Climate Change - or Cleaning House?

I know people who think climate change is just part of the earth's cycle - or a hoax - or unconquerable.   It boggles my mind that it even matters.

The Earth is our HOME.  I don't let garbage pour over the sides of the containers. I don't spray the air with toxic chemicals, or smoke, or fumes. I don't add lead to my drinking water. I don't breed bacteria on my leftovers. I don't dig holes in my backyard to get at rocks and other things I might need and then let the holes create an unsightly mess and hazards.  Do YOU?? 'Course not.

Think about this.  When The Lorax was written, the terms "global warming" and "climate change" were not even in common usage.  The campaign to keep earth livable is not new.

IT. JUST. MAKES. SENSE. TO. KEEP.  OUR. HOME. CLEAN.

Rant over.

I don't understand climate change as well as I'd like. Here are books and book lists to help explain the effects and causes of climate change. And some that give us ideas on how we can take action.

Climate Change: Discover How It Impacts Spaceship Earth by Erin Twamley and Josh Seideman.  STEM and STEAM aficianados will enjoy this illustrated guide.  It includes 25 projects to increase students' and readers' understanding of the science of climate change, planetary movement, solar system....

Even Goodreads has a list of kids' books that explore climate change and pollution.

Crystal Ponti posted a list of 10 books about Climate Change over on parent.co.  There is some repetition, but still a great list.

I really like Inhabitots Earth Day post.  The books featured here are all about cleaning up the world.  This site is well-designed, colorful and useful and the 6 books featured are accessible to even our youngest earth cleaners.

And for all you grown-ups out there.
Climate Change and Children is a report out of UNICEF that will make your eyes tear up.  The Resource List offers articles and books that support UNICEF's claims.  This report is for grown-ups but share it with your older students to support discussions on possible solutions.

A World Withour Fish

Mark Kurlansky's book, A World Without Fish is a warning of the devastation of our oceans perpetrated by commercial fishing and pollution.  Punctuated with comic strips about the naturalist Kram and his daughter, Ailat, this book first outlines the problem of quickly disappearing fish species, then Kurlansky describes how these fish became scarce.  Finally, Kurlansky gives some advice on slowing down the devastation of the seas.

Frank Stockton's comic strips and full color illustrations make this a graphically inviting book.  Changes in the font and size of print emphasize important points.  Kurlansky also includes archival photos within the text.  A Resources list at the end gives young activists all the information they need to start a movement to reclaim the oceans.

A scary book, this, and discouraging at times!  Kurlansky does his best to be fair to the various groups involved in the plundering of the seas.  He champions fishermen, who warned of disappearing species long before scientists did.  The one thing I wish he had added was a bibliography but his resource list gives some links to further research.

I am going to have trouble eating fish, now that I know what happens to the seas to get those fish to my table.  Kurlansky gives a list of fish to avoid (Never eat sharks!  he tells us.)  So, perhaps, if I am very careful, I can enjoy fish and not further the destruction of our oceans.