"Human beings are an amazingly inventive species in creating technologies that have taken us far beyond planetary boundaries that constrain all other animals. Whether it's very powerful innovations like pesticides, antibiotics or combustion engines, we fail to consider the long-term ramifications of our enterprises in a world where everything is interconnected. Plastics are a classic example, created by chemists from complex molecules of life in fossil fuels, applied in so many useful ways but ignoring what happens when the products are discarded as waste on such a scale that we have a gargantuan problem. The story of plastic is a cautionary tale about every aspect of the way we are living in the Anthropocene." -- David Suzuki The shocking truth of plastic's impact on our planet -- and what we can do about it. The data is in and it's bad. We create and throw away too much plastic, and it is killing our planet. However, too many people have very little idea about just how far this problem reaches, and those who do know feel helpless with the enormity of the task at hand. To fill this void and provide some hope is Rachel Salt's simple and transformative book, The Plastic Problem . As a producer for the award-winning and wildly popular YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE, Salt is accustomed to taking big, complicated concepts and translating them into entertaining and easy-to-understand segments. She applies the same methodology to The Plastic Problem . The result is a critically important book that will change the lives of those who read it. Never before has the problem been presented in such an impactful way. Readers of any age will emerge from this book with a thorough understanding of the problem, its individual and global impacts, and -- most importantly -- hope for the future. In 18 bite-sized chapters, Salt walks readers through the invention and globalized creation of plastic, its impacts and uses in our day-today lives, and its importance to the larger global economy. She then examines the how and why of what makes plastic so harmful to our planet and, just in case there was any doubt, Salt reinforces this danger by providing chapters on the planet-choking results of our plastic habit -- including the fact that there is almost certainly, plastic floating inside each and every person in the world. Salt finishes this vital book with a message of hope. All is not lost. We can make changes -- both at home and on a global scale. Big changes are already happening. If you want to be an actor and help change the future, The Plastic Problem is the best place to start. " Plastic kills. Breaking our plastic addiction is a matter of survival for humans and it impacts every creature on Earth to the deepest part of the ocean. With clear, concise prose and illustrations, The Plastic Problem navigates a way through this plastic mess we've found ourselves in." -- Erich Hoyt, author of Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises , Orca: The Whale Called Killer and Creatures of the Deep ; Research Fellow, Whale and Dolphin Conservation; Co-chair, IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force This information-packed title capably steers the reader through the complicated steps involved in the manufacture of plastic and its subsequent impact on the environment... The complex information is capably broken down into 18 logical, easily absorbed, concise chapters. The book's attractive appearance is enhanced by user-friendly charts and sidebars with ample photos and drawings... This is an excellent resource brimming with facts, containing an upbeat message to encourage readers to become proactive in the protection of our fragile planet. -- Aileen Wortley ― Canadian Childrens Book News Published On: 2019-12-01 This is a highly recommended book that is a must for students interested in cleaning up the environment and contributing to a solution for global warming. -- Helen Mason ― Resource Links Published On: 2019-12-01 This picture book surveys the global issues of plastic production and use, considering its role in various economies around the world, what makes it harmful to the environment, and how to deal with the problem on various levels, both at home and globally. -- Diane C. Donovan ― Donovan's Literary Services Published On: 2020-02-01 A wonderful, relevant, and needed resource for both home and schools. Highly Recommended. -- Dawn Opheim ― Canadian Review of Materials Published On: 2020-02-28 Educational, fun... Can serve as leisure choices as well as introductory study guides. ― Midwest Book Review Published On: 2020-03-01 This nonfiction book for middle graders covers everything from how plastic is made to its environmental impacts. The "plastic problem" itself is a big sticky one, but this well-organized and concise approach makes the topic digestible... A well-paced, current look at a major global issue with high visual interest and reader appeal. ― Kirkus Published On: