* Looking for a BIRTHDAY/SPECIAL present for your children or grandchildren??
* Want something that gets them engaged with issues of natural environments and sustainable living??
* Something to help them understand the effects of climate change on our birds, animals and plants??
* Get them reading some wonderful high quality stories??
** WELL! HERE ARE SOME BOOKS FROM SOME OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS !
* Children and Young people are anxious about climate change and its impacts on their world! Parents, grandparents and teachers often find it difficult to talk about the serious issues of what is happening to the Earth, oceans and all the creatures that live on and in them without causing more anxiety.
*Reading books together and talking about the pictures, characters and events is often a really good way to engage in the difficult issues! EVERY BOOK BELOW OFFERS READERS HOPE, ILLUSTRATES POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ENVIRONMENTS, EMPHASISES COURAGE AND AGENCY! They aim to build positive strategies that can be used to build a more sustainable world!!
* WALK OF THE WHALES by Nick Bland , Hardie Grant Publishing, 2021. [4 years up]
Lovely simple humourous illustrated fictional story of whales leaving polluted oceans and establishing their homes on land [some in people's swimming pools!] that speaks to the delicate balances in our natural environments and the consequences of upsetting those.
* ICEBERG by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft, Allen & Unwin, 2021. [5 years up]
Wonderfully illustrated book of Antarctica with the story of what happens to an iceberg during one year. While capturing the amazing beauty and vastness of Antarctica it also demonstrates why we need to appreciate and protect our natural worlds from extinction.
* HOW TO BEE by Bren MacDibble, Allen & Unwin, 2017. [8- 12 years]
A fictional story of a future Australia where the use of insecticides has made bees extinct. The place of humans in world ecosystems and the importance of retaining biodiversity are strong themes reflected in the main character, 9 year-old Peony, who like the bees is fighting to return home. One of the main messages in the novel is the modelling of positive strategies to build resilience.
* BINDI by Kirli Saunders & illustrated by Dub Leffler, Allen & Unwin, 2017. [8-12 years]
A beautifully illustrated novel in verse. The fictional story of a town surviving after a disastrous bushfire is told through the experience of an 11 year-old Australian First Nations' girl. It has a strong storyline, includes some Gundungurra language and has strong themes of perseverance, healing, rejuvenation, and connection to and understanding of Country and its ecosystems.
* THE GIANT AND THE SEA by Trent Jamieson & Rovina Cai, Hachette Australia, 2020. [8 years up]
A wonderfully illustrated picture book dealing with aspects of climate change. The giant, the sea-watcher, warns a young girl, the 'hero' of the novel, of rising sea levels because of the warming of the earth and oceans. Themes of the book include whose voices have power and influence, problems of unsustainable growth and ideas about future human adaptability.
* BLUEBACK by Tim Winton, Penguin 2009. [8 years up]
By one of Australia's best known writers and a longtime fighter to protect the natural wonders of particularly the oceans and sea life of Western Australia, this is a wonderful book for any young person who, like Tim Winton, is a keen surfer and loves the ocean. The book tells the story of Abel, his deep connection to the ocean and concern about the increasing negative impacts of human living, as he grows from child to adult. Dora, Abel's mother is his model of a persistent and resilient constant campaigner to save a threatened site. The book highlights the importance of persistence, courage and resilience and our collective responsibility for the custody of our Earth.
* Details and reviews of the books above were written by P.Jones, A.Hellwig & A.Turney and published in 'The Conversation', October 18, 2023.
* WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE SEA (1987). THE HIDDEN FOREST (2000). CIRCLE (2016). DESERT JUNGLE (2023) by Jeannie Baker , Walker Books , London.
By one of Australia's best known and loved authors and illustrators of young adult books Baker's four books all deal with issues of challenges to and destruction of world natural environments [forests (1987); marine ecosystems (2000); bird sanctuaries/habitats (2016); deserts (2023)] often through our fear caused by ignorance. Each one of the stories, told through the eyes of young people, emphasises the importance of coming to understand the importance of the role of the ecosystems of our natural worlds. By developing understanding through contact with and immersion in those worlds she shows how we can dispel our fear, appreciate the beauty and fragility of those ecosystems and the importance of saving them from destruction. All the stories are beautifully illustrated by Baker's meticulously crafted collage images.
* DROUGHT (2018). FIRE (2014). FLOOD (2011). by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley, Scholastic, Australia.
These three books written by two of Australia's best known writers of young people's fiction all tell fictional stories of the devastation to towns and country by each of the events. More important they have strong themes of courage, strength, kindness, resilience and communities helping each other in times of difficulty and distress.
* HERE ON EARTH by Tim Flannery, The Text Publishing, Melbourne 2010.
By one of Australia's most important environmental scientists and activists Flannery's book explores themes of evolution and sustainability and particularly human relationships with the natural worlds.
* THE LORAX by Dr Suess, Harper Collins, London 2021 (50th Anniversary edition). [5 - 80 years ]
One of the earliest fictional stories-in-rhyme about the destruction of the natural world and our responsibility to protect it by one of the world's most loved children's writers. Beautifully illustrated, delightful and poignant, The Lorax is a powerful allegory of the effects of destroying the resources of our natural worlds through the motivation of greed, profit and a capitalist society. A must read for everyone who lives on Planet Earth.
*ELEPHANT IN MY KITCHEN! by Smriti Halls & Ella Okstad, Harper Collins, London 2020. (4 ---> )
A simple story in funny verse of animals invading a little boy's house complete with beautifully, creative and fun illustrations - with a very serious message asking 'Why are all these animals invading my house?' The book also provides the answer - BECAUSE we humans are destroying all of the animals' homes, their habitats and ecosystems because of the selfish ways we continue to live. The book concludes with a cry from the little boy to save our world, change the ways we now live and live more sustainably both for us- but particularly the animals of the world - 'OTHERWISE the animals will have to come and live with me forever!!'
A wonderfully creative and funny story to begin to engage children and young people - and parents! - in the issues of why we need to create a more sustainable world and the ways we can do that by changing some of the things we now do.
*UNO'S GARDEN by Graeme Base, Penguin Australia, 2015. [ 5 years up]
By one of Australia's best known authors, Base's book [as some previous] is a 'look and find' story of fictional animals and the impact of increasing numbers of humans coming to live in and destroy their forest home. It is a simple and gentle introduction to notions of the impacts of humans on environment and the effects of habitat destruction.
* YOUNG DARK EMU: A TRUER HISTORY by Bruce Pascoe, Magabala Books, Broom, WA. 2019. [8 years- adult]
A record of the strategies and ways of living sustainably by Australia's First Nations People before the introduction of Europeans reflected in historical documents, diaries, pictures and photographs. The most important message of this book is an insight into ways of living that were employed by indigenous clans that might be important to again employ in living more sustainably now and in the future.