My friends from ClimateChangeEducation.org has published a significant NEW resource.


The ClimateChangeEducation.org is highlighting the many flawed global warming and climate change demos, which is causing confusion.
Which can be trusted to show the facts, and which should be avoided.

Happy reading.

Flemming Bermann

Just a brief entry to wish everyone who reads this BLOG a very Happy New Year!
Especially to all those who were kind enough to purchase by book "Global Warming for Young Minds" in 2011 - your support and interest in this important subject is much appreciated.

Just read something sad and amazing news story. BBC has shown the frozen planet series here in the autumn. The final episode covered global warming and the fact that the frozen poles are shrinking fast, threatening rising sea levels and other calamities in the process. This final episode was not, despite all the previous episodes were, NOT shown in US television. Perhaps too strong for the American people, who I thought were made of sturdier stuff and could handle the truth? I'll let you be the judge.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/12/once_again_i_am_embarrassed_to.php
http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/bbc-television-episode-reporting-climate-change-wont-be-shown-in-the-u-s/

Finally, look our for "Evolution for Young Minds", my latest book is now expected to launch in January 2011.
Have a wonderful time.

Flemming Bermann

Had some exciting news today. "Global Warming for young minds   more »

Hi,

It seems such a long time since I last wrote on the blog. Have been busy though, so I guess this is my obvious excuse for not putting 'pen to paper' or 'finger to keyboard'.

"Evolution for Young Minds" has just started the publication phase. Very exciting because this will be my 2nd book. I never thought I would write one, let alone two, so this is again a very exciting time.

Evolution and natural selection have been pet topics of mine for many years, and Evolution will therefore become the 2nd book in the Young Minds series of children's books. The difficulty is naturally to explain the wonders of the natural world to young children in a way that draws them in and make them take note. Quite difficult in this time and age with competition from fast flowing entertainment and media devices such as Nintendo DS and the Internet.

I hope you have a wonderful summer. Pop back soon and read more about the publication process and when the release date might be for 'Evolution for Young Minds'.

Summer 2011

Something strange happened today.

My cat, a black female, turned her nose up at a piece of fresh fish. And moments later, she was eating a slice of honey melon from my plate. I wonder if she is turning into a vegetarian?!

Do you have any strange cat stories? Please share.

Wow! The Children's Book Expo in Bologna, Italy appears to have gone well. Two European publishing houses have asked to receive a physical copy of 'Global Warming for Young Minds', the only book to receive two requests. So now I am waiting for my publisher to do the follow up and hopefully it may lead to something exciting!

What a spring! When I came to England 20 years ago, April was always the month of April showers, in other words lots of rain and constantly changing weather. In the last 4 years this pattern appears to have changed completely. For some reason April is now one of the driest and hottest months of the year. So much in fact that our family has started taking about taking our main holiday in April because of the weather. We have almost come to expect the opposite of what we expected 20 years ago. Crazy or what.

Well we might as well enjoy it. It is certainly good for the vegetable garden, peas and other 'goodies' are pushing their way out of the soil at record speed. As long as I remember to water it all at least once a day!

Flemming, spring 2011

Dear reader,

"Global Warming for Young Minds" is getting ready for the Children's Book Expo in Bologna. Would have loved to visit the book fair, but time and money does not allow such extravaganza. Maybe next time. Obviously hoping for some positive feedback.

Have started to think about a new book. Will most likely end up being another science story - for Young Minds.

I simply love the idea of introducing children to the wonders of the natural world. There are so many topics, it is actually quite difficult to choose.

However, I remain convinced that if we are to preserve earth for future generations, we need these future generations to take an interest in the planet, connect with the natural world and marvel of its complexity, beauty and diversity.

Also, I want to point out that Carbon-info.org has released a new Car Buyer's Guide, which may be of interest.
http://www.carbon-info.org/car_buyers_guide/car_buyers_guide.htm

Flemming (Nearly spring 2011)

Happy New Year to everyone. Hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends.

2011 is shaping up to be an exciting one. I have just signed up for 48th Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Bologna, Italy, March 28-31 2011. Hope the Italians like 'Global Warming for Young Minds'?!

If you don't mind, I will just get on my soap box. I am getting so tired of listening to politicians, who continue to claim that as long as we keep world temperatures below 2 degrees then everything will be okay. This is a little like asking a super tanker, traveling at 50 nautical miles and without breaks, to stop dead at the next red light it comes across. Utter nonsense!

I am off the soap box again!

Enjoy a wonderful winter.

Flemming Bermann

This week I was lucky enough to visit another Hampshire primary school to speak about global warming, climate change and sustainability to year 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The children were very interested indeed and listened carefully for a full 45 minutes while I read to them from Global Warming for Young Minds. This lead to some great questions and answers. One boy wanted to know why there was no atmosphere on the moon. While slightly off topic, this was a great question and one I just managed to answer!

When asked who can help avoid too much CO2 getting into the atmosphere, one young mind suggested scientists, while another explained that the Government could tell companies not to let out too much CO2.

Such great knowledge and understanding bodes well for the future, when these youngsters grow up and become adults, who have to make important choices about how to live their lives. Hopefully this will be sensible and sustainable choices because they understand they have a direct impact on the planet.

What a great day out! 

Went to a local primary school - Woodhill in Botley - just down the road. The kids were fantastic, and they loved that I read for them. The book: Global Warming for Young Minds.

There was also time to help them officially open their new playground. The local newspaper was there, so with a little luck the school will get a well deserved boost.

I was happy to note that in particular the older kids knew a lot about global warming and recycling already. I think there is great hope for the future - though telling kids to recycle is only one small piece of a very large and complex jigsaw.

Big thank you to the staff and children, who made me feel very welcome.

I am so pleased! Have finally managed to find time to create a NEW look website.
As always any feedback is most welcome. I think it looks great, and is a lot more focused than the old one.

If interested, this is the place to go: Link

Flemming (Sleepy, but happy!)

I have just entered "Global Warming for Young Minds" into a Literary Awards competition. The Awards are run by Reader Views, a US organisation providing marketing and exposure to fledgling authors in the US and UK primarily.
Will unfortunately not know anything before March next year - a log time to wait.

Have just realised that we have Codling moths in our pear trees. We have lost about 75% of the fruit to this little pest! I guess this is the price we pay for being organic i.e. anti spraying with chemicals. Any advise on how to get rid of Codling moths?

Flemming

How you may ask?

Well, I have just 'enrolled' by book for the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF), which will take place from 6 to 10 October. (Argentina is the Guest of Honour!)

Considered one of the most important publishing events, FBF attracts more than 7,300 exhibitors from 100 countries each year, over 14,000 scouts and agents and around 180,000 trade visitors alone. The world’s largest book fair is the place to preview new books, promote one’s publishing products and trade rights and licenses.

Really excited

Flemming

Hi again,

Just had some great feedback from my publisher about the Beijing Book Expo.

My publisher states:
"Our booth was one of the most talked about at the show, we were interviewed by Chinese television and the authors that attended with us had a heck of a good time!  We were even interviewed by Publisher Weekly, the US bible of the publishing industry.

What an exciting time. A total of 5 local Hampshire outlets have shown real interest in selling my book, and two of them have already got books in stock. To see my book on display in a shop is a rather surreal but exciting experience.

In a few short days I will finally see my Chinese coversheet for Global Warming for Young Minds, which means that it is ready for the book exhibition in Beijing later in the year. Watch this space - more to come about China!

As some of you may know, I am involved with Carbon-info.org.

Carbon-info.org has for some time supported a Blue-eyed black lemur project, which is being run by the international ACCEL (http://www.aeecl.org/index.shtml).

