Prince Charles co-authors Ladybird climate change book

The cover of the book was based on an image of flooding in Uckfield, East Sussex

Prince Charles has co-authored a Ladybird book on the challenges and possible solutions to climate change.

It is part of a series for adults written in the style of the well-known children's books that aims to clearly explain complicated subjects.

The 52-page guide has been co-authored by former Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper and climate scientist Emily Shuckburgh.

Mr Juniper said he hoped the book would "stand the test of time".

Ladybird produced a series of books for children in the 1960s and 1970s and has recently found renewed success with a range of humorous books for adults.

Titles include the Ladybird Book of the Mid-Life Crisis and the Ladybird Book of the Hangover.

The latest series involves experts explaining complex subjects in simple form.

The prince previously co-authored a book with Mr Juniper and Ian Skelly called Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World. He also wrote a children's book entitled The Old Man of Lochnagar.

The full cover of the climate change book, which goes on sale later in January

Mr Juniper told the Mail on Sunday: "His royal highness, Emily and I had to work very hard to make sure that each word did its job, while at the same time working with the pictures to deliver the points we needed to make.

"I hope we've managed to paint a vivid picture, and, like those iconic titles from the 60s and 70s, created a title that will stand the test of time."

A publishing director for Penguin, which produces Ladybird books, revealed Clarence House had put the latest idea to the publisher.

Rowland White told the Sunday Times: "It was a coincidence where we were thinking about a new series for adults after the huge success of the spoof books, but this time wanted some factual books by experts on science, history and arts subjects."

Penguin Books said the title, which will be released on 26 January, had been read and reviewed by figures within the environmental community.

The other books in the series are Quantum Mechanics by Jim Al-Khalili, and Evolution by Steve Jones.

Asked how the book might be received in the academic community, Dr Phillip Williamson, an associate fellow at the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences, said: "There's the obvious danger that this won't be taken seriously.

"But if the style is right, and the information is correct and understandable, the new Ladybird book with royal authorship could be just what is needed to get the message across that everyone needs to take action on climate change."

Ladybird Books has recently had renewed success with a range of humorous books for adults.