There
are many ways that authors have explored environmental issues. In some
books it is central to the book, while in others, it is secondary to the
narrative and other themes. Here are just some of the ways children's
books explore environmental issues:
- The relationship of people to the environment
- The negative impact of humanity on the environment
- A celebration of the environment, its beauty and wonder
- Environment as creation and the metaphysical experience of our world
1. The relationship of people to the environment
This
first
category includes books that tell of the fine balance between humanity
and the environment and the disastrous consequences when we get this
balance wrong. In these varied picture books it is not a matter of deliberate action,
but rather ignorance and failure to plan effectively, which leads to
the destruction of environments whose beauty was once a lure to people.
'
All the World' by Liz Garton Scanlon & illustrated by Marla Frazee (Beach Lane Books)
This
wonderfully simple picture books for readers aged 3-7 years was a
Caldecott Honour book in 2010. Using delightfully simple everyday images
of a family interacting with their world and precision language,
Scanlon tells a powerful story of how we 'softly' interact with and mark
our world. It is a simple, yet profound book. The author sets out to
affirm "
the importance of all things great and small,
from the tiniest shell on the beach, to warm family connections, to the
widest sunset sky". She succeeds with the brilliant illustrator Marla Frazee to do just this.
'Can We Save the Tiger?' by Martin Jenkins & illustrated by Vicky White (Walker Books, 2011)
This is a stunning book which was nominated for the
Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012. Conservationist Martin
Jenkins and Vicky White celebrate some of the world's most endangered species
in this book and show us why we must try to save
them. Martin is a conservation biologist and consultant for the UN conservation organisation
WCMC.
Vicky White had experience as a zookeeper at the Cheshire Zoo caring
for great apes. This is Vicky's second book; her first was '
Ape'.
The book has stunning images and a punchy text that confronts the reader.
It begins with the matter of fact reminder that some of the animals and
plants we have shared the planet with "...have coped with the changes
very well. But some haven't. In fact, some have coped so badly that
they're not here any more. They're extinct". Jenkins then introduces us
to five species that are extinct, the Dodo, Steller's Sea Cow, the
Tasmanian Tiger (Marsupial Wolf), Great Auk and Broad-faced Potoroo,
before another challenge, "and then there are all those species that are
still around, but only just." Like the tiger!
This is
without a doubt one of the best conservation picture books that I've
seen. White's illustrations are fine-grained pencil sketches, some in
colour and some simply black and white, and are wonderful. They invite
you to gaze and browse for the pictures alone. Children aged 5 to 12
will love the book.
'
Window', by Jeannie Baker
Jeannie
Baker is a wonderful artist who is a master of collage who tells her
stories with wonderful illustrations and a minimum of words. This book
is in fact wordless that tells the story of a changing place when viewed
from a boy's window. He grows from a baby to a man with the view
changing from dense bush and diverse wildlife to suburbia, before he
moves on to a new place on the urban fringe where no doubt the process
begins afresh.
'Flute’s Journey: The Life of a Wood Thrush', by Lynne Cherry
Flute
is a wood thrush who migrates from North America to Costa Rica. The
story traces the hatching and travels of Flute and in the process
introduces the reader to issues of endangered species, environmental
hazards, toxic waste, loss of habitats and co on.
'
The World that Jack Built', by Ruth Brown
This
is an interesting picture book that plays on the idea of the well-known
rhyme 'This is the house that Jack built'; but with a twist. The
narrative follows the main character who is a black cat chasing a
butterfly. The cat's trail moves from Jack's house in the idyllic
English countryside, to the trees that gave the raw materials, the
stream that flowed nearby, the woods etc. The cat eventually finds its
way to a much different stream that flows by the factory that guess who
built?
'
Kenju's Forest', by Junko Morimoto
This
book is the opposite message of 'Window', and tells how a boy with a
vision to plant some trees in a rural farming environment sees his dream
become a reality over his lifetime. And as it does, the forest becomes
the playground for the town that eventually was to grow near his forest.
It tells a more positive story about how humanity can improve the
environment rather than just degrading it.