I am pleased and proud to tell you that we this month was able to contribute a cheque for £140.00, which will go towards planting trees in Madagascar. The trees will over time turn into new forest, which will benefit the blue-eyed black lemur – providing habitat, food and shelter.

Anyone who is interested can read more on: http://www.carbon-info.org/tree_planting/Plant_and_Save.htm

Summer and the world almost grinds to a halt. We are harvesting beans, spinach and radishes from the garden. The first tomatoes are almost ready to eat too. Lovely. Home-grown vegs are so crisp and full of flavour - they really don't compare with the vegs you buy in the Supermarket. And how can it. There is a massive difference being picked too early, driven on a truck across Europe before finding it way into a supermarket and onto my plate, compared to picking it and eating it just a few hours later. Yummy!

On the book front things are moving forward too. My local Waterstone bookstore will stock my book, which is fantastic. What is interesting is that the store manager repeated the same advise I have had from three other sources: go speak to primary schools in the area. And that is exactly what I am going to do.
I would be a little silly if I did not listen to good advise like that.

So, I am now in the process of planning how to best approach local primary schools. Would like to offer to hold a small talk for the children, if the school would allow this. Would perhaps also allow me to sell a few books at the same time. Would really allow me to spread the word.

Flemming
Summer 2010

My first real review. Have been quite nervous - what would I do if Peggy Tibbetts did not like my work - global warming is such a difficult subject to get right both politically and from a scientific point of view.

=====
"Global Warming for Young Minds is a unique primer on global warming, covering all aspects of the issue in a way that’s interesting and easy to understand. Topics, including carbon dioxide, impacts on animals, recycling, and many more, are explained with familiar examples from our daily lives. The photos and artwork enhance the text and contribute to our understanding. Each topic is followed up with a short Q&A titled Dean’s and Lisa’s Learning Check, which encourages comprehension.

 

Bermann employs information and solutions rather than fear tactics. Instead of dire warnings about the melting polar icecaps, he challenges readers with a melting ice experiment, then points out the impact of melting ice on polar bears and penguins. This hands-on approach, combined with the Fun Break pages and puzzles interspersed, invites readers to get involved. More than fun and games, Global Warming for Young Minds is an exceptional educational tool and should be part of every elementary classroom library."

 

Copyright (c) 2010 by Peggy Tibbetts; Independent, freelance reviewer.

=====

Hurray! She likes it very much!

Flemming

What a week. Denmark and England out of the 2010 World Cup! Who am I now going to support?

My publisher is putting my book Global Warming for Young Minds forward to libraries in the North East of the USA. Quite exciting, as I feel my book does belong in a library where lots of children can be pick it up and read about global warming and sustainability.

It makes me sad that climate science is under fire. It is as if this gives lots of people the excuse NOT to care about he planet. Global warming or not, we should look after the planet and the wonderful natural world that surrounds us all. Without it there is no humans, and if we forget it is at our own peril.

The kitchen garden is doing great. Lots of tomatoes and we have already enjoyed fresh spinach and radishes.
Great when you know where the food you eat comes from. :)

Flemming Bermann

This might end up being one of these philosophical posts that no-one but the write understands. But so it be.

I have always been looking forward to the release of my book and thought of it as the end. But it is not. The best way to describe the feeling is that one feeling parents have when they look at their new born baby. Any thought that it is the end is almost immediately replaced with the realisation that it is the beginning of something long-term.

Similar with the release of my book. I have not been so busy in years. People want to see a copy of the press release, others want to receive a copy for evaluation and yet others asks questions about price, delivery times etc.

It does not seem to stop, which I guess is a good think. It has just been a bit of a surprise, just like having a baby!

Flemming (Author)

What a weekend it has turned out to be.

Just got an email from my publisher. Apparently, I have have been published at just the right time. A huge book Expo is kicking off in China end of August, and I have the opportunity to exhibit Global Warming for Young Minds at the exhibition.

