I Fuel: How Energy Powers Our Busy World

K-Gr 2–This is an ambitious attempt to explain where fuel comes from, how people use it, and some of the alternatives to fossil fuels. The graphic artwork is modern and appealing. The text is arranged in short pieces, which will make it appealing to younger students, but the concepts presented are complex and lack the specific nomenclature and thorough explanations to help readers fully understand the ideas. Many big processes are covered, from how fossil fuel deposits are formed, how they are taken out of the ground, how they are blended, turned into plastics, what happens when oil is spilled, as well as the creation of alternative sources of energy. Readers who are interested in fuel sources might do better seeking information about any single one of these topics, rather than the simplistic and sometimes confusing offerings here.