JUST IN CASE: SAVING SEEDS IN THE SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT, by Megan Clendenan and Brittany Cicchese, Charlesbridge, Oct. 14, 2025, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 5-8)
Learn about the place where a priceless treasure is being stored in Just In Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, by Megan Clendenan and Brittany Cicchese.
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. —Synopsis provided by Charlesbridge
Today, Feb. 26, 2026, marks the Svalbard Seed Vault’s 18th anniversary. The vault, which opened in 2008, houses almost 1 million seed samples in the permafrost, exists as a backup for other seed banks in the world. Duplicates from those other vaults are stored at Svalbard just in case.
In Just in Case, author Megan Clendenan follows the progress of Svalbard from design to completion and beyond. Clendenan’s thoughtful text is warm and informative. She clearly leads readers through the process of creating the vault as well as the reason and process for saving seeds. Her topic is timely, and kids and grownups alike will be fascinated with the process.
Artist Brittany Cicchese captures not only the cold climate of Norway but the warmth of communities from around the world through inviting illustrations that are full of detail.
Just in Case is a captivating nonfiction picture book that’s perfect for home and in the classroom.
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