All the Feelings Under the Sun

January 1, 2022

Gr 5-9-A cross between an emotional support workbook and a climate change science primer. Illustrations or graphs on nearly every page make this an accessible title for upper middle graders and middle schoolers. Each chapter (for instance, "Practicing Eco-Justice," "Everything Is Connected") presents activities, such as conducting meditation exercises and making lists and notes for oneself. Students are encouraged to reflect on a variety of aspects of climate change. There are also pages devoted to introducing youth activists who are making a difference in their communities. For students interested in environmental issues and climate change, as well as the emotions that these topics stir up, this may be just the book they need. Some of the exercises included are aimed at helping kids reflect on grief, gratitude, and empathy; they also encourage kids to pause to reflect, breathe, and spend time outdoors. Back matter includes a glossary and notes for educators, parents, and caregivers. VERDICT Taking on everything from bees to disease to emotions, this workbook is a general purchase where patron interest in climate change activism is strong. Educators may find it useful for classroom learning and discussions.-Linda Annable

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2021
Learning about climate change can arouse all kinds of feelings, but there are ways to cope with them and to use them productively. A therapist experienced in the field of climate psychology offers tween and teen readers a combination of climate change facts and coping tools. She provides solid information about what we now know about climate change, its causes and consequences, and how we've learned that, interspersing her explanations with self-help suggestions. She encourages readers to identify their own values, think about how these values can help them face the challenges of a changing world, and develop their own climate action plan. Each of the five chapters includes one or more examples of a teen or teen group that has been active in a variety of climate issues. Each includes numerous exercises designed to help kids recognize their feelings and "build emotional resilience"; these include rating the strengths of their feelings, creating snow globe-like "mindfulness jars," and civic engagement. Concepts like eco-grief, systemic racism, negativity bias, and window of tolerance are set in boldface and defined both in context and in a helpful glossary, but there's no index. The writer's assumption is that learning about climate change might make her readers feel frightened, sad, nervous, or angry and that climate injustice is unfair. She encourages them to recognize and act on these feelings, but she does not acknowledge that they might encounter people who disagree with them. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An interesting and unusual approach to eco-awareness for tweens and teens. (note for caregivers, directory of climate-aware therapists, acknowledgments, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 11-16)

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