“Once there was a grand old tree. Her roots sank deep into the earth, her arms reached high into the sky. She was home to many creatures.”
Lovingly written and illustrated, A Grand Old Tree is a wonderful tribute to an aging fruit tree. We watch as squirrels scamper, birds chirp and bees buzz in the branches of the tree. Through the seasons, we witness her bloom and produce seeds to blow from her branches. We consider how many leaves she has produced.
One moonlit winter night, she falls. Snow covers her weary trunk and branches. When spring arrives, we can see her offspring growing nearby and we know her decaying trunk is still home to raccoons, insects and lichen. We appreciate her legacy and understand that her children and grandchildren are now growing, flowering, and sowing.
Both informative and quietly reassuring, this is a picture book children will enjoy again and again.
Note: there is a concrete poem (the text is printed to represent the trunk of a tree) in the book.
Gummytoes – written and illustrated by Sean Cassidy
Gummytoes is a tree frog who can change the colour of his skin and leap great distances. He longs to be admired so he steps into the limelight and amazes the neighbourhood children with his antics. The squealing youngsters respond by grabbing him and putting him into their terrarium. Before long Gummytoes discovers that being the centre of attention is not all he had hoped. He is lucky. He is able to use his special qualities to escape and make his way home.
This is a story that will encourage readers to consider the impact of capturing creatures for display. In addition to entertaining youngsters, Gummytoes provides factual information about gray tree frogs. The book could be used to prompt discussions about animals that use camouflage, nocturnal animals, natural habitats of tree frogs and wild creatures living in urban areas.
Suitable for children aged 4-8
Gummytoes was shortlisted for the 2006 Syrca Shining Willow ( in the Best Picture Book category) and the 2005 OLA Blue Spruce (also in the Best Picture Book category). It was also a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice selection in 2005.
Lessons From Mother Earth
Written by Elaine McLeod and illustrated by Colleen Wood Lessons from Mother Earth tells the story of a young girl who learns from her grandmother. They leave a small cabin and, with her grandmother’s guidance, the young girl discovers the bounty of fresh food provided by Mother Earth. Lamb’s-quarters, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, rosehips, dandelions and mushrooms are all part of the bounty.
Featuring bright, bold collage illustrations, a ‘lift the flaps’ format and simple text, Big Earth, Little Me provides a great introduction to the idea of helping the earth. Whether reminding youngsters to recycle, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, use a lunch box and draw on both sides of the paper or encouraging children to help in the garden, the message is simple, positive and clear.
Sandy’s Incredible Shrinking Footprint written by Carole Carpenter and Femida Handy, illustrated by Adrianna Steel-Card
Sandy’s Incredible Shrinking Footprint tells the story of a young girl who, while visiting her grandpa, happily runs to a nearby beach. She loves to explore the seashore and is shocked to find a pile of garbage others left near a fire pit. She is disgusted by the waste and works to collect the candy wrappers, pop cans and mustard bottles. Before long, she meets an old woman who roams the beach and collects the litter others have left behind. The woman encourages the girl to consider, “The footprint of your life – the mark you leave on the world.”
This breezy, empowering picture book includes colourful collage illustrations made from natural and recycled materials. Suitable for children aged six and up.
Earth Smart How to Take Care of the Environment written by Leslie Garrett Beginning to Read Book published by Dorling Kindersley
Part of Dorling Kindersley’s DK Readers series, Earth Smart is appropriate for children aged 7 to 9. Generously illustrated with photographs, it is rated “Level 2, Beginning to Read Alone.” Introducing ways we can help to look after the environment, content touches on recycling, a look at a landfill, disposing of toxic substances, reducing energy consumption, dangers of pollution and global warming, the benefits of enjoying local produce and ways trees help us.
Don’t Throw That Away! written by Lara Bergen and illustrated by Betsy Snyder has an upbeat, positive message for very young children: what looks like garbage may be recyclable. Discarded paper, plastic, metal and glass all belong in a recycling bin, an empty jam jar can be transformed into a vase and a plastic milk jug can become a bird feeder. Additional flaps reveal homemade musical instruments, costumes and a car made from a cardboard box.
Great for preschool-age children, the relatively small format (typical of many board books) makes it best-suited to an individual or small group setting. Would be an excellent introduction to an art or craft project reusing discarded materials.
Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth – written by Douglas Wood, illustrated by P.J. Lynch Picture Book published by Candlewick Press
This lovely, award-winning book is a tribute to the natural world, the special relationship between a boy and his grandfather and the comfort of prayer.
While on a forest walk together, a young boy asks his grandfather about prayer. His grandfather pauses and then encourages the boy to look at the natural beauty around him and observe carefully, “These are all ways to pray, ” said Grandad, “but there are more…The tall grass prays as it waves its arms beneath the sky,and flowers pray as they breathe their sweetness into the air.”
A moving tribute to the love between a child and his grandparent, Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. Best suited to children five and up.
Lucy’s Secret – written and illustrated by Mireille Levert Picture Book published by Groundwood Books
When Lucy visits Anna Zinnia’s garden, she is enchanted by all she sees; beautiful flowers and busy insects. When Anna Zinnia reveals a box of seeds, she tells Lucy, ‘In each seed lies a hidden, baby flower.’ Lucy plants the seeds and then waits and waits for the young plants to appear.
Lucy’s Secret is richly illustrated and simply told. It will be a lovely accompaniment for your springtime seed planting and gardening activities.
