• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 5
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Climate is a hot topic. Turns out, it’s been a major mover and shaker since time began. Climate has made it possible for new species to evolve, yet has wiped out others. We might not think about it this way, but it has a hand in determining where we live, what we do, and how well we survive.

The fourth book in Annick’s highly engaging 50 Questions series gives readers the answers to earth-shattering questions such as “How big was the wallop that KO’d T. rex?” (Huge! Scientists believe a Manhattan-sized asteroid killed off dinosaurs by creating thick dust that cooled the earth’s climate.) Or “Would you call this a BIG help?” (Giant poop from sperm whales is helping to reduce greenhouse gases—go, whales, go!)

You’ll be surprised to read about the dangers of belching cows, or about the hailstorm that started a revolution. Discover the topsy-turvy world of climate in these electrifying pages, while enjoying the madcap illustrations along the way.

Peter Christie is a long-time naturalist and native of Prince Edward County. Before turning his attention to writing, he worked as a researcher for various universities and private foundations, conducting natural history surveys of wildlife in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This work included his participation in a 1979 survey of reptiles and amphibians on which much of this book is based. Most recently, Peter returned to Canada from Tokyo, where he worked as a newspaper editor. His illustrations have appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers in Canada and overseas. Peter considers his ecologist father, the late Jack Christie, to have been his most important guide to the natural world.

Peter Christie's profile page

Ross Kinnaird is an illustrator who has worked in London, Sydney, and Hong Kong. He currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ross Kinnaird's profile page

“… gives young readers a quick overview of the many ways in which climate has changed the world and the creatures living on it …”

Booklist, 08/01/12

50 Climate Questions: A Blizzard of Blistering Facts (50 Questions)