There is something for all young environmentalists in these selections, whether it be pleasure reading about endangered animals or researching fuel sources. Young readers will learn about the interconnectivity of organisms in a biome, endangered species, and the benefits and drawbacks of various fuel sources. They will find attractive pages filled with photos, bright backgrounds, and eye-catching icons. Researchers will be pleased to find titles filled with useful information that keeps their attention. With an abundance of visually appealing and engaging books, the only challenge will be finding room on the shelves for everything.

Elementary

Bergin, Raymond. Desert Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094092.
––––. Forest Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094108.
––––. Grassland Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094115.
––––. Ocean Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094085.
––––. Tundra Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094122.
––––. Wetland Life Connections. ISBN 9798885094139.
ea vol: 32p. (Life on Earth! Biodiversity Explained). Bearport. Jan. 2023. Tr. $28.50.
Gr 2-4 –This series describes biomes with a focus on preservation. The connectivity of each organism in the biome is stressed, emphasizing the importance of caring for the Earth. A sense of urgency is conveyed, with abundant facts for researchers that make it perfect for school assignments. Important words are in bold and there is a glossary at the back of the book. An index, preservation tips, further learning, and “About the Author” are also included. The cover and layout resemble many other well-constructed nonfiction books, with colorful photos and overlaid text boxes. However, the writing excels at delivering important information in an engaging manner without being verbose. VERDICT A solid choice for libraries looking to enlarge or update their biome collections.

Dickmann, Nancy. Climate Change. ISBN 9781781218143.
––––. Energy. ISBN 9781781218150.
––––. Natural Resources. ISBN 9781781218167.
O’Daly, Anne. Biodiversity. ISBN 9781781218136.
––––. Pollution. ISBN 9781781218174.
––––. Waste. ISBN 9781781218181.
ea vol: 24p. (Science Starters). Brown Bear Bks. Jan. 2023. Tr. $34.25.
Gr 2-5 –An attractive and informative series that teaches young readers about climate change, energy, natural resources, biodiversity, pollution, and waste. Written in an engaging and easy-to-understand style, the books use colorful illustrations, photos, icons, and simple language to explain the various aspects of environmental preservation. Each spread covers one aspect of the main topic, using a few short paragraphs and plenty of text boxes. A quiz at the back of each book is ideal for teachers and readers who want to reinforce the learned material. VERDICT An attractive series with some common topics, such as climate change and pollution, but also more unique ­topics, such as biodiversity, that is highly worth considering.

Grack, Rachel. Axolotls. ISBN 9798886871180.
––––. Rhinoceroses. ISBN 9798886871197.
––––. Snow Leopards. ISBN 9798886871203.
––––. Tasmanian Devils. ISBN 9798886871210.
ea vol: 24p. (Animals at Risk). Bellwether/Blastoff! Readers. Jan. 2023. Tr. $$26.95.
K-Gr 2 –This Level 2 reader explores the conservation status of four endangered animals: the axolotl, rhinoceros, snow leopard, and Tasmanian devil. A brief introduction to the animals’ habitat is followed by the threats to their survival and actions to repopulate the species. The series features bright colors and photographs along with two-to-three short sentences per page. Finally, each book contains a glossary, index, and sources for further information. VERDICT A truly attractive series on endangered animals for beginning readers.

Redshaw, Hermione. Making a Difference at School. ISBN 9798885093583.
––––. Making a Difference from Home. ISBN 9798885093590.
––––. Making a Difference on Vacation. ISBN 9798885093606.
––––. Making a Difference Outside. ISBN 9798885093613.
ea vol: 24p. (Saving the World). Bearport/Fusion. Jan. 2023. Tr. $26.99.
PreS-Gr 1 –Intended for beginning learners, this series covers environmentally friendly actions one can make at school, at home, on vacation, and while outside. Topics such as driving less, recycling paper and plastic, reusing or donating used items, and caring for nature are introduced through simple sentences and short paragraphs. While these topics are common in environmental books, this series has a beautiful graphic layout of photos, text boxes, background colors, and icons that make it stand out. Photos feature racially diverse children performing actions reflected in the text. The attractive pages with well-written, simple text make for a perfect read-aloud. VERDICT While this series does not deliver a unique message, it stands out for its beautiful design and engaging text. Purchase where environmental books for young readers are needed.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Harkrader, Lisa. Nuclear Power. ISBN 9781503864986.
––––. Wind Power. ISBN 9781503864962.
Mihaly, Christy. Biomass Power. ISBN 9781503864993.
Perdew, Laura. Hydroelectric Power. ISBN 9781503864979.
––––. Solar Power. ISBN 9781503864955.
Rea, Amy C. Coal Power. ISBN 9781503865013.
––––. Natural Gas Power. ISBN 9781503865006.
Richards, Patti. Oil Power. ISBN 9781503865020.
ea vol: 32p. (The Power of Energy). The Child’s World/Stride. Jan. 2023. Tr. $34.21.
Gr 2-5 –This is a comprehensive series that explores the different types of energy sources and the benefits and drawbacks of each one. Each page has a white background with black text or a large color photo. While not the most eye-catching and colorful books on the shelf, the amount of information packed into these short books makes them ideal for research. Each sentence is informative and there are no extraneous words or phrases, leading readers to not lose focus. “Fast Facts” at the end of the book adds to the appeal of these useful titles. VERDICT While not the most eye-catching titles, these books are packed with information that makes them extremely useful and efficient for student research.

Upper Middle School to High School

Eason, Sarah. Saving the Tiger. ISBN 9781914383731.
Spilsbury, Louise. Saving the Asian Elephant. ISBN 9781914383779.
––––. Saving the Gorilla. ISBN 9781914383724.
––––. Saving the Orangutan. ISBN 9781914383762.
––––. Saving the Sea Turtle. ISBN 9781914383748.
––––. Saving the Snow Leopard. ISBN 9781914383755.
ea vol: 48p. (Mission Survival: Saving Earth’s Endangered Animals). Cheriton. Jan. 2023. Tr. $31.99.
Gr 5-8 –Finding endangered animal books as attractive as those in this series will be difficult. The color photographs, bright backgrounds, popping images, and text boxes are expertly arranged to make each page extraordinarily enticing. The writing is broken up into short paragraphs within text boxes, reducing reading fatigue and keeping readers engaged. The informational content provides what students need for research or general information. Physical and behavior characteristics of each animal are given, and the habitat loss, hunting threats, and climate change are thoroughly explained as reasons for endangerment. Along with activism ideas for kids, the added information of future conservation careers is a topic not often seen in other endangered animal books. A table of contents, glossary, further information, and index are included. VERDICT Due to the engaging content and attractive layout, this series is a must-purchase for all collections.