When the Earth Wakes – written and illustrated by Ani Rucki
A lovely book for very young children, When the Earth Wakes invites readers to observe as spring arrives, the earth is awakened and a mother bear stretches with her young cub. We watch the snow melt and the two bears frolic in the sunshine and warm breeze. Before long it is summertime; butterflies, salmon, thunderstorms and starry nights change the natural landscape once again. When leaves begin to change and blueberries ripen, the two bears know it is time to prepare for winter. A lovely, gentle circular story about the changing seasons and our beautiful earth.
Striking coloured pencil illustrations make When the Earth Wakes well-suited to a read aloud setting.
Big Bear Hug written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland Fable Picture book published by Kids Can Press
Author – illustrator Nicholas Oldland introduces a happy, affectionate bear who shares his love by wandering through forests and hugging flora and fauna, large and small. One day the friendly bear is shocked to find a man with a menacing ax strolling through the forest. The man is planning to chop down one of the oldest and finest trees in the woods. Despite his anger, the bear resists an urge to attack and gives the startled man an enormous “bear” hug.
This simply told fable features distinctive, bold illustrations and a loving message. Big Bear Hug will be thoroughly enjoyed by children three and up.
Wolf Island written and illustrated by Celia Godkin Picture book published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside
In Wolf Island author-illustrator Celia Godkin has created a sensitive, fictional exploration of the importance of biodiversity, the relationship between predator and prey, and the complex relationships within an ecosystem.
Wolf Island is home to many plant and animal species including a family of wolves. The island ecosystem functions well until a log raft drifts near the shoreline. Curious wolf cubs climb onto the raft and are soon floating away from the small island. Frantic howls draw the adult wolves to the raft and, moments later, the wolves are all aboard the raft. With the departure of the wolves, the island’s natural balance has been disrupted.
As the seasons pass, the wolves’ absence begins to be felt. An abundance of deer produce more fawns would otherwise be on the island so more grass and leaves are consumed. With less vegetation available, the rabbit, fox, mouse and owl populations are each impacted in turn. Soon many animals experience hunger and suffering. A difficult winter causes hardship but produces an ice bridge from the mainland to the island and the emaciated wolves are able to return home to their territory.
Well-suited to late primary grades, Wolf Island is an excellent introduction to biodiversity and offers many possibilites for further discussion and exploration.
The Earth and I – written and illustrated by Frank Asch
Suitable for very young children, The Earth and I explores the relationship between a young boy and the world around him. We observe the boy viewing a rainstorm, celebrating a rainbow, playing with dirt and water in his backyard, going for a walk, raking leaves, planting seeds and eating fresh produce. “I sing for her. She sings for me. I dance for her. She dances for me.” When the boy discovers garbage littering a park, he clears away the garbage, plants a flower and embraces a tree,
An important message expressed simply, The Earth and I is well-suited to a preschool read aloud setting. As well, distinctive watercolour illustrations could serve as inspiration for young artists.
Bag in the Wind written by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Barry Root Picture book for older readers published by Candlewick Press
Best suited to children in elementary school, Bag in the Wind is a thought-provoking story about an empty plastic bag. Although still usable, it has been discarded. It is subsequently unearthed at a landfill and is blown back into a world of plants, animals and people.
Beautifully written and illustrated it is a picture book that will challenge older readers to think about ways to reuse resources. Bag in the Wind at Amazon.com
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A Grand Old Tree written and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma
Writing paper for kids - Tree with bluebird
discovers that being the centre of attention is not all he had hoped. He is lucky. He is able to use his special qualities to escape and make his way home.
tells the story of a young girl who learns from her grandmother. They leave a small cabin and, with her grandmother’s guidance, the young girl discovers the bounty of fresh food provided by Mother Earth. Lamb’s-quarters, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, rosehips, dandelions and mushrooms are all part of the bounty.
provides a great introduction to the idea of helping the earth. Whether reminding youngsters to recycle, turn off the water when brushing their teeth, use a lunch box and draw on both sides of the paper or encouraging children to help in the garden, the message is simple, positive and clear. 
tells the story of a young girl who, while visiting her grandpa, happily runs to a nearby beach. She loves to explore the seashore and is shocked to find a pile of garbage others left near a fire pit. She is disgusted by the waste and works to collect the candy wrappers, pop cans and mustard bottles. Before long, she meets an old woman who roams the beach and collects the litter others have left behind. The woman encourages the girl to consider, “The footprint of your life – the mark you leave on the world.”
is appropriate for children aged 7 to 9. Generously illustrated with photographs, it is rated “Level 2, Beginning to Read Alone.” Introducing ways we can help to look after the environment, content touches on recycling, a look at a landfill, disposing of toxic substances, reducing energy consumption, dangers of pollution and global warming, the benefits of enjoying local produce and ways trees help us.
written by Lara Bergen and illustrated by Betsy Snyder has an upbeat, positive message for very young children: what looks like garbage may be recyclable. Discarded paper, plastic, metal and glass all belong in a recycling bin, an empty jam jar can be transformed into a vase and a plastic milk jug can become a bird feeder. Additional flaps reveal homemade musical instruments, costumes and a car made from a cardboard box.
is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. Best suited to children five and up.
is richly illustrated and simply told. It will be a lovely accompaniment for your springtime seed planting and gardening activities.
invites readers to observe as spring arrives, the earth is awakened and a mother bear stretches with her young cub. We watch the snow melt and the two bears frolic in the sunshine and warm breeze. Before long it is summertime; butterflies, salmon, thunderstorms and starry nights change the natural landscape once again. When leaves begin to change and blueberries ripen, the two bears know it is time to prepare for winter. A lovely, gentle circular story about the changing seasons and our beautiful earth.
