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This Is My Planet
The Kids' Guide to Global Warming
by Jan Thornhill
Ages 9-13

Hardcover: 64pp | 8 x 10 1/2 | $21.95
ISBN: 978-1-897349-06-9 (US $21.95)

Paperback: 64pp | 8 x 10 1/2 | $12.95
ISBN: 978-1-897349-07-6 (US $10.95)

I live on Earth.
I love life and I love my planet...
But what about global warming?
Is it really happening? Can we stop it?
How will it affect me?

These questions begin Jan Thornhill's intelligent, comprehensive look at global warming. Thornhill gives a young audience the tools to understand the crisis and empowers readers to take action in their own lives.


ABOUT THE BOOK

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As world leaders and others face up to what needs to be done to ensure the future of our planet, Jan Thornhill gives a young audience the tools to understand the crisis and take action in their own lives. Her intelligent, sensitive text guides readers through a sometimes difficult but highly relevant terrain. While not shying away from the facts, This Is My Planet offers hope, showing where action can make a difference and evidence of the amazing resilience and adaptability of Earth.

Beginning with a foundation that answers basic questions about how our planet works, and moving through an in-depth look at three specific environments— polar, ocean, and land—and at our human societies, Thornhill takes a comprehensive look at the subject of global warming. In a conversational tone, This Is My Planet explores fascinating aspects of how our world works and how we can preserve it. Never preaching or alarmist, this amazing book arms young readers with the facts to form their own intelligent opinions.

Like Jan Thornhill’s award-winning I Found a Dead Bird, this book’s lively design is dynamic and bright, featuring a multitude of photos. Catchy headers engage readers on every page. Unlike anything else on the market for young readers, this brilliant treatment of global warming fills a void, and couldn’t be timed any better to hit the shelves as this important issue takes center stage at a global level.

REVIEWS:

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Globe and Mail
"In terms of people, [Jan Thornhill] is encouraging. Although, as she points out, people are high energy consumers…it is our ingenuity, knowledge and careful stewardship of the Earth that provides ground for optimism as we battle the adverse effects of global warming."

KidsBookshelf.com
"This is an amazing fact-filled book about global warming...The great photographs and easy to understand text helps to empower young readers and encourage them to get involved in our planet."

JellyMom.com
"Wow! Could a book be more interesting? Artfully arranged using bright colors, various fonts and numerous photographs to highlight facts about global warming, both you and your child will not put this book down until you’ve devoured each morsel. Nicely done."

Quill & Quire
"The text is informative and covers a remarkable range of global warming topics, from living houses to plastic bath toys…the attractive illustrations are appropriate and generally complement the text…there is a lot of fascinating and important information in This Is My Planet."

CJSF, CITR and CFRO Radio
"Everything here is clever, concise and accessible…(every activity in this book is easily do-able and user-friendly). The book is also full of evocative photographs which illustrate perfectly the theory of global warming. Best of all, the book never ever talks down to kids."

The Telegram (St.John's)
"[Jan Thornhill] pairs dynamic eye-catching graphic design and photography with short bursts of text to tell the story of climate change. Kids will love the presentation, vibrant colours and bold text blocks throughout...Thornhill’s text is factual and her tone remains positive. She concludes This is My Planet on a hopeful note, pointing out that, ‘Humans are resilient, and Earth is, too!’"

Magnet Lab, Center for Integrating Research & Learning
“This book by Jan Thornhill provides a balanced look at the effects of global warming. It’s easy to read, interesting for children and adults, and optimistic about the future—if we pay attention to what the Earth is telling us.”

Skipping Stones
“This splashy, scrapbook-style book explores questions adeptly such as: Why is Global Warming a problem? How can we stop it from getting worse?...The discussion is not oversimplified.”

