The Australian Climate Change Book

by Polly Marsden, Chris Nixon (Illustrator)

An accessible and reassuring picture book that teaches children about the specific challenges of climate change for Australia, so they can be informed and make a difference.

An accessible and reassuring picture book that teaches children about the specific challenges of climate change for Australia so they can be informed and make a difference.

Australia is a unique and incredibly diverse natural environment and we are oh-so-lucky to live here. Our country is home to a great number of amazing ecosystems. But things like fossil fuels, greenhouse gases and deforestation are creating imbalances in our ecosystems and causing climate change. Climate changes leads to all sorts of crazy weather and damage to our natural environments and wildlife habitats.

But it's not too late to fix it! Even small steps can make a difference and you have the power to help.

A practical and reassuring book for children to help them understand climate change and the ways in which they can make a difference.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 29, 2021

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Australian Climate Change Book is a perfect tool for children learning about climate change, for their parents and teachers to discuss with them, introducing them to fossil fuels, to the environment, to ecosystems. And to learn about balance and how the Earth needs a certain balance to control the weather and keep wildlife habitats and our natural environments safe. It also mentions little things that children can do to help, like turning off lights when leaving a room.

For school age children, with guidance from mum and dad, this helpful children’s book will be one that should have a place on the school library shelves, as well as at home. Australian author Polly Marsden has written a good follow up to The Bushfire Book: How to Be Aware and Prepare, published in 2020 with The Australian Climate Change Book, and illustrated by Chris Nixon.

With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is informative and encouraging, introducing the concept of climate change to young readers and letting them know things they can do to help. The illustrations are engaging (and to my mind, very reminiscent of Oliver Jeffers).

[Atlanta Bushnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I can see it being a great resource for classrooms and also for parents wanting to introduce children to the topic of climate change.

Children are naturally curious and they will have heard words and phrases such as climate change, global warming and fossil fuels. Many will want to know what these mean and that’s where this book comes in.

This book explains what climate change is in a way that children will easily understand. It does so in a reassuring manner that won’t scare the kids but instead empower them to help the planet in their own way. It gives suggestions of what they can do such as switching off lights in rooms when not in use, recycling and conserving water. This book can be a great starting point for discussions.


Thank you Hachette Australia for the review copy.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Targetting early childhood readers but with relevant and accessible information for primary aged students as well, this is a reassuring book that presents a number of climate change challenges in a clear and easily understood language to inform rather than frighten. This is largely achieved through the lens of balance to encourage children to find balance in their lives and actively contribute to minimising waste and pollution with an focus on the importance of individual actions to contribute to collective action.

the soft pastel illustrations add to the calming presentation of a serious topic and are quite stylised so that little detail or information can be gained from them. I did feel that the coverage of climate needed to better deal with extremes in weather to provide greater context for not just drought and heat but also storms, floods etc.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: The Australian Climate Change book
Author: Polly Marsden
Genre: Picture books, Children’s Books
Recommend: Yes
Amount of Pages 32
My feelings:

I really enjoy children's books.
And read them to my kids every night. But one thing I don't do is review them.
Why I don't know, but I decided it was time to start.

I grabbed this book at the bookshop here in Australia, which I cannot remember now. But I grabbed it for my Joey scouts so that we could learn more about our environment and the issues.
This was fantastic and really portrayed relevant issues that we have today!
Highly recommend.

[Laura Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERY CHILD SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

Discussing hard to explain issues like What Climate Change is, and how to help, and what is being done specifically in Australia to circumvent it.

EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN SLOWING DOWN CLIMATE CHANGE
Shortlisted for the Australian Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2023 - Ages 5-8