This book offers a solid and accessible introduction to the topic of heat waves, making it a valuable resource for young readers beginning to learn about extreme weather events. It explains what heat waves are, how they affect people and the environment, and what can be done to stay safe during extreme heat. The writing is clear and age-appropriate, and the visuals help break down key ideas in a way that is easy to understand.

The organization of the book and the use of visuals throughout make it easy to read and engaging. Further, the timeline, glossary, and discussion questions at the back of the book are excellent additions for both classroom and independent readers.

While the book is informative overall, there are a few areas that, I, as someone who works in this area, believe could be improved. For example, this book doesn’t clearly distinguish between weather and climate, an important concept that would help students better understand how heat waves fit into broader environmental patterns. Additionally, some of the graphics used, while eye-catching and thematically appropriate, didn’t seem to make sense given who I believe is the intended audience of this text., For instance, one graphic depicts temperatures in Celsius while another includes a pamphlet written in French. While these elements aren’t issues on their own, they could be confusing or make some information less accessible for what I think is intended for children in the U.S.

Additionally, although I realize this may be a strong critique for a book aimed at younger readers, I do feel it’s important to note that the role of institutions in contributing to the harms associated with heat waves is somewhat downplayed, while their role of governments in responding to these events is at times overemphasized (For the examples from the U.S.). At times, the book places more focus on institutional responses than on their responsibility for underlying vulnerabilities. To its credit, the book acknowledges that the impacts of heat waves vary across age groups, countries, and income levels, an important inclusion. However, it often overlooks deeper social and structural factors. For instance, the vignette on the 1995 Chicago heat wave makes no mention of race, despite the well-documented role that racialized inequities played in shaping who was most affected. While some may argue that topics like systemic injustice or institutional accountability are too complex for younger readers, the book does address other serious outcomes like death and displacement, making it all the more important not to sidestep the social conditions that produce them.

That said, despite being made for a much younger audience, I genuinely think some of the overview information would be a good starting place for anyone wanting to learn about the topic, including some of my intro-level college students.

Thank you to NetGalley, North Star Editions, and Apex for the advanced copy for review. Opinions are my own.