Three primary sources were used to find nonfiction books with information about energy, its importance to societies, and its impact on the environment. They are:
After review, a few books that are not on the lists above were included to fill in gaps and make this PreK-12 bibliography more balanced and comprehensive. Books are organized by level in the section corresponding to the lowest grades for which they are appropriate, and some may be useful for students in grades higher than the section title indicates. Many of the books are out-of-print and available only through libraries. This bibliography is not exhaustive, and we hope that it will change and grow as additional information books on energy and environmental issues are discovered or published. If you find other examples of nonfiction that are appropriate for energy and environmental education, please send title, author, and publication information for each to us by e-mail.
Pre-School and Lower Elementary Grades
Bushey, Jerry. Monster Trucks and Other Giant Machines on Wheels. Carolrhoda, 1985. Colorful illustrations and lively narration introduce children to information about sizes, costs, and the uses of 12 giant machines. PreK-3.
Berger, Melvin. Switch On, Switch Off. Crowell, 1989. Following electrical current from generator to wall switch, this book introduces young readers to facts and energy dynamics that demystify the workings of electricity. K-3.
Cochrane, Jennifer. Plant Ecology. Bookwright Press, 1987. This books discuses energy, food, habitat, plant and animal coexistence, and it includes experiments that reinforce the text. K-5.
Dorros, Arthur. Feel the Wind. Crowell, 1989. Simple explanations and illustrations show the motion of the air and the causes, power, effects, and uses of wind energy. K-3.
Gibbons, Gail. Recycle! A Handbook for Kids. Little, Brown, 1992. This how-to book follows various materials as they are recycled and make the transition from trash to useful products. K-5.
Gordon, Maria. Push and Pull. Thomson Learning, 1995. Hands-on, feet-on experiments put principles of force, motion, and energy into action. PreK-2.
Jackman, Wayne. Gas. Thomson Learning, 1993. Readers learn how gas is formed, obtained, processed, and used as energy, chemicals, and plastics. The book includes sections on effects of gas on the environment, gas safety, and projects that create awareness of gases in the air. 2-5.
McKie, Robin. Science Frontiers: Energy. Hampstead, 1989. Diagrams, photographs, and text define energy science, describe how energy sources are found, and explore new technologies for producing power. K-6.
Peacock, Graham. Electricity. Thomson Learning, 1993. This book shows how electricity is made, supplied, and applied as energy; explores renewable and non-renewable sources of electricity; and includes simple projects with electricity. 2-5.
Rand, Gloria. Illustrated by Ted Rand. Prince William. This story is about one of the seals rescued after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It includes detailed watercolors that add information about volunteers' work to save animals. PreK-5.
Intermediate Elementary
Baines, John. Environmental Disasters. Thomson Learning, 1993. This photographic documentary presents eyewitness accounts and information on effects of environmental disasters around the world, most resulting from human efforts to produce energy, that are vital components of energy education and warning signals to an energy-hungry world. 4-6.
Bennett, Paul. Earth: The Incredible Recycling Machine. Thomson Learning, 1993. This book shows how Earth's life-giving resources (water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous) are naturally recycled, how human activities disrupt these cycles, and how energy conservation and recycling can slow down destruction of the Earth ecosystem. 3-6.
Carr, Terry. Spill! The Story of the Exxon Valdez. Franklin Watts, 1991. This book documents and illustrates the environmental costs of the 1989 oil disaster. 3-6.
Coombs, Karen. Illustrated by Jerry Boucher. Flush: Treating Wastewater. Carolrhoda, 1995. This trip down the drain and through wastewater treatment shows readers the energy intensive processes required to use and recycle this precious resource. 3-6.
Dunn, Andrew. Heat. Thomson Learning, 1993. Heat energy and dynamics are thoroughly explained through real-life examples and cut-away pictures that show how heat affects molecules, moves (by radiation, conduction, convection), and makes things like thermometers, refrigerators, and solar heaters work. 3-6.
Dunn, Andrew. It's Electric. Thomson Learning, 1993. Clear explanations and illustrations introduce the scientific principles that make electricity work, differences between static electricity and electric current, and the inner workings of electric circuits, batteries, magnets, motors, and generators. 3-7.
Haslam, Andrew. Electricity. Thomson Learning, 1992. Learning is accomplished by doing in this book of hands-on activities and easy-to-understand information about electricity and magnetism. Illustrating the principles in It's Electric by Dunn, some of the activities and experiments are appropriate for younger children as well. 3-7.
Jacobs, Una. Sun Calendar. Silver Burdett, 1986. Lively illustrations and a detailed text explain the importance of sunlight as a source of energy governing the life patterns of insects and other animals, including people. 3-7.
Lewington, Anna. Illustrated by Edward Parker. Antonio's Rainforest. Carolrhoda, 1993. Through eight-year-old Antonio's eyes, readers see the needs and processes that sacrifice the Brazilian rain forest to produce rubber. 3-8.
Markle, Sandra. Science to the Rescue. Atheneum, 1994. Young readers are challenged to become scientists in hands-on activities and independent projects that relate to global and personal problems with scientific solutions. 3-8.
McVey, Vicki. Illustrated by Martha Weston. The Sierra Club Kid's Guide to Planet Care and Repair. This book is a guide to repairing the damage that energy use and pollution have had on Earth's delicately balanced energy system. 4-8.
Pringle, Laurence. Oil Spills: Damage, Recovery, and Prevention. Morrow, 1993. Readers come to grips with the importance of petroleum as an energy source in our society and with the devastating, far-reaching effects of oil spills. 3-6.
Pringle, Laurence. Rain of Troubles: Science, Politics of Acid Rain. This dramatic story describes damages to wildlilfe and the environment that continue while corrective measures are delayed due to other priorities in science, technology, government, and industry. 3-5.
Smith, Roland. Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill. Cobblehill, 1990. A research biologist involved in the cleanup of the 1989 oil spill in Alaska provides details and photographs that detail rescue operations and the life of sea otters. 4-7.
Water, John. Deep-Sea Vents: Living Worlds Without Sun. Cobblehill, 1994. In the depths of the ocean, life -forms give readers scientific insights into organisms that can use geothermal energy instead of the sun's energy to survive. 4-7.
Wellington, Jerry. The Super Science Book of Energy. Thomson Learning, 1994. From food to fossil fuels and beyond, this overview of energy forms, sources, and conversions shows scientific, social, and geographic aspects of energy consumption and the needs for energy conservation. 3-6.
Middle and High School
Condon, Judith. Recycling Glass. Watts, 1991. Environmental problems resulting from the disposal of glass products are discussed, and the energy savings and economics of recycling are investigated. 6-8.
Foley, Gerald. The Energy Question. Penguin, 1987. This book explains that harnessing energy in its different forms has driven and unified human understanding of the separate disciplines in science, explores the importance of energy to societies, and details the physics, chemistry, and mechanics of the energy balance that sustains life on Earth. 9-12.
Hazen, Robert. The Breakthrough: The Race for the Superconductor. Ballantine, 1989. Suspense and adventure sweep readers into the frenzy created by groups of scientists racing to develop a practical superconductor that would revolutionize the electronics industry. 9-12.
Johnson, Rebecca. Investigating the Ozone Hole. Lerner, 1993. Crisp descriptions of ozone research in Antarctica leads to profiles of how scientists work and explanations of the destructive effects of chlorofluoorocarbons on the Earth's energy systems. 7-12.
Johnstone, Hugh. Facts on Domestic Waste and Industrial Pollution. Franklin Watts, 1990. The growing problem and energy expenditures of waste disposal are examined, and alternatives to land fills and garbage dumps are explored. 6-12.
Mariner, James. Understanding Ecology. Independent School Press, 1975. This book introduces readers to ecology, the web of life, energy in the ecosystem, population ecology, and community dynamics. 6-9.
Math, Irwin. Wires and Watts: Understanding and Using Electricity. Macmillan, 1988. Electricity and magnetism are explained and put into the hands of students with projects designed to produce working models. 6-12.
Palmer, Joy. Recycling Metal. Watts, 1990. Environmental problems associated with the manufacturing and disposal of metal are explored, and the energy savings and economics of recycling are discussed. 9-12. (See also Recycling Plastic by the same author.)
Pringle, Laurence. Chains, Webs, Pyramids, Flow of Energy in Nature. Macmillan, 1975. Narrative text and excellent diagrams explain the flow of energy in nature and the delicate balance that maintains Earth's energy systems. 6-8.
Pringle, Laurence. Global Warming: Assessing the Green House Threat. Arcade Publishing, 1990. Atmospheric effects of activity on Earth are examined to explore the greenhouse effectand humanity's contributions to global warming.
Pringle, Laurence. Nuclear Energy: Troubled Past, Uncertain Future. Macmillan, 1989. This in-depth study of the nuclear energy industry surveys new technologies and safety features as well as the causes and results of accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. 6-8.
Student Environmental Action Coalition. Student Environmental Action Guide. Earth Works Press, 1991. This guide was written by college students to inspire younger students and communities with chapters that begin with a problem, present relevant facts, offer suggestions, and describe at least one solution developed by a student group. 9-12.