Thanks to NetGalley for access to this one. This was interesting. I felt there was a lot going on each page and it was hard to focus on- but I know there will be people out there very interested in this one! It just wasn’t for me.

Alongside fun and detailed illustrations, Ultrawild packs in a lot of information. I thought the cut-away illustrations were particularly cool, showing the inner workings of a variety of contraptions. I also appreciated the amount of background information included around the different concepts/proposed solutions, like the types of animals alive thousands of years ago and how they would have changed or impacted the environment. There are some pretty wacky ideas in here, but grounded in actual real-world needs. I also found this especially poignant given the current focus on AI, with Mushin emphasizing the need for creative thinking and experimentation as a way to come up with unexpected solutions. While some of the content is a little farfetched to me, I do think it's important to think outside of the box and consider any useful approach. Mushin's style reminds me of illustrated dictionaries and how-to books I read and loved as a kid, and this feels like a continuation of that geared towards an older audience, and involving many interwoven ideas.

How do we reverse climate change? With the trajectory humans are on, we would need to do something drastic...really drastic. Mushin whips up some off-the-wall ideas for how to rewild cities and make them thriving ecosystems for humans, plants, and animals, including elaborate illustrations and extensive math to back up his ideas. The ideas in this book aren't meant to be practical or doable, but Mushin makes a compelling case for the importance of out of the box thinking, and doesn't hold himself back from elaborating on wild ideas. The result is a compelling, funny, dense, and inspiring read. My one complaint is the density of text and formatting make it challenging to read in a digital version.

This was a very informative book that made learning fun and accessible for all ages. I would definitely recommend this for more advanced readers as there is a lot of writing on each page that could be overwhelming for younger or less experienced kiddos but overall, an immersive read.

An absolutely stellar book that champions environmental awareness. This whole book is incredibly educational and inspirational. My first thought when I started it was, “Omg, I might have missed my calling in life as an environmental engineer.”

And there are no words for how much I loved the quirky, whimsical, and downright bonkers art in this book! Even the color themes are an aesthetic delight.

Great art and great science. It's all presented in a way that is fun and accessible and so, so inspirational (although there are some hard truths in here, as well).

This is hands down the best environmental science book that I have had the pleasure of reading. It was so impactful that I even got teary eyed at one point.

Perfect for all ages.

This was an interesting read -- I loved the different ideas that were in there and I enjoyed the illustrations. I think what was hard for me was how small the text was. I think either having less words or a slightly different format for them would be super helpful in this case.

This book was so fun and (dare I say) wild! Truly wild ideas and I was impressed with the amount of research the author had done. I feel like I learned a lot about the various aspects of climate change and species loss that we face as well as ideas that would lead to potential solutions. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in climate change and climate change solutions as well as entrepreneurship or engineering (but also to anyone who lives in the world that we live in since we're all facing the same problems of climate change and the associated consequences). Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book to read!

4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Graphic Universe for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ultrawild is an incredibly creative, optimistic, and passionate plan to rewild the planet and reverse climate change. The art and designs are super fun and colorful, and there's a ton of real science that is written in a way that children could easily understand. This is definitely the exact kind of book I would have carried around in my backpack for an entire school year back in middle school. I also love how much this book encourages kids to expand on these ideas and explore their own creativity!

Steve Mushin’s Ultrawild is a bold, imaginative vision of rewilding cities through inventive, scientifically plausible solutions. Packed with humor and cutting-edge ideas—from habitat-printing robot birds to compost cannons—this book challenges readers to rethink urban landscapes. With intricate illustrations and a passion for STEM, Mushin inspires creativity while tackling climate change head-on. A must-read for anyone passionate about a greener, wilder future.

Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group and Steve Mushin for the eARC!