5 Minutes for Books — For Earth-Conscious Kids

by Jennifer Donovan

This is My Planet: The Kids’ Guide to Global Warming is the kind of book that calls to a child to flip through it. The red cover (and red pages with text boxes and pictures inside) are lively and fun. The information presented in a factual way includes an overview of our planet, how weather works, how changes in our climate affect the oceans and polar caps, and finally what we can do about it.

After reading it, my nine-year-old daughter went around switching off unneceplanet.jpgssary lights saying, “Global warming, Mom!” I was thinking more about the high cost of electricity, but whatever the motivation, this book is a good overview for kids age seven and up that feeds into the sense of responsibility for our earth that most of them seem to have.

The World Atlas for Young Explorers has what you have come to expect from a National Geographic book. The pictures are dramatic and evocative. The maps are detailed. The information is presented in a kid-friendly way, yet it’s comprehensive. In fact, when my daughter’s friend was over recently, she easily found some information for her fourth-graatlas.jpgde class project on Japan.

Another feature perfect for our tech-savvy kids of today is that the book gives web links throughout, all of which can be easily accessed via a special website for the atlas to provide more information, video, or even a fun game. The website can be searched by topic or by book page.

Remember last month when I said that if you are giving a gift, a big book makes more of an impact? National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers is a big book — 11 by 14 inches. This would be a great gift for kids aged eight and up.

Books make great last-minute gifts! If you’d like ideas for preschoolers, school-aged kids, men, or women, click the 5 Minutes for Books category below and browse some of the books we’ve featured over the last seven months.

We are giving away one of each of these books to a U.S. or Canadian reader. Please leave a comment, indicating your preference, if you’d like to win. We’ll post the winners next week in this column.

The winners of Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? (a great parenting book for school-aged children, regardless of your religion!) are

#29 Dodo O.
#20 Shari
#26 Kristine
#41 Kristen
#31 Taryn



Email Author    |    Website About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

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{ 88 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Tara Robertson December 17, 2007 at 12:29 am

either book would be great!

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2 Racheal December 17, 2007 at 8:18 am

Yes I agree.

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3 TheAngelForever
Twitter:
December 17, 2007 at 9:01 am

I would prefer the World Atlas, but agree that both look great.

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4 Mama Zen December 17, 2007 at 9:32 am

I would love to win This is my Planet!

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5 Caryn Bailey December 17, 2007 at 10:01 am

Wonderful way to teach children about the planet.

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6 Bebemiqui December 17, 2007 at 11:03 am

My kids would love the World Atlas. :0)

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7 jessie December 17, 2007 at 11:22 am

the World Atlas would be great- please enter me!

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8 Andrea December 17, 2007 at 1:12 pm

I’d love to win the World Atlas!

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9 Celeste December 17, 2007 at 1:34 pm

The World Atlas looks wonderful!

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10 Terri December 17, 2007 at 2:03 pm

I would love to win either!

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11 Naomi December 17, 2007 at 2:06 pm

I’d love either but leaning towards the Atlas!

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12 Tonya December 17, 2007 at 2:22 pm

We love to have the World Atlas.

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13 Michele December 17, 2007 at 2:24 pm

I would love to win the National Geographic World Atlas…it would be a great addition to our home library!

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14 Patti December 17, 2007 at 2:26 pm

I think they both looks great, but the world atlas is my choice!

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15 kristina jones December 17, 2007 at 2:35 pm

I think my son would like “this is my planet” but would be happy with either.

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16 Brooke December 17, 2007 at 2:38 pm

This is my Planet, but I’d take either.

Please randomly select me!

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17 Kristie Noguera December 17, 2007 at 2:40 pm

This is my planet.

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18 Angela December 17, 2007 at 2:44 pm

Defently the World book!!

I blogged you too :)
http://www.prizeatron.com

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19 fan December 17, 2007 at 2:46 pm

I would love the World Atlas, but both books would be great.

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20 Susanne December 17, 2007 at 2:58 pm

We would love the World Atlas…Thanks!!!

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21 Betsy December 17, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Either is just as good as the other.

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22 Bree December 17, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Either would be great, but we’d love the World Atlas!

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23 Michele December 17, 2007 at 3:45 pm

I would love the World Atlas for my nephews

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24 Cindi Hoppes December 17, 2007 at 3:57 pm

Hello, Please enter me in another one of your fantastic contests. I would be extremely tickled to win any of the books. Thank you…..Cindi

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25 LeeAnn Prescott December 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm

both of these books look great, especially the atlas!

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26 Andrea Ramjattan December 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm

This would be a great way to foster green living education in my children.

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27 jessica S. December 17, 2007 at 4:53 pm

my nephew would love the atlas

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28 Jill December 17, 2007 at 5:23 pm

As a graduate with a geography degree, I’d love to have the atlas for my kids.

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29 Tiffany December 17, 2007 at 5:46 pm

I would love the Global Warming one.

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30 maryt/theteach December 17, 2007 at 6:04 pm

Will you be doing “Tackle It Tuesday” for tomorrow?
I’ll be checking back…

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31 Janet Collier December 17, 2007 at 7:30 pm

The atlas would be just right.

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32 kelli December 17, 2007 at 7:38 pm

World Atlas, please!

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33 Ginny December 17, 2007 at 8:01 pm

This is my planet would be good, my daughter is learning in school about weather & the earth. This would make a great extra!

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34 dale lang December 17, 2007 at 8:48 pm

Either book would be great. :)

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35 dale lang December 17, 2007 at 8:49 pm

Yes Either one

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36 Kristen M. December 17, 2007 at 8:57 pm

I would love the atlas.

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37 Sheila December 17, 2007 at 9:07 pm

My children would love The World Atlas for Young Explorers!

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38 Meg December 17, 2007 at 9:11 pm

My kids would enjoy the world atlas!! Thank you!

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39 rachel December 17, 2007 at 9:24 pm

both books sound great! my homeschooling girls would love them!

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40 nickol delgado December 17, 2007 at 9:25 pm

GREAT BOOKS FOR MY SONS.PLEASE

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41 jenn kerr December 17, 2007 at 9:30 pm

National Geographic definately! It would be great to show kids where daddy is when he’s deployed!

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42 MamaBird December 17, 2007 at 9:59 pm

Both look grand.

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43 Breeni Books December 17, 2007 at 9:59 pm

Either would be great, but I think the Atlas is our best choice.

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44 Hollie P. December 17, 2007 at 10:07 pm

My daughter would love to have the book, “This is my Planet.”

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45 Barbara December 17, 2007 at 10:27 pm

world atlas

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46 Christi December 17, 2007 at 10:54 pm

Wow, I’d love to win the National Geographic book! My sons would pour over it, I’m sure!

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47 April December 17, 2007 at 11:12 pm

World Atlas…I have an 8 y/o daughter who is really into maps. Her dad’s atlas is a dinosaur and this would be so helpful.

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48 Amanda December 17, 2007 at 11:22 pm

We would love the World Atlas!

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49 Patricia Smith December 17, 2007 at 11:26 pm

my granddaughters would love World Atlas for Young Explorers

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50 Amy M December 17, 2007 at 11:46 pm

This is my Planet book would be so perfect for my nephew!
:)

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51 America December 18, 2007 at 12:36 am

The World Atlas for Young Explorers would be awesome for my nephew for his birthday, which is very soon after Christmas. I get him the “Big Backyard” from NWF every year for Christmas so this would be awesome as an add on.

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52 Qtpies7 December 18, 2007 at 12:38 am

I would like to win the World Atlas. We’d love that here.

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53 brandy w December 18, 2007 at 7:33 am

either book would be fine. i like the atlas more. my husband is in college to be a scientist. i think he would enjoy reading these books with our kids

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54 Karen Matlock December 18, 2007 at 8:43 am

please enter me!

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55 Taryn December 18, 2007 at 8:50 am

This is my Planet for us please!

