Explaining Green Issues to Kids
Picture Books That Spark Children’s Interest in the Environment
Picture books are an important resource when it comes to discussing the environment and other green issues with young children.
Many parents and teachers now recognise the importance of introducing children to environmental issues at a young age and there are a number of excellent picture books that can help to do just that.
Dear Greenpeace – Simon James
Emily discovers a whale living in her garden pond and, anxious to do the right thing, writes a series of letters to Greenpeace asking for advice and information about caring for whales. Despite the replies from Greenpeace being understandably sceptical and insisting that a whale could not possibly be living in a pond, Emily continues to write to them, updating them on the day-to-day life of the whale. This is a charming and beautifully illustrated story is an excellent introduction to the idea of an endangered species and threatened environment.
Spud Goes Green – Giles Thaxton
Spud knows that he is no superhero but, as a New Year resolution, he still sets out to save the planet. The story is written in the form of a diary and explains how Spud goes about growing food, recycling rubbish and saving wildlife. This is a highly engaging story and provides lots of practical activities, such as building a bird house, for children to get involved in.
Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish – Michael Foreman
A modern fable that introduces the issues of global warming and pollution to children, this is the story of a man who wants to discover other worlds but, by building a rocket and heading to the stars, ends up contributing to the ruination of the environment on Earth. While he is away, dinosaurs are awakened by the heat from smouldering rubbish piles and set about replanting, conserving and cleaning up the Earth. The man returns to Earth and is amazed by the beauty of the planet, learning a valuable lesson about conserving the Earth’s resources for future generations.
Doing the Garden – Sarah Garland
The arrival of spring means that it is time for the family to go to the garden centre and choose flowers and seeds for their garden. Once home, they all set about planting and tidying the garden. This simple story is a great way to inspire children to be interested in the outdoors as it demonstrates the fun that can be had by the whole family when planting and maintaining the garden.
My Friend Whale – Simon James
This sad and emotional story begins with the beautiful friendship between a boy and a whale. After all the fun that they have swimming and splashing together, the boy is ultimately left without his friend after the whale disappears one night, presumably killed by whalers. Although containing an important message about the dangers faced by endangered species worldwide, this book might perhaps not be suitable for particularly sensitive children.
Herb the Vegetarian Dragon – Jules Bass & Debbie Harter
The King of Nogard has finally had enough of the princess eating exploits of the dragons and so sends his knights on a hunt. Unfortunately, the only dragon that they manage to capture is Herb, a mild-mannered vegetarian. As well as encouraging children to eat their vegetables, Herb’s story provides an excellent example of the importance of tolerance of those who are different from you and of the need to be true to your principles.
