This informative book, translated from the original French edition, succinctly explains different facets of the world's environment in terms of how healthy or unhealthy they are. The book covers water, air, soil, energy, and climate, describing the impact industrialization, advanced communication technologies, increased population, and climate change have had on each. Environment threats--such as pollution from the land seeping into the oceans--are listed in each chapter, while sidebars, shaped like magnifying glasses, containing interesting facts (70 percent of the world's water is used in agricultural irrigation) are found throughout the book. Questions are posed to readers ("Why do we need the atmosphere?") and then answered. The concluding chapter offers ideas on how kids can help save the environment. Charming illustrations accompany the text, which includes a glossary, selected sources (some in French without translations, or websites without URLs), and an index. As it lacks source notes, this accessible resource will be useful for students mostly as a supplemental resource.

Gr 4--7--Pasquet's comprehensive and easy-to-understand book divides the environment into five separate categories: water, air, soil, energy, and climate. Each section emphasizes the importance of these elements in sustaining a healthy planet as well as mankind's role in creating problems and finding solutions. The accessible text poses many questions and introduces concepts in an approachable format. The simple, lively illustrations complement the generally positive attitude shown towards this large and complicated subject. In the section covering water, the important role of Earth's oceans and the environmental concerns regarding threats to the world's waters are discussed. Threats to air quality, soil degradation, and climate change are thoroughly addressed. Charts, sidebars, a glossary, and selected sources add value to the inclusive information. This is a worthwhile addition to library environmental science collections. VERDICT This work is very comprehensive and accessible for the targeted age group. It will be valuable for research projects and classroom use.--Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, NY

We need to know about our environmentwater, air, soil, energy, and climatein order to understand how and why it is changing.A French-Canadian writer for young people takes on this complicated subject, splitting it into parts and presenting them in short, accessible-looking bits. Each major component gets a chapter; each spread covers a single topic with headings and subheadings. He moves logically from topic to topic and provides some connections. Concluding with the idea of climate change, he makes clear that "human activitiesare largely responsible for [it]." Some vocabulary may prove challenging, but important words and phrases are bolded and defined in a glossary. Some choices are downright puzzling: Readers will wonder why this text calls what every American child learns about as the "water cycle" the "hydrologic cycle" instead. The survey is digitally illustrated with stylized images that colorfully support the text. On a final spread describing positive efforts to solve environmental issues, the illustrator shows a diverse group of children sitting on a tree branch made of two different kinds of trees, with roots that also connect. It's a nice touch. Many books that break complex subjects down for young readers with general statements and attention-catching examples can leave a few false impressions. This survey shares that flaw. Not "everything you need to know" but a well-intentioned effort. (glossary, selected sources, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this useful resource, Pasquet concisely yet comprehensively explains the significance of five "essential" environmental elements--water, air, soil, energy, and climate--each of which receive a chapter detailing their importance to humans (In "Air": "Humans, like all mammals, need to breathe in oxygen to turn the energy stored in our food into energy we can use to make our bodies work"). Threats to each element ("greenhouse gases") are dispassionately presented alongside broad-stroke solutions ("reduce our energy consumption"), and a variety of phenomena are clearly explained, including the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric pressure, and climate zones. Throughout, specific concepts (ozone layer, greenhouse effect) are bolded, indicating that fuller definitions are available in a glossary. A closing section titled "The Future" calls out positive environmental actions occurring around the globe, from community gardens in Detroit to solar energy in the Philippines. Dumont's colorful illustrations adroitly combine visual information with appealingly stylized people, animals, and landscapes. Ages 9--12. (Mar.)