KID’S Reviews

By Lyda Whiting

 

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH:  A HISTORY OF AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTALISM

Written by Pat McCarthy, illustrations by Mark Baziuk, with photographs from various sources

Learn the stories of men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting nature. Explore the struggles and triumphs of scientists, artists, authors and naturalists as they pioneered and expanded America’s environmental movement.

There are chapters on the work of activists John James Audubon, Henry David Thoreau, and John Muir. Also included are Rachel Carson, author of the history-changing Silent Spring which alerted the world to the dangers of pesticides, Roger Tory Peterson, whose field guides are still used by professionals and amateurs alike to identify live birds in the wild, and many others.

The book includes a timeline, sidebars on national parks, and additional online resources. There are 21 activities that give youngsters a chance to explore environmentalism by building bird feeders, making recycled paper, and starting a compost pile.

Highly recommended for ages 9 and up.

Published by Chicago Review Press, this book is available at your local bookstore.

 

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN…

Written and illustrated by Grandma Light

How much do I love you? More than numbers can count. More than stars can twinkle. More than all the snowflakes that have ever been. More than all the leaves on all the trees in the world.

Each page of this book is sillier and more exuberant than the one before. The colorful and funny illustrations will have children laughing out loud.

This began as a game that the author and her son played on car trips. Families will want to join in and everyone will be able to add plenty of their own “more than’s” each time they read it out loud. While having fun topping each other, families will grow closer and children will know how much they are truly loved.

Recommended for ages 2-6.

Published by AuthorHouse, this book is available at your local bookstore.

 

KATHRYN THE GRAPE’S COLORFUL ADVENTURE

Written by Kathryn Cloward with Ginny Hornby, illustrated by Christine Winscott

Oh no. . . Hamburger night again. Everyone else likes hamburgers, but Kathryn really hates them. Everyone is sharing stories about their day, but no one pays any attention to Kathryn. Kathryn feels invisible and unloved, as if she is not part of the family. Then Maggie, the magical butterfly, gave Kathryn a bracelet with charms in every color of the rainbow.

Maggie takes Kathryn on an adventure to discover the meaning of each color. Kathryn learns that she can speak up for herself politely, and that she does belong with her family. She learns that she has a rainbow inside of her, and everyone else does too.

Join Kathryn the Grape (she loves purple and wears it all the time) for another magical visit to the world of imagination.

For ages 3-6.

Published by Kandon Publishing, this book is available at your local bookstore.

 

TIPPY THE RAINDROP

Written and illustrated by Theodora Klein-Carroll

Tippy has a big decision to make. Should he fall to the ground as a raindrop or as a snowflake? He wants to stay a raindrop so that he can make a flower grow. But just as he leaps from the cloud, the Wicked North Wind blows Tippy on and on, until he is frozen into a snowflake at the North Pole.

Will he have to give up his dream? Or can he trick the wind into blowing him somewhere warmer? Tippy decides not to give up. He keeps at it, and uses his wit and bravery to make his dream comes true.

The journey of this little raindrop will inspire children to follow their own dreams. This simple story will be a favorite with youngsters.

This book also contains pictures at the back that children can color and cut out to make their own Tippy mobile.

For ages 3 and under.

Published by Balboa Press, this book is available at your local bookstore.