Children’s Books for a Greener Planet
by Blake Frino
Children’s books are always fun to read - when you were little or even now as an adult. However, when we think about the environment, it plays a big part in what the story entails, not just because the printing process includes using our natural resources, such as trees, but wecan learn about the environment and animals. Many authors now are touching on subjects that were taken lightly before the green movement started.
In recent years, specific green children’s books have been popping up in bookstores, with titles like Judy Moody Saves the World, by Megan McDonald, Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal by David McLimans, and Flush, by Carl Hiassen. All three take the reader on an adventurous journey called nature.
Little Simon, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, has launched Little Green Books, the first green line of children’s novelty and storybooks specifically focused on the helping kids learn more about the environment.
Set for fall are four titles, including two cloth books: Little Monkey and Little Panda, as well as two 8”-by-8” storybooks: I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and The Polar Bear’s Home: A Story About Global Warming. Each book in the series will be made out of recycled materials and printed with soy ink.
To be published this October, My Green Halloween Treasures, by Lynn Colwell, is about a sweet little pumpkin that is trick-or-treating. She is surprised when, after brushing her tooth, she realizes her candy basket has disappeared and in its place is a basket of treasures. This book, along with others from Kedzie Press, is in conjunction with the Kedzie Million Tree-A-thon, where the publishing company will pay to have one tree planted for each copy sold.
Barefoot Books has published Peace, Love & Vegetables Gift Set: Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon Book & Bendo, which includes earth-friendly activities. Other inclusive activity books include Recycle! A Handbook for Kids, for 4-8 year-olds, and Nature Smart: Awesome Projects to make with Mother Nature’s Hel, and Recycled Crafts Box: Sock Puppets, Cardboard Castles, Bottle Bugs & 37 More Earth-Friendly Projects & Activities You Can Create, both geared for ages 9-12.
With all these eco-minded children’s books to choose from, pertaining to both the topics and printing capabilities, there are only more to come. However, we can’t forget natural classics like Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.