EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
|
| ||||
|
Advertise
With Us
Click here to request more information.
OC Family reaches:
- Active & educated parents
- Growing families
- And more...
READ
|
||||
|
Earth Day takes place on Thursday, April 22, and to get into the spirit, I want to share with you these three environmental-themed books. Each one offers its own special message, and it's a great way to get children thinking about how they can help protect and sustain the world around them. So, read on about these green books, and I hope you have a chance to share them with your children. 'The Wish Stealers' [ages 8-12] By Tracy Trivas (