Educational Earth Day Reads
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.
Often children don’t understand the importance of taking care of the planet. Earth Day is Monday, so grab these books this weekend for your charges to celebrate our planet.
Very Young Children
Earth Day, Birthday
Maureen Wright, Illustrated by Violet Kim
Amazon Children’s Publishing April 1, 2012 $17.99
Maureen Wright is the author of the popular children’s book Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep. Celebrating environmental protection in her story, Earth Day, Birthday follows a monkey as he learns what Earth Day is. The monkey confuses Earth Day with his birthday, and each person he encounters throughout the story shares a little information about why it is Earth Day, not his birthday. This amusing and entertaining tale gives simple instructions for making the world a better place, like “let’s plant a row of tiny trees, plow a garden for beans and peas.” After reading, children will be equipped with the tools and desire needed to help keep the planet beautiful.
Recommendation: Own It
Early Readers
Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day
Jane O’Connor, Illustrations by Aleskey Ivanov and Olga Ivanov
Harper Collins June 21, 2011 $3.99
Jane O'Connor is the New York Times bestselling author of the Fancy Nancy series, as well as popular fiction for adults. Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day is a great story to help children realize the importance of taking care of Mother Nature. Nancy learns ways to help save the planet and eagerly wants to get her family in on the action, too. Although she is a little bossy at times, she soon realizes it doesn’t help her get her way. The story shows ways to celebrate Earth Day by saving the planet, but also offers a learning experience by teaching children to appreciate the point of views of others. The story’s rhyme scheme makes it easy to remember how to take care of the earth: “Please take note, always bring a tote”, and “less than a mile, bike in style.”
Recommendation: Borrow It
Preteens
Two Plus One Goes A.P.E.
Tricia Springstubb
Scholastic Inc. June 1, 1995 $1.99
Tricia Springstubb is the author of What Happened on Fox Street, Mo Wren Lost and Found, and Phoebe and Digger. The story Two Plus One Goes A.P.E. follows best friends Betsy, Ida, and Missy as they learn about Earth Day in Mrs. Myers’ class. They are assigned a project to A.P.E. (adopt a piece of earth). Through their projects they learn hard word, determination, and courage. There is evidence of how standing up for what you believe in really matters, even if no one thinks so in the beginning. This story is a gratifying tale that teaches children what they do really does make a difference, both in terms of the environment and their social lives.
Recommendation: Own It