WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan & Brittany Cicchese

 

JUST IN CASE :

Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

written by Megan Clendenan, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese

Charlesbridge, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-62354-480-5

Ages 6-10

Source: Blue Slip Media

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Psst . . . Guess what? 800 miles from the North Pole, buried deep in a mountain, the Svalbard Seed Vault holds priceless treasure. Seeds!

Perfect for 5-8-year-old future conservationists, this is a fascinating glimpse into a unique conservation collection, highlighting the importance of natural resources and protecting planet Earth.

On the Arctic island of Spitsbergen in Norway, polar bears roam and there are no gardens, forests, or fields. But buried deep underground, the Svalbard Seed Bank protects more than 580 million seeds with plenty of room for more.

How and why was the vault built? What's it like inside? How does the vault protect the seeds? Learn about the rescue of the greatest treasure on earth--seeds for our food.

An inside look into the storage and history of one of our most important natural resources and how this collection can save our future.

2026 Orbis Pictus Award Winner

2026 Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Books 

2026 Children's Book Council Best STEM Books

SOME KEY DATES: 

Svalbard Seed Vault Date of Anniversary: February 26th (first opened in 2008)

Earth Day: April 22

World Food Day: October 16

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Megan Clendenan studied sociology, English, and environmental planning and has worked for nonprofit organizations focused on environmental law, women’s empowerment, mental health, and urban food security. As a children’s book author, she loves writing nonfiction that explores the connections between history, society, and the environment. She is the author of Design Like Nature: Biomimicry for a Healthy Planet, Fresh Air, Clean Water: Our Right to a Healthy Environment, and Cities: How Humans Live Together. She lives near Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family and two fuzzy orange cats. This is her first picture book. To learn more, visit meganclendenan.com.

Brittany Cicchese enjoys capturing emotion above all else, from expressive portraits to moody illustrations. She is the illustrator of The Kitten Story: A Mostly True Tale and No More Señora Mimí. When Brittany isn't sketching or writing, you can find her working at the library, reading a good fantasy or sci-fi book, or hiking around the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Brittany lives in Denver, Colorado. www.brittanycicchese.com.

REVIEW

This remarkable nonfiction picture book shares with young readers the importance of protecting our planet. Seeds aren't just the foundation for all plant life but they provide lifesaving sustenance for humans and many animals as well.  Just in Case explores the reasons for building the Svalbard Global Seed Vault as well as explaining how, where, and when it was built. The main text works well for a read aloud while the addition sidebars offer additional information when desired. The back matter provides additional information about the need to protect seeds and how the place operates. An author's note and lists of resources rounds out the back matter. This beautifully written and illustrated book makes for a fascinating read about a topic of great interest to all humanity. It's comforting to know that efforts are being made to preserve something as important as seeds in case of natural disasters, war, or other calamity. A great book for use in classrooms, public libraries, or homes that might inspire children to participate in this important work in their own way, whether through growing a garden themselves or helping to preserve seeds. Highly recommended.

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