Know magazine, Editor’s Pick
“This Is My Planet is bright and colourful, and uses small blocks of text and lots of photographs to explain the science of global warming and how it affects life at the poles, in the ocean, and on land. A section on human societies gives examples of what people are doing to lesson their impact on Earth”

Washington Parent
“…provides easy-to-understand explanations of the effects of melting glacial ice, climate change, and earlier plant-blooming patterns. Each double-page spread…brings home the message with color photos, diagrams and informative captions and sidebars. Thornhill takes a look at large scale initiatives (the Kyoto Protocol and zero-energy buildings, for example) but also provides guidance for kids eager to initiate change."

Quebec Home & School News
“Global warming is the hot topic of our times. This colourful book addresses the major issues in easy-to-understand language…It is an excellent introduction to a complex subject.”

suite101.com
“You couldn’t do any better than this…for any intellectually curious juvenile…Open[s] doors to hundreds of family conversations or classroom activities. Beautiful to look at, intriguing to browse…”

Canadian Children's Book News
“It is a great book for a wide range of ages and reading interests and a useful book for classrooms and libraries. Recommended.”

Audubon
“Use[s] colorful photographs, charts, and quirky graphics to teach children about the causes of global warming and what people of all ages can do about it…Its brightly colored text boxes and vibrant photomontages ensure a lively read.”

Chicago Sun Times
“Clearly written and illustrated with crisp color photos and useful charts and graphs, this book not only points out dangers but also includes positive aspects, such as discoveries of new species and regrowth where old forests have died. Change is here to stay and suggestions for what kids can do to make their futures better wrap up this savvy volume.”

School Library Journal
“This work highlights the interconnectedness of all living beings in bite-sized bits…Eye-catching colors and many illustrations should grab young readers long enough to impart this vital message.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials
“Thornhill’s writing is informative and clear…This is My Planet is certain to appeal to boys and girls who want to better understand global warming and who are interested in acting for the environment. Highly Recommended.”

Edmontons Child
"Educates young readers about global warming and also empowers them to become a part of the solution. The colourful, attention-grabbing pages of this impassioned book offer a clear and fascinating look at a wide range of global warming topics."

The Chronicle Herald (Halifax, NS)
"This is My Planet offers an introduction to [global warming] written in a straightforward manner that is perfect for middle shcoolchildren to easily understand. Although the topic is scary, author Jan Thornhill balances the sobering facts with simple action plans that offer hope for the fate of the planet. It is colourful, informative and educational but with enough sense of fun to keep children reading."

Canadian Teacher Magazine
In This Is My Planet, Jan Thornhill tackles the biggest issue that Earth and its inhabitants are currently facing, in terms that elementary school students can understand...Information is presented in a colourful format with lots of photographs and illustrations to capture and hold the attention of young readers. This is a great resource to read aloud and discuss with your students..."

The Well Read Child
"The book reminds me of a scrapbook with color photographs and illustrations scattered throughout that will appeal to even the most reluctant of readers...Ms. Thornhill never comes across as preachy or accusatory. Instead, she presents straight facts and gives readers solid recommendations for what they can do to help protect the earth."

Brandon Sun
“Winning text, well placed and chosen photographic images, bold colors and a great design. There are big sections about the earth, the oceans, the land and the world’s people. Each one provides good clear information about the effects of climate change. Jan Thornhill offers hope that comes with knowledge and encourages young readers to begin to make a difference in the world… showing us that small changes can be effective and that they are possible.”

Green Teacher Magazine
"This book is a wonderful instructional tool that will draw in young readers with its brightly colored pages, its beautiful photography, and its clear, well-researched and interesting -- but not too lengthy -- text blocks covering a multitude of topics."

AWARDS:

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2009
Rocky Mountain Book Award, Finalist

2009
British Columbia Young Readers' Choice, Red Cedar Book Award, Finalist

2008
Canadian Science Writers' Association, Science in Society Book Award, Finalist

2008
Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada, Information Book Award, Finalist

2008
Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction, Finalist

2008
Ontario Library Association, Silver Birch Award, Finalist

2007
National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA), Gold award winner