THE WONDROUS WORKINGS OF PLANET EARTH

From microscopic organisms to apex predators, all life relies on Earth’s rich resources.

In this scientific exploration of the world, Ignotofsky (Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win, 2017, etc.) shows how living things interact with one another. The first part of the book covers concepts such as ecological organization, preparing readers to embark on an adventure from continent to continent. Every continent features a selection of specific ecosystems—North America’s redwood forests and mangrove swamps, for example—and highlights how each one benefits the world at large as well as what threats they face from human influence. After the world tour, Ignotofsky moves on to the cycles of nature and how humans interact with the environment. Although the book stresses the serious threats the environment faces, the tone encourages further education and action to help slow the destruction caused by climate change. Labeled, full-page illustrations sit side by side with the text, inviting readers to stop and explore. Diverse humans appear throughout the book, but while only showing up in a single instance, the depiction of a Native American scientist looks stereotypical despite the lab coat due to a long black braid; furthermore, what could be seen as a stylized cheekbone might well strike other readers as war paint. The text is divided into sections that make the book an accessible learning tool. Even with the distinct sections, however, Ignotofsky always returns to the larger theme of a connected world.

More than informative, this ecological adventure calls for action.