Renewable Energy

May 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Owing to an overreliance on fossil fuels, the need for renewable energy has become urgent. Examining the benefits and trade-offs of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, wave, and biofuel energy, this work offers information and hands-on projects. A "PS" icon (primary source) is used to indicate online resources that may be accessed through a QR code. Although these electronic materials may be helpful for additional information, they are useful only for students with smartphones or tablets. A few activity ideas to help readers further understand the concepts end each section. Some of the experiments require materials that are not easily obtainable, such as beeswax candles or heat-proof glass beakers, and the instructions are often not clear enough for younger students. With adult supervision and input, some of the activities could be appropriate for science fair or classroom projects. The illustrations, done in primary colors, help to visualize the concepts presented. VERDICT A useful addition for larger collections with students studying renewable energy sources.-Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2016
Grades 4-8 The amazing potential of the resources all around usthey often come in the form of sunshine, wind, and geothermal heattake center stage in this project-based STEAM resource from the Build it Yourself series. The book is an exciting read, not just because of the future potential for alternative energy sources, but also because of the existent, real-world success stories of wind farms, hydroelectric dams, and solar panels. Potential career paths for future scientists are discussed, while easy experiments encourage reflection about readers' own consumption of energy and the size of their carbon footprints. Designed to engage, the book presents the advantages and disadvantages of a host of different energy sources and asks readers to weigh evidence and make informed decisions about which source might be best. Links to online sources couple with essential questions and writing prompts about a range of interdisciplinary topics to make this book a quality choice for both the classroom and pleasure reading.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)