Toronto elementary school teacher and author Etta Kaner’s new work of non-­fiction for young readers delves into the areas of environmentally conscious architecture and building design.

Earth-Friendly Buildings, Bridges and More takes the form of a scrapbook assembled by fictional 12-year-old aspiring green engineer Corry Lapont. Corry’s parents, both of whom are engineers, have taken her and her younger brother, Riley, on trips to various sites around the world, exploring feats of environmentally aware architecture and engineering. During her travels, Corry has amassed brochures and postcards and organized them into categories ranging from skyscrapers to bridges to subway tunnels. Supplemented by informative sidebars and hands-on activities, they create an ­expansive yet accessible overview of eco-design.

Through Corry’s journal, Kaner introduces the science behind the architecture of green buildings and structures, exploring the physics involved in their design and construction. She uses an assortment of methods to present the information, including Corry’s explanations, commentary, and journal entries; projects Corry has completed for school; letters from family members who also work in eco-design; answers to Riley’s questions; and experiments that encourage further exploration.

Stephen MacEachern’s engaging cartoon-style illustrations and diagrams balance the array of illustrative photographs, and add visual appeal.

Kaner’s latest book is an informative primer on environmentally aware design and architecture. However, while she covers many topics, the author is able to touch briefly on each. Serious budding green engineers and designers inspired by this offering will likely want to seek other resources.