These books for little environmentalists, are sure to go down a treat, at bedtime. Educational yet never scary, they are ideal to instil a love of the planet and all creatures. They are also (and this is important) by very good writers and illustrators. There is no point just churning out stories about saving the planet by people who can’t keep a child’s attention.
The Fog is the story of Warble, a small yellow bird who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human-watching. But one day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don’t notice. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female appears, Warble discovers that he’s not the only one who notices the fog… Author Kyo Maclear began her career as a writer for adults, but has since won many awards for her children’s books.
The Bear in the Stars is a timely fable on climate change for children. The Great Bar leaves her snowy home in search of food, friends and a new home after she finds the world is growing hotter. But hearts are getting colder..A story of loss, kindness and new beginnings.
Winston of Churchill (on recycled paper) is a story of one polar bear’s fight to stop global warming. This is a really lovely and interesting way to teach your child about climate change and endangered polar bears, which are losing their sea ice, as the planet heats up.
Winston lives in the town of Churchill in Canada. Upset that the humans are not listening, he decides to hold a protest march in his Canada home, using the language of his famous namesake ‘we will fight them on the beaches!’ But his wife gently reminds him that if he wants others to change, he must too – and give up his beloved cigars!
The Curious Garden is a lovely bedtime story of one boy’s quest for a greener world. Starting with the book itself, it’s printed on recycled paper, so that’s tree-friendly already. Set in New York City, the story tells the tale of red-headed Liam (who children can have fun spotting his bright hair through the book), who grows up a grey urban world. But after finding a forgotten garden behind a door to abandoned railroad tracks, he cares for the planets and helps them flourish. Gradually spreading through the city, New York is transformed into a lush, green world. Peter Brown is an award-winning writer of children’s books.
