Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
In The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2018), our robotic friend from the first book has been refurbished and sent to work as a “normal” robot on a farm in a futuristic world. With all of her memories and abilities from her wild years, however, Roz is only
In Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (illustrated by Alexandra Colombo; IDW Publishing, 2008), the goofy illustrations and the rhyming text make for an amusing read aloud. The picture book gives the reader helpful information on how to recycle when a superhero (the titular “Michael Recycle”) comes to town to help the town learn what it
Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Phillippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson (illustrated by Meilo So; Chronicle, 2016). Watercolor illustrations and friendly text with unique typography share the story of a child new to the area that spearheads a class project. The project, “Lights Out
With a collage bunny illustration style, Recycle Every Day by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (Two Lions, 2003) shows how bunnies Minna and Pip learn about recycling and making earth-conscious decisions. This includes donating old clothing, starting compost collection, using reusable bags, and choosing recyclable materials, as well as traditional recycling ideas. The story frame of Minna
Dear Earth: From Your Friends In Room 5 by Erin Dealy (illustrated Luisa Uribe; Harper Collins, 2020) is an inspiring environmental activism picture book told through a series of letters between the students in room five of a school and the earth (who receives the letters through the wind). The students tell how they have
In the true picture book Green City: How One City Survived a Tornado and Rebuilt for a Sustainable Future by Allan Drummond (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016), the small town of Greensburg, Kansas that had been destroyed by a tornado was able to rebuild with environmentally friendly methods. In fact, all the buildings (schools, banks, residences)
The nonfiction picture book 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh (CAndlewick, 2012) uses lots of empty space, along with simple illustrations, to tell how the narrator (assumed to be a child) helps reduce use of lights, water, and paper, as well as unplugging appliances, recycling, and reusing materials. With large
Nature Recycles, How about You? by Michelle Lord, illustrated by Cathy Morrison (Arbordale, 2013), is a realistically illustrated picture book that brings awareness to how plants and animals reuse things in nature to survive. This includes a wide variety of examples, including a hermit using old shells and nature recycling water through the water cycle.
It’s not your typical alphabet book, nor is it a common recipe book, but Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals and illustrated by Ashley Wolf (Tricycle Press, 2010) gives a fun twist to both types of concept books. Rhyming text lists a number of items that can
One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole (Scholastic, 2020) is a unique wordless picture book that shows the journey of a paper bag, beginning as a tree in a forest and throughout years of reuse. First a tree trunk is cut down, processed, and made into paper, and then a family uses it
Evolution Under Pressure: How We Change Nature and How Nature Changes Us by Yolanda Ridge and illustrated by Dane Thibeault (Annick Press, May 2023) is a new volume for middle grade children and for young adults that explores how humans influence animals’ evolution. It discusses natural selection, as well as the “not-so-natural” selection, which shows
As a gorgeous oversized watercolor-and-ink illustrated picture book and poetic tributes, The Late, Great Endlings by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Aimee van Drimmelen (Orca Book Publishers, 2022) is a visual delight to peruse. Add to that the factual STEM-theme about extinct animals, and it’s also a necessary reminder that humans have a direct impact on
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