Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, written by Megan Clendenan and illustrated by Brittany Cicchese. Charlesbridge, Penguin Random House.2025. $21.99 ages 8 and up

"The vault protects this treasure
in case of disaster ... 
in case of loss ... 
in case of war. 

Just in case. 

More than 580 million seeds, frozen. 
Why and how did they get there?"

I had no idea! Why is there a seed vault in Norway? Conservation, it seems. The seeds are buried there to protect them in the event of climate change, war, and extinction. The vault houses duplicates from seed banks all around the world, to be preserved for future needs should world events ever threaten.  

Ms. Clendenan carefully provides an excellent explanation concerning the purpose it serves and the way the construction deep underground has been completed to house the seeds it protects. The extensive work that continues is shared in sidebars that help provide context for her target audience. She pens a plethora of facts that offer details on the challenges faced to obtain and transport the seeds, build the vault in an extreme climate, and further information on other places where seed banks can be found. 

"There are about 1,700 seed banks around the world. Some, like the Millennium Seed Bank in England, are floodproof, bomb-proof, and temperature-controlled. Many others are small and simple community spaces with jars of seeds on shelves. All are vital to preserving future access to 
seeds and critical to crop biodiversity - a variety of plants in any given area. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault aims to store duplicates of every seed housed in all other seed banks."            

Detailed digital illustrations give readers a clear look at the icy cold and incredible beauty of the Arctic, as well as the warmth of other world communities where seed vaults are situated. Its international reach is shared in clear images that help readers envisage how 'a walk down the aisles becomes a walk through the world'. The process itself is fascinating and readers come away appreciating the work that has resulted in a most creative way to conserve something of great importance. 

"More than 580 million seeds.
For you, for me,
for everybody. 

Just in case."

Back matter is informative and welcome with sections entitled: Keeping the Seeds is Difficult, A Solution for Seed Safety, What's in the Vault, Plant a Seed, Save a Seed and an author's note that explains the impetus for learning about seed vaults and the research she did to learn even more. A resource list for kids, and a selected bibliography bring the book to an end.