• Age: 5 to 8
• Grade: k to 3

A 2025 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books of 2024
A nonfiction picture book about amazing ways that the Earth removes carbon from the air, and amazing ways people can help, offering a fresh and hopeful perspective on climate change.
The Earth has a problem: there's too much carbon in the air.
Luckily, the Earth also has amazing powers to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere-like the power of kelp, mangroves, and dirt. Although these powers alone cannot get us out of the climate crisis we're facing, the Earth has another important power: the power of people! People have the power to change, protect, innovate, and invent.
In this informational picture book, Debbie Levy and Alex Boersma paint an encouraging yet honest picture of the problems at hand and some of the ways that we can address them. Thanks to the power of nature and the ingenuity of people, change is in the air!

Debbie Levy is the award-winning author of many books of nonfiction and fiction, including the New York Times bestseller I Dissent, This Promise of Change, The Year of Goodbyes, and the young adult novel Imperfect Spiral. She lives in Maryland with her husband. They have two grown sons.

Debbie Levy's profile page

Alex Boersma is a scientific illustrator and designer based in Chicago, Illinois.

Alex Boersma's profile page

“[A] straightforward, kid-friendly look at climate change . . . hopeful and instructive.” —BCCB
“In this wonderfully encouraging primer on the power of determination and ingenuity to save our planet, Levy jumps right in, offering quick facts on carbon, carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, photosynthesis, and the greenhouse effect . . . With its realistic yet hopeful message, helpful facts, clear details on ways children can help the environment, and beautiful artwork, this will be a great addition to science shelves.” —Booklist
“Boersma's digitally colored drawings are attractive and detailed, showcasing city scenes, an underwater kelp forest, a mangrove swamp, a temperate woodland, and more, with a diverse human population. Levy's poetic text describes the carbon problem and ways to address it . . . A valuable introduction and, with its pleasing repetitions, a satisfying read-aloud.” —Kirkus Review
“[A] gentle and accessible introduction to climate change.” —Horn Book Magazine
“Powerful storytelling of a not-so-distant past.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on THIS PROMISE OF CHANGE
“[An] evocatively told, carefully researched memoir-in-verse.” —School Library Journal, starred review, on THIS PROMISE OF CHANGE
“[A] lively, inviting, and informative biography.” —Booklist, starred review, on I DISSENT
“Narrative nonfiction at its best, helping readers understand the impact of global warming or even simply wildlife from a unique perspective.” —School Library Journal on THE WHALE WHO SWAM THROUGH TIME