When I first discovered this book by looking at the comic book style cartoon on the cover, my first thought was that it was just another children's introduction to environmental issues, but as I began to read it, this book turns out to be much more than that. The first chapter begins with the mystery of the statues of Easter Island where the few inhabitants lived a meager existence with the few resources at their disposal. The island was covered in large stone statues erected by the first inhabitants to land centuries ago. Research shows that these early settlers discovered an abundance of natural resources, including trees. In addition to the trees cut down for habitation, it seems that the first colonizers cut down trees solely to be able to install these large monuments. The trees were depleted until there were none left. The author then explains the concept of the water cycle and the important role that trees play in it. Without trees, the main producer of this environment, the island fell into disarray. This story of the inhabitants of Easter Island reflects the...