Earth Day Book Roundup

      April 22, 2020 is Earth Day 50^th Anniversary.  That is truly amazing and worthy of celebration.  It is worthy of the opportunity for us to find ways to do our part in keeping the Earth safe and clean for all.  I know I can do better and I want to teach my daughter how to respect and love nature. What better way to introduce Earth Day to children than sharing stories about the earth and nature with them.  I am pleased to be given the opportunity to read and share some books about the world’s biggest solar plant, a garden watched over by a bear, and protecting the waters.  Leena and I read these together and the knowledge we learned filled my heart with a desire to know more.  Even though, Leena is a toddler she was able to point out parts of nature such as flowers and water and was excited to talk about them.  These are wonderful books to read and share with everyone.  

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, Illustrated by Michaela Goade*

Water is the first medicine.  It affects and connects us all…When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, this bold and lyrical picture book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.

The Bear’s Garden by Marcie Colleen, Illustrated Alison Collier*

A little girl sees an empty lot in a city and imagines what it can be. 

She sees a place to Grow, a place to Play, and a place to Love.   With the help of her stuffed bear, the girl brings her community together to create a beautiful garden.

Inspired by the true story of a community garden Brooklyn, New York.  The Bear’s Garden is a testament to how imagination and dedication can transform communities and create beauty for everyone in unexpected places. 

Solar Story by Allan Drummond*

With energetic style, Allan Drummond tells the story of the largest concentrated solar plant in the world, the Noor solar power plant in Morocco’s Sahara desert, by relating it to everyday life of a schoolgirl in a small community next to the plant.

As we see on a class field trip, the plant is not only bringing reliable power to the village and far beyond, but it is also providing jobs, changing lives, and upending the old ways of doing things-starting within the girl’s own family.

Blending detail-filled watercolors, engaging cartoon-style narration, sidebars, and an afterword, the author showcases another community going green in amazing ways. 

*Book descriptions are taken from the book covers/media release.