This is quite an opportunity because The Beijing International Book Fair is now considered by many as one of the top four International Book Fairs in the World. It's growth and stature is growing quickly and steadily with many first time U.S. and U.K. publishers in attendance. According the BIBF. The Chinese market is growing at a staggering rate with English language titles at the forefront. It is mandated by the government that all Chinese children learn English at an early age. 

Flemming Bermann

Just a quick entry to say a BIG "thank you" to all those friends, family and colleagues, past and present, who have sent me "good luck" messages, email of a similar nature and even phoned to congratulate.

I have been quite overwhelmed to say the least.

Much appreciated.

Flemming

For those of you who are interested, my book "Global Warming for Young Minds" has been released

(ISBN: 978-1-60911-468-8).

Never thought the day would come! It is more than a year ago I started out on this project, and to be honest I am so pleased it has come to a successful completion.

If you would like to buy a copy, you can do so from the publishers website: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/GlobalWarmingForYoungMinds.html

Also, if you are able to help spread the word, please do so.

It will be another few weeks before it is available online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online outlets. With a little luck, it may even turn up in real physical bookstores.

Hurray! Today I received a small, flat package. It contained the print-proof of Global Warming for Young Minds, and is the first time any author get to see their book in the flesh - so to speak. The print-proof signals the end of the publishing process, as it is release and distribution from here.

It is kind of weird to see the book for the first time. A little like seeing a famous person on the telly and then meeting them in the street afterwards. You think you know what to expect and then it turns out to be a completely different experience - in this case a good one

I have also managed to upload an image of the front-page. Feedback welcome!

Flemming

Suddenly things are moving very fast. From having spent a month getting the book layout - the inside of the book - ready, things are now moving at a much faster pace with decisions being made almost daily. Not quite moving at light speed, but nearly...

ISBN number, price, and front cover, which I think looks great, has been agreed, and my book is almost completed. (Will try to upload the front cover in the next few days for everyone to see.)

It clearly helps working with talented designers and layout people, who know what to do to make things look great and can come up with alternative solutions when this is required. I am going to have to send the publishers hardworking team something when all is done and dusted. They all deserve it!

Flemming Bermann (Almost published author )

This week's opening of another round of UN climate talks is yet another small and very slow step in the political process, which at some stage is likely to possibly, maybe, in the future lead to a global response to global warming and climate change. Not particular reassuring really.

I can't help feeling that the political process has failed and is failing dismally. And yet there is no-one with a better answer to the question about how to curb man-made emissions - except for putting this global problem into the hands of a small group of people who seem unwilling and unable to actually solve it.

There is therefore no way around the fact that individuals must do as much as they can to reduce their emissions, and that this individual responsibility must be kept up for many years and generations. Those of us who have children needs to tell them how they can be part of the solution by living more sustainable and 'green lives.

And hopefully this will then in years to come turn into a political solution and a wider understanding by those in power that just talking or in some cases being obstructive towards a solution (as with the USA in the last decade) will have a devastating effect on the planet and everyone and everything on it.

Sorry for sounding off, but the lack of political progress got to me this morning!

---

With regard to the book, I now have an ISBN number and the final layout is done too - and if you don't mind me saying, the layout looks great  Next it is on to front and back cover.

Flemming Bermann

It is exciting times. The road forward, turning Global Warming for Young Minds into a real book, is now laid out in detail.

The next step is for the publisher to combine my manuscript and illustrations. This will be the first time in the process this has happened. The outcome is a DRAFT book, which will go through at least two quality reviews before being termed 'Ready". As part of this process, the front-page will be created and a retail price identified.

The final thing, which in my mind is the most exciting part, is the setting of a release date.
This will however, have to wait a few more weeks.

Flemming Bermann

Hello,

Global Warming for Young Minds will be formally launched in just a few months.

I am so very excited! My very first childrens book, and so very topical.

But I am also slightly pensive. I can't help feel that my book came about because we live in a world, which is changing fast. We simply can't do enough to prepare our children for tomorrow's world - their world.

Flemming Bermann