'
The Earth and I' by Frank Asch
This
is an ideal book for young preschool readers. It tells the story of the
friendship between a child and the earth. They play together,
listen to each other, and nourish each other. When the earth is
sad, the child is sad. The child sets out to find a way to make his
'friend'
happy. This is a beautifully illustrated book which shows in word and
image a tender and special relationship between a child and their
world.
2. The negative impact of humanity on the environment
Stories
in this category reflect man's careless destruction of the environment
motivated by greed and ignorance. These are stories that tell of
humanity's failure to see environmental damage and act to prevent it.
They also tend to have a much stronger ideological message.
'
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia', by Miranda Paul & illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Milbrook Press)
Plastic
bags are cheap and an easy way to package and carry things. But when
they are discarded they quickly multiply in any environment. They pile
high, become mixed in garbage of all kinds, become breeding grounds for
mosquitoes and other insects and vermin. Soon we have an environmental
disaster. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of how one
woman Isatou Ceesay began to recycle the bags in Gambia and in the
process encouraged others to join her. The outcome is an environmental
success worth sharing. A wonderful environmental picture book for
children aged 5-9 years.
'
Where the Forest Meets the Sea', by Jeannie Baker
This
is another wonderful book by Jeannie Baker (perhaps her best). It tells
the story of a boy and his Dad who go regularly to a wonderful beach in
northern Queensland at a place where the ocean meets the edge of the
Daintree Rainforest. This threatened landscape has been shrinking for
decades. As the boy explores the rainforest he imagines what it might
have been like 100 million years before when dinosaurs roamed. He
finishes the day cooking fish on the beach and contemplates coming again
someday. But in the background we see a landscape overlain by ghostly
images of what it might be like when he comes back again, should
development do in this place what it has done in many other parts of the
Daintree.
'
The Sign of the Seahorse: A tale of Greed and High Adventure', by Graeme Base
This
wonderful ballad tells of the exploitation of an underwater world by a
corrupt and evil Groper, his side kick Swordfish and a band of
'henchfish', who pollute a reef to drive out its inhabitants, secure
their 'land' at rock bottom prices, and then sell them new homes on
another reef. A tale of greed, corruption, and environmental
exploitation, where good eventually wins out.
'
The Lorax', by Dr Seuss
Many of the books of Dr Seuss offer a social commentary (see my post on Seuss
here).
In this story a small boy notices at the end of a desolate street on
the edge of town, a ramshackle house with a memorial to the 'Lorax'.
What was it he wonders as he gazes at the home of the Once-ler? The
Once-ler drops his Whisper-ma-Phone and for a small fee tells the boy
the story of the Lorax and the once beautiful Truffula trees that
covered the landscape, and the creatures that enjoyed the environment
they helped to sustain. The story of greed, excess, and environmental
destruction ends with the Once-ler giving the boy the last seed of a
Truffula tree. Perhaps, just perhaps, in his young hands there may be
hope for this place once more.
'
Lester and Clyde', James H. Reece
This
is the story of two frogs one a young and mischievous youngster
(Lester) and the other an older stayed frog named Clyde. Lester plays
just one too many tricks and is kicked out of their beautiful wetland
and heads off to find his own way in the world. He is shocked to find
that not all ponds are like his, and in fact some have been destroyed
and made unsuitable for frogs. He returns repentant and is embraced by
Clyde and the story ends happily with the words of Clyde: "try not to
worry, although it's so wrong, at least we're safe here...until Man
comes along!"
3. A celebration of the environment, its beauty and wonder
Books
in this category celebrate the world's biodiversity and beauty without
pointing to problems or making strong comments about human action. These
are books where often the environment is secondary to the story, but
where everything about the book reinforces the value, beauty and wonder
of our world.
'
The Elephant Scientist' by Caitlin O'Connell & Donna M. Jackson (Houghton Mifflin)
This multi award winning book tells how the author
became interested in science and set her on a quest to protect
threatened species. Years later camouflaged
and peering through binoculars, Caitlin O'Connell an American
scientist traveled to Namibia to study African elephants in their
natural habitat. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
As the mighty
matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit,
stopping midstride and standing as still as statues. The observation
would be one of many to guide O'Connell to a groundbreaking discovery!
"Children
will be interested in O'Connell's growing interest in science, how
family and teachers encouraged her, and her efforts to protect these
threatened animals. This amazing presentation is a must-have for all
collections." -- School Library Journal
'
Aranea: A Story About a Spider', by Jenny Wagner & Ron Brooks (Illustrator)
This
(as the name suggests) is the story of a back yard spider who weaves
its wonderful web each night using its skill and the elements to
survive. Its encounter's with man is just one of life's challenges, just
as dangerous is nature's elements of storm, wind and rain.
'
Wind in the Willows', Kenneth Grahame
The Wind in the Willows is one of my favourite books (see my previous post on it
here). Kenneth Grahame manages to tell a wonderful tale of animals of the English wood and riverbank. It
opens
in spring, and the weather is fine and animals are stirring from their
winter slumber. We first meet the good-natured and uncomplicated Mole
discards his spring cleaning and leaves his underground home. He reaches
the river, a thing he had never seen before and meets the wise and
worldly Ratty (in reality it was a ‘water vole’),
who sees life as something that must be lived along the river. A parade
of rich characters is introduced against a backdrop of the wonderful
physical world. Otter and Badger, Toad, Stoats and Weasels are
introduced as he weaves his wonderful tale of friendship, devotion and
the challenges and 'human' frailties of life. There are many wonderful
versions including the more recent illustrated version with Robert
Ingpen's wonderful art (here).
'
The Little Island', Golden McDonald and Leonard Weisgard
This
classic picture book was the winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1947. It
is a fine example of a book that had its genesis in a place that formed
part of the author’s life. Weisgard loved this island where he explored
its waters. His wonderful illustrations capture the beauty and rich
biodiversity of this place.
'
S is for Save the Planet: A How to be Green Alphabet', by Brad Herzog and Linda Holt Ayriss (Illustrator)
This
is a book for the very young. It is an alphabet book that focuses on
environmental issues. The illustrations support the clever use of simple
text to raise environmental issues and suggest ways to save the planet
from environmental disaster. Suitable for children aged 3-6 years.
4. Environment as creation and the metaphysical experience of our world
There
are a number of children's books that simply celebrate the world as
creation. Some of these books simply focus on the beauty of nature,
while others offer creation accounts, myths and metaphysical
explanations of the world and humanity's connection to it.
'
The Waterhole' by Graeme Base
This
beautifully illustrated book is centred on a waterhole that is
progressively drying up. While the book is a counting book for young
children, the constant focus on the waterhole and its diminishing size
as the water is used by an international collection of animals, is used
by Base to show how water is essential to life. Without it the land
withers and dies and life is lost, but as the first drops of
replenishing rains return life begins to emerge again.
'
Enora and the Black Crane', Arone Raymond Meeks
The
Aboriginal artist who wrote and illustrated this book tells the story
of a young man who lived in a rainforest at peace and in harmony with
the physical world. That is, until one day after encountering a flock of
amazing birds he accidentally kills a crane with dramatic consequences.
Enora and his world lose their innocence.
'
The Rainbow Serpent', by Dick Roughsey
This
is another Australian Aboriginal legend that tells the Dreamtime story
of a time when there were only people and how Goorialla, the great
Rainbow Serpent travels across the country with a dramatic
transformation of the land and the resulting creation of animal life.
'
The Fisherman and the Theefyspray', Paul Jennings & Jane Tanner (Illustrator)
This
story tells of the encounter of a fisherman with a strange fish and its
mother. He catches young fish from deep within the sea, just after its
mother has given birth to this, the last young, of its species. The old
man looks at the beautiful creature as its colour and beauty begin to
fade away in the bottom of his boat and he returns it to the sea. It
survives and he is changed by the encounter.
The Whales' Song, Dyan Sheldon (Author) & Gary Blythe (Illustrator)
This
is the story of Lilly and how she is captured by the story of the
Whales' song that is told to her by her grandmother. A species once so
plentiful that her grandmother would hear them sing at night, but now
they are just a memory of an era of whaling that has gone. Lilly's
mystical connection with the whales is the focus of the story.
I've written relatively recently on the value of Shakespeare for children of all ages, even primary school children (HERE).
On this the 400th anniversary of his death I thought I'd post it again. There is no better tome to rediscover Shakespeare.
'
