Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to my Barefoot Books store and my Amazon affiliate account.
Celebrate Earth Day with Diverse Kids' Books (and a giveaway!)
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson
The seven folk tales in this collection, some funny and some humorous, are taken from cultures from around the globe. "Why the Sky is Far Away," a Nigerian story, tells how people once could eat pieces of the sky whenever they wanted. When more is taken than people need, the sky retreats. Any child obsessed with all things smelly and gross will enjoy the Welsh tale "Stink Water." My favorite story in the collection is Amrita's Tree, which is based on a true Indian tale of the Bishnoi tribe's reverence for nature. Amrita is the original tree hugger, a little girl who centuries ago wrapped her body around a tree to protect it from woodcutters. The collection of stories includes a craft to accompany each tale. Recommended for ages 5 - 11. Learn how purchasing this book in April (or any Barefoot Book) will plant trees across the globe!)
Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
I've long been impressed with the life of Wangari Maathai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her Green Belt Movement. I'm delighted that there are now children's books available that tell her story and those of the women across the continent who are planting trees to halt deforestation and boost women's income. Author Jeanette Winter is able to tell Wangari's story in a way that children can understand, without glossing over the opposition (including violence) that she has faced. Recommended for ages 4 - 10.
The Barefoot Book of Earth Poems by Judith Nicholls and Beth Krommes
April is National Poetry Month, so this collection of global poems inspired by nature is a perfect read for this time of year. It includes both classic and contemporary poems, accompanied by full page scratchboard illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Beth Krommes. I particularly enjoyed the rythym of Guyanese poet Grace Nichols' poem "For Forest." Although this collection is recommended for ages 6 - 10, the lavish illustrations and some of the simpler poems will also appeal to younger children. Learn how purchasing this book in April (or any Barefoot Book) will plant trees across the globe!)
How Far Do You Love Me? by Lulu Delacre
There are many children's books that ask and answer questions about how big families' love for their children is. What I enjoy about Delacre's answers are how truly global the illustrations are. From a veiled Egyptian mother cradling her baby in the desert to an indigenous Australian father cradling his leaning against an eucalyptus tree with his son, children see the many different ways people live. Each illustration includes a description at the bottom of exactly where the picture is set. (My geography-obsessed Montessori child enjoyed me telling him which continent each of these pictures is located in.) Recommended for ages 3 - 8.
Chandra's Magic Light: A Story in Nepal by Theresa Heine and Judith Gueyfier
Sisters Chandra and Deena are intrigued when they see a man selling solar tukis (cookstoves) at the market. They realize that if their family could have a solar tuki rather than a kerosene one, their baby brother's cough would go away. The girls make it their mission to earn the money needed for the tuki. The book includes 7 pages of bonus material on Nepali daily life, as well as instructions on how to make a solar oven from a pizza box. Recommended for ages 6 - 10. Learn how purchasing this book in April (or any Barefoot Book) will plant trees across the globe!)
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry
A man arrives in the rain forest and attempts to chop down a huge Kapok tree. The effort soon wearies him and he falls asleep. As he slumbers, many different animals approach him, whispering in his ears all the different reasons he must not chop down the tree. By the end of the book, children will understand just how interconnected all of nature is and why rain forests are so precious. Recommended for ages 4 - 8.
Earth Day Barefoot Book Bundle Giveaway!
One lucky reader will win a copy of The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales and The Barefoot Book of Earth Poems! Use Rafflecopter below to earn your giveaway entries.
Mandatory entry: Leave a blog post comment about your favorite way to teach children to take care of the earth. (Earn 2 entries)
Optional additional entries: Visit my Facebook page (1 entry), follow me on Twitter (1 entry), and/or subscribe to my email list (1 entry).
Rules: Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is only open to residents of the United States. Giveaway closes at midnight, Sunday April 24th. Winner will be contacted by email on Monday April 25th. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.
Discover more diverse children's books at the Diverse Children's Book Linky party!
My boys learn best hands on in nature.
ReplyDeleteWe're reading about "Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table!" We talk about how *easy* it is to grow anything you want even in the city. We talk about composting and healthy eating. We are growing plants and flowers in our new school garden! Getting them active and feeling a part of the greater good of taking care of our land is key!
ReplyDeleteI love showing my kids throughout the year by example. We recycle, repurpose clothing, and use less water/energy. I also get them excited about earth day with reading about more ways we can help. We are a homeschooling family so books are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love showing my kids throughout the year by example. We recycle, repurpose clothing, and use less water/energy. I also get them excited about earth day with reading about more ways we can help. We are a homeschooling family so books are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are still young, but we have already started talking about recycling, gardening, and conserving energy and water. When they get older I want to also teach them about composting.
ReplyDeleteTeach kids when they are young and they will grow into environmentally friendly adults. One of my favorites is Dr Seuss the Lorax Tree!
ReplyDeleteI love teaching my son by example as we're out in nature!
ReplyDeleteThese are great books for Earth Day. And now we can't teach our kids quickly enough to respect the earth. Thanks for sharing these.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy learning more about the earth through a hands on approach. Being outside. In all seasons. Appreciating what the earth offers, discussing how we can take better care of her etc.
ReplyDeleteTeaching by example is our favorite way.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe go hiking and grow a garden so we know where food comes from.
ReplyDeleteWill be teaching by example and books would be a fun way as well. Only say "will be" because baby boy is almost 7 months so it's probably not sinking in just yet... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing book giveaway! Thanks so much for sharing at Diverse Children's Book Linky! I'll share on Twitter. Are you on Twitter too?
ReplyDeleteThanks Mia! I'm on Twitter as @rebekahg_bfb
DeleteWe love Barefoot Books! Thanks for doing the book fair at SJLC!
ReplyDeleteHikes are so important for us! It's a way to really see how beautiful nature is, and it provides a venue to have discussions about all the hard work that has gone into preserving a space, as well as the hard work needed to keep it preserved.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to teach my daughter how to care for our planet is hands on. Showing her each day we we can reduce, repurpose and recycle. Going on hikes to show her how brilliant the earths offerings are. Teaching her compassion towards wildlife. Instilling the value and a true appreciation for our earth
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet of you Rebekah. May your Earth Day be filled with sunshine!
ReplyDeleteMan! Sad I missed the giveaway! What a great post. Another person linked up an Diverse Earth Day list also, but you all had some unique ones on both list.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing on Diverse Children's Book Link Up! My link up is: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=7019
And I pinned this for future reference :)
DeleteWonderful books, all! Thanks for sharing on the Diverse Children's Book Link Up!
ReplyDelete