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56 Wendy December 18, 2007 at 8:52 am

I would prefer the atlas book:)

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57 Grandma Ma December 18, 2007 at 11:54 am

I think the World Atlas would provide an exciting geographical exploration.

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58 Mattie December 18, 2007 at 12:01 pm

I’d love to win the World Atlas for Young Explorers!

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59 Nancy December 18, 2007 at 12:35 pm

Hi! You are very pretty, AND my boys would go ape over the atlas.

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60 Kathy Conley December 18, 2007 at 3:28 pm

The World Atlas for Young Explorers is my pick!

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61 Becca December 18, 2007 at 8:39 pm

My husband LOVES maps. I know he’d love to share that with our daughter with the World Atlas.

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62 melody is slurping life December 18, 2007 at 9:02 pm

Please enter me for either book, please.

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63 Paula McClement December 18, 2007 at 9:54 pm

I’d love to have either one of the books.

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64 Jill T. (The Well-Read Child) December 18, 2007 at 10:30 pm

The World Atlas would be a perfect gift for a little explorer in my life.

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65 MArcie December 18, 2007 at 11:52 pm

we’d love this is my planet if we win! :)

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66 jenna December 18, 2007 at 11:55 pm

Either book would be great for our home. Thanks, as always, for the giveaway!

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67 Holly Henderson December 19, 2007 at 10:01 am

atlas please!

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68 Cynthia Shern December 19, 2007 at 1:33 pm

I am forever looking for books that help me discuss REAL topics with my grandchildren. This book it right up my alley! Thanks for sponsoring this type of giveaway. Count me in.

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69 Amy Allen December 19, 2007 at 3:32 pm

I’d love either!

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70 Tori at Punkin Pockets December 19, 2007 at 8:28 pm

This is My Planet sounds perfect for my 9 year-old step-daughter! Thanks!

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71 go natural baby December 20, 2007 at 3:00 am

I love giving books as gifts and the Atlas is a great way to get young children to connect with the idea that the world is large with many people and cultures.

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72 John MacDonald December 20, 2007 at 10:17 am

Pleae enter me – both books are important for children

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73 Anita Yancey December 20, 2007 at 12:21 pm

I would like the World Atlas. so neat!

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74 Laura December 20, 2007 at 4:47 pm
75 Krista December 21, 2007 at 3:32 am

My daughters would love the World Atlas for young explorers. They dream of traveling the world together, and I’m for anything that helps to further ignite their passion for wayward wanderings.

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76 David R December 21, 2007 at 5:48 pm

The World Atlas for Young Explorers Please!

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77 Janine December 22, 2007 at 2:09 am

5 Minutes for Books–Intimate Marriage and Confident Parenting

I would love to have this one! :)

Jim Burns is the bomb!

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78 kelly crocker December 22, 2007 at 5:33 am

Oh I would love this,my daughter thats 10 is trying to save the earth,my doing her part,this would give her more ideas.GREAT BOOK

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79 picklemommy December 22, 2007 at 7:08 am

Ooh! Just my son’s sort of thing– the World Atlas, please.

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80 LaTara Ham-Ying December 22, 2007 at 11:49 am

Would love to win either

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81 Linda SS December 22, 2007 at 6:18 pm

Either book would be an excellent opportunity for learning for my young grandchildren.

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82 Callista December 22, 2007 at 8:18 pm

I would prefer the world atlas!

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83 Jen Tarnowski December 22, 2007 at 10:00 pm

What cool books – either I would love to win! Thanks for including my entry!

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84 Nina December 22, 2007 at 11:18 pm

I’d love to win this…thanks!

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85 kathy pease December 23, 2007 at 11:59 am

peace :)

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86 Heather C December 23, 2007 at 1:31 pm

I’d love The World Atlas for Young Explorers. My little explorer would soak it in like a sponge.

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87 Jennifer December 23, 2007 at 4:59 pm

What great books!

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88 kitty December 23, 2007 at 11:56 pm

Great giveaway.

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