actions are causing earth’s changes, and concludes with a call to action.

Global warming                                                    --Linda McNeil

Streissguth, Michael E. Extreme Weather

Streissguth, Michael E.          Extreme Weather     

Cengage(Gale,Lucent,Kidhaven/Blackbirch 2011   116p   37.10  978-0-7377-4859-8            

hs       Confronting Global Warming (Cengage/Gale)      E-BNS 

This title details both the recorded and possible future effects of global warming on extreme

weather conditions.  It includes heat and drought, rainfall and flooding, storms

and seasonal variations.       Whereas this text admits that the evidence of

global warming in inconclusive, several important trends are supported by data. 

The air and sea temperatures have risen at a faster rate than during previous

decades affecting changes in droughts and their duration, number of tornadoes,

increase in incidents of flooding and seasonal shifts are all well documented by

data.  This text reports the factual data and presents possible future

developments in each type of extreme weather.

  The conclusion states that although the proof of these changes being caused by

human actions is still debatable, a worldwide effort to control or slow down the

production of greenhouse gases is of utmost importance.  Doing nothing could be

catastrophic.

  There is a glossary, extensive list of sources for further research and

detailed index.  This title is geared toward high school students with opposing

viewpoints well-balanced treatment and statistical data. An excellent resource

for high school libraries.       Confronting Global Warming series explores current

and future challenges facing the planet due to climate change.  There are ten

titles in the series.     Theal, Joan

Miller, Debra. Energy Production and Alternative Energy

Miller, Debra.  Energy Production and Alternative Energy           

Cengage(Gale,Lucent,Kidhaven/Blackbirch 2011   123p   38.20  978-0-7377-5106-2            

secondary      Confronting Global Warming (Cengage/Gale)      E-BN   

A collection of could be considered separate articles (although in the book they are chapters) written

by the author about difference aspects of energy production, use, sources and

alternatives    Very well written compilation of the current thinking about

energy production and use today. Tables such as ╘U.S. electricity from renewable

energy by sector, 2004-2008╒ (pg. 63), and ╘U.S. primary energy consumption by

source and sector, 2008╒ (pg. 26) serve to highlight the issues we are facing as

energy consumers and producers in the United States. Green alternative issues

such as ╘Global warming and peak oil╒ (pg. 29) and ╘Brazil╒s flex-fuel auto

industry╒ (pg. 68) are examples of sidebars found throughout the book. The book

has full color illustrations and is fully noted at the end of each chapter.

            Complete in 5 titles, this series serves to present the key issues

involved in global warming and how to address these issues.    Fisher, Lynn