Despite the name, this book is not a biography of sixteen-year- old climate activist Greta Thunberg. Instead, it uses the inspiration provided by Thunberg’s example of people-power to educate young people about the climate science behind her arguments for immediate global action.

There are short chapters on the problems with fossil fuels, plastics, and waste, interspersed with chapters on renewable energy, biodiversity and eating to help the planet. Quotes from Thunberg and other key figures in the climate movement, as well as statistics from the latest IPCC Report, are scattered through the text. Sometimes the text uses sophisticated language that may intimidate young readers, but overall this is a good summary of the main contributors to climate change and alternative energy sources.

Translated from the Italian, this introduction to the climate crisis is aimed at readers aged 10–110. It encourages readers to make a difference through their own small actions, like Greta Thunberg does, that can make big differences to the planet.

Angela Crocombe is the manager of Readings Kids.