Pair of Titles on Hot Issue

Two upcoming titles spotlight a decidedly timely topic—global warming—and issue a call to action to concerned kids.

In Weird Weather: Everything You Didn't Want to Know About Climate Change but Probably Should Find Out (Groundwood, July), British artist Kate Evans uses comic book–style art to explore the issue of climate change. Presented from the perspectives of an idealistic adolescent, a fat-cat businessman and a mad scientist, her narrative examines the science behind global warming and what is and is not being done to stop the problem. For youngsters who want to learn—and do—more about global warming, the author includes lists of suggested further reading and relevant organizations and Web sites.

Laurie David continues her crusade against global warming in The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming, written with environmentalist and children's author Cambria Gordon. Due in September from Orchard with a 125,000-copy printing, this volume aims to help children understand global warming and how it is affecting our planet, and outlines ways that they can combat the problem in their homes, schools and communities. David, a producer of the Academy Award–winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, also wrote last year's Stop Global Warming: The Solution Is You.

Fittingly, her book is printed using soy inks on paper containing 100% post-consumer waste fiber that is FSC-certified. To promote the book, the publisher has created a poster and a bookmark, both offering conservation tips, and will provide downloadable activities on its Web site. National advertising is planned, as is an author media campaign that will include an appearance on Today.