Wind Energy (Fueling the Future)

Description

What is a wind turbine? Where does wind energy work best? What are the limitations of wind energy? 'Fueling the Future' asks the questions that young people want answered. Each chapter contains a different question, so readers can develop their knowledge.

Elizabeth Raum has written over two-dozen nonfiction books for young readers, including a biography of Louis Armstrong for Capstone Press. Over the years, she has worked as a middle school and high school English teacher, an elementary school librarian, and a college library director. Elizabeth Raum has written many nonfiction books for children. Two of her Capstone You Choose books, Orphan Trains: An Interactive History Adventure (2011) and Can You Survive Storm Chasing? (2012), are Junior Library Guild selections. Elizabeth lives in Michigan with her husband, Richard.

An introduction to wind energy that describes a wind farm, discusses its benefits and problems, examines wave energy, and provides a related map and time line. Innovations and future predictions for the world energy crisis with global environmental change demands the development of alternative forms of energy production, and it presents several options. Accompanied by simple diagrams and photographs, the texts convey basic scientific concepts underlying these alternative sources. The pros and cons, facts and figures are adequate; however, more complete descriptions would have improved the usefulness of the series. Graphs, insets, reading list, timeline, websites. Includes bibliographical references and index. Recommended--Gayle Benage, Librarian, Austin Middle School Irving ISD Learning Resources 9/16/2009-- "Irving ISD Learning Resources" Fueling the Future series makes a serious introduction at a middle primary level to this current topic. This review covers four of the five books in the series: Water and Geothermal Energy; Solar Energy; Nuclear Energy; and Fossil Fuels and Biofuels. The layout and design of the book finds a good middle ground between not being too much eye candy and not being overwhelming with large expanses of text. Color is expertly and pleasing used and the photos, drawings and diagrams draw the readers into the pages. The science is up to date and of sufficient depth for this level. Each book covers the pros and cons of its featured energy source and has a look to the future at the end. Each book has a table of contents, map, timeline, glossary, further sources and web sources, and an index. This series makes what could be a dull topic interesting and exciting for middle primary students. Recommended--Barbara Reed, Library Media Specialist, Sherrod School Arlington Independent School District4/22/2009-- "Arlington Independent School District" These clear introductions combine straightforward text with well-designed diagrams to help explain topics such as the workings of wind turbines, hydrogen fuel cells, and nuclear power plants. Although some overlap of subject matter and illustrations exists (notably the same diagram of the greenhouse effect in four books), there is enough unique information in each volume to attract general readers as well as report writers. The authors discuss current practices and future developments and provide a balanced comparison of advantages and drawbacks of using the energy source.Each book includes a time line of significant events related to the development and use of the fuel. If buying a series on various energy sources, first consider Fueling the Future. Recommended--School Library Journal-- "School Library Journal"