Rising Seas: Flooding, Climate Change and Our New World

by Keltie Thomas, Belle Wuthrich (Illustrator), Kath Boake W. (Illustrator)

"This is an important book but we don't have time for its young readers to replace those in power. So read this book and then give grown-ups hell and demand something be done. It's your future that's at stake." -- David Suzuki

The Earth's oceans are on the rise. Since 1900, global sea levels have risen steadily each year to a global average of about 8 inches (20cm) today, and they're still rising. By 2100, the sea could climb as much as 14 feet (4.3m) to 32 feet (9.75m).

Rising Seas: Flooding, Climate Change and Our New World gives youth an eye-popping view of what the Earth might look like under the rising and falling water levels of climate change. Photographs juxtapose the present-day with that same area's projected future. The shocking images will help them understand the urgency for action. Key issues in today's news will be better understood, such as the 2015 Paris Protocol in which the world agreed to limit temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius (ideally 1.5 degree).

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Environment, Childrens, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2018

About the author

Keltie Thomas, a former editor of Owl magazine, is the author of several non-fiction books for children. She has been nominated for the Silver Birch Award by the Ontario Library Association five times. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the information was fascinating (and disconcerting), throughout the book the author referred to different page numbers to find more information--and the page numbers were incorrect nearly every time. An editor messed up royally here. Would have given it a higher rating otherwise.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts, lots of colourful pictures, at times repetitive (e.g. talking about sea level rise in multiple different places with similar impacts and responses).

[Amy Pickett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This middle grade nonfiction title is a brightly colored, highly readable overview of the hazards of rising sea levels around the globe. Spotlighted cities and countries include Miami Beach, New York, Mumbai, Greenland, Bangladesh, and island nations such as the Maldives. Brief chapters discuss the current situation and outlook for each area, and feature maps, photographs, and fast facts. The author's conversational writing style offsets the more dire predictions. Best of all, Rising Seas concludes with ten tips that answer the question “What can you do?” The real star of the show are the “photo illustrations” that depict the watery future of several international landmarks. A good book for browsing or reading cover-to-cover (I recommend the latter if you are a tree-hugger like me!).

[Steve H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting graphics, though a bit alarmist, like showing the statue of liberty underwater. Probably not the best example for showing height of sea level rise since the situation in which the statue would be submerged isn't one of the ones shown in the book. The book does a decent job of showing how various areas and places are and will be affected by flooding, but in the attempt to make the graphics eye-catching and sensational they do the facts a dis-service.

[David Pederson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keltie has created a work of art. While it makes this challenging accessible to children, every American politician should read it. There are pictures that even the 2016 president might be able to share with his cult.

I hope she takes this approach to other subjects. She illustrates a scary subject with the facts it takes to see there is a future that is not bleak if we choose it.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you do GREAT non-fiction for kids! Bright, easy to read, eye-catching headlines, and engaging images!

This book provides so much great information- very specific, detailed, and encompassing a range of areas. I think it does a great job of teaching, showing the severity of climate change in our world, while also providing opportunities for action.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tries to be upbeat about our impending destruction, but my overwhelming reaction to it was despair, and regret that I live in NYC. The pictures with risen sea levels photoshoppped in are very cool.

[Jessie Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the close up look at each city, wish it gave more about the bigger picture- the intro material needs to a little longer.