What Poo Can Do: How Animals Are Fighting the Climate Crisis

Gr 4-7–How does animal poop combat the climate crisis? It turns out it does so in many ways. Ridge explains how whales release nutrient-rich clouds of poop in the ocean that support the growth of phytoplankton (a microscopic plant that absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen through photosynthesis, thereby reducing greenhouse gases). Another example includes the annual migration of wildebeests in the Serengeti—their poop helps fertilize grasses and trees along the migratory path, as well as facilitates the distribution of seeds so more carbon-reducing plants can grow. Ridge also provides readers with concrete actions they can take to fight climate change, such as organizing a coastal cleanup or joining an organization that is working to make oceans safe for whales. Information is presented attractively in a straightforward manner—there are no bells and whistles here.