The following non-fictions
are inspiring stories that teaching children about aspects of conservation
related to tree planting, endangered animals, and recycling projects. In addition,
each story has one or more inspirational people whose desire to make a small
impact often went far beyond what they imagined or expected. Share these stories with children to
encourage them to make a positive difference in their communities and to be
more conscientious of ways to keep the planet healthy.
Authors:
Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore
Illustrator: Susan L. Roth
Publisher Summery: For a long time, the people of Hargigo, a village in the tiny
African country of Eritrea, were living without food for themselves and their
animals. The families were hungry, and
their goats and sheep were hungry too.
Then along came a scientist, Dr. Gordon Sato, who helped change their
lives for the better. And it all started
with some special trees. Learn how Dr.
Sato’s mangrove tree-planting project transformed an impoverished village into
a self-sufficient community.
Why I Chose It: This story has two layers. There
is a cumulative poem that is repeated as new lines are added on each 2-page
spread, similar to “This is the House that Jack Built” format. The first time through,
especially with younger children, this poem could be the narrative that is
read. On the facing page is the non-fiction
story about Dr. Sato’s tree-planting project. This story is noteworthy for several reason. First, Dr. Sato had to overcome difficult
circumstances that could have paralyzed or jaded him, but he did not let them
(See Afterward for photos and facts on the doctor and his project). Instead, he
helps whole communities overcome their impoverished situation by providing them
with education and tools to take care of themselves. In addition, I love how
the women, a largely disenfranchised group in most third world countries, were
the ones being taught how to care for the seedlings and trees. They, in turn,
used the money they earned to help their families. Finally, by enacting his
tree-planting project, he helped everyone—animals and humans, rich and
poor—because trees make for healthier air and environment. The textured,
collage illustrations have an organic feel perfect for this inspiring story.
Author:
Donna Jo Napoli
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Publisher Summary: Wangari grew up in the shadow
of Mount Kenya listening to the stories about the people and land around
her. Though the trees towered over her,
she had loved them for as long as she could remember. So strong, so beautiful,
how the trees made her smile. Wangari planted trees one by one to refresh her
spirit. When the women came to her for help with their families, she told them
to do the same. Soon the countryside was filled with trees. Kenya was strong once more. Wangari had
changed her country tree by tree.
Why I Chose It: Mama Miti is one part conservation challenge and one part female
empowerment. By planting trees, the women who took Wangari’s advice were able
to do everything from feeding their families, to purifying water for drinking,
to curing illnesses, to providing wood for shelter and fire, to strengthening
their villages, to bringing back the beautiful landscape. Napoli convenes a
strong sense of pride and community in the text while Nelson’s illustrations
effectively depict the vivid colors and strong people of Kenya. Wangari’s life
illustrates the power and influence an ordinary person can have. She was the
first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and helped inspire the Green Belt
Movement. Her work “is the embodiment of
the Kenyan notion of harambee—the spirit of pulling together for the common
good.”
Authors:
Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore
Illustrator: Susan L. Roth
Publisher Summery: For centuries beautiful, raucous Puerto Rican parrots and the
settlers on the island of Puerto Rico hunted for food, survived hurricanes,
raised their young, and protected their homes.
But then things began to change, and in time the trees in which the
parrots lived were destroyed. By 1967,
only twenty-four Puerto Rican parrots were left in the wild. Humans had nearly caused their
extinction. Could humans now save the
parrots? Discover the fascinating
history of Puerto Rico and the intertwined story of the rare parrots that line
in the island’s treetops.
Why I Chose It: This real-life conservation story begins with some fascinating
history of the island and the birds. Children learn about a place that is
rarely covered in school curriculums and many different cultures. The authors
work to intertwine the lives of the people with those of the birds, showing the
interconnectedness and interdependence.
As the shift moves to the reasons for the declining population, readers
learn about various factors that can impact specifies populations—natural and
unnatural. The extensive efforts by a group of scientists are documented to
reveal how quickly a population can become nearly extinct but how slowly it can
be to bring it back to a healthy number. The pages are designed to capture the
habitat of these amazing birds with textured designs and vivid colors.
Author:
Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Publisher Summery: Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is not
longer needed? In Nijau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on
their way. One plastic bag became two.
Then ten. Then a hundred. The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads.
Water pooled in them, bringing mosquitoes and disease. Some bags were burned,
leaving behind a terrible smell. Some were buried, but they strangled
gardens. They killed livestock that
tried to eat them. Something had to change.
Isatou Ceesay was that change.
She found a way to recycle the bags and transform her community.
Why I Chose It: What an inspiring story! Isatou’s solution cleaned up the environment,
decrease the mosquito population (and with it disease), and saved livestock and
gardens. It was not without resistance. While
Isatou and some other women worked on a solution, they were called names and
laughed at. Once they began selling
their new recycled purses, the naysayers changed their tune. The women were able to make extra money from
this new venture that helped their families buy necessities like livestock. Eventually, they began contributing their
earnings toward an empowerment center where people receive free health care and
education. The center became the home of
the region’s first public library. Their
innovation and perseverance has made a positive impact beyond
conservation.
Related Story: Bag in the Wing (Ted Kooser)
Authors:
Anna Alter
Illustrator: Anna Alter
Publisher Summery: In this “green” craft book, children can appreciate that recycling
is a part of everyday life, and with a little creativity, exciting projects are
only a few steps away. Turn a worn flip-flop into an art stamp, a ripped shower
curtain into an apron, and an old T-shirt into a pillow. These activities are
just a few of the many crafts to be explored. With easy-to-follow instructions,
this interactive book will challenge kids to come up with clever recycling
ideas of their own in no time!
Why I Chose It: Since the topic of the post is conservation, I thought this book
would be a practical way to bring greater awareness. Each craft has an animal character and short
poem. Then, using every day items (most of which end up in a landfill), the
characters illustrate with pictures and directions how to make each project.
The book ends with a list of additional ways kids, adults, and families can
support reuse and recycling.
For the Adventurous (and Imaginative) Reader
Author:
Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: David Roberts
Publisher Summery: Anyone can dive for treasure in the ocean, but Steve dives for it in
this neighborhood dumpster! As he delves into the trash each weekend, Steve
encourages his young neighbors (aka the Diving Team) to see the potential in
what other people throw away. With a
little imagination, trash can be transformed into treasure—and as the Diving
Team discovers, it might even help a friend in need.
Why
I Chose It:
Wong does not idealize dumpster diving. As soon as Steve gets in, beetles and
spiders splash out. Yuck! Then, the kids spray him (and the items he collects)
with a hose when he gets out. Parents do not have to worry about their children
begging to dumpster dive. What I liked
about this book is the emphasis on taking discarded items to create new, useful
things. Steve and the Diving Team often
use their new creations or what they find to help others. When the kids need to make a project, they
ask for items people are not using (a good alternative while prompting similar
results). The Dumpster Diver is an
entertaining story that encourages imagination, resourcefulness, and
exploration.
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covers first aid, extreme heat or cold, fire, hunger, thirst, dangerous places, and angry animals.
begins by giving some guidelines on choosing a camp site and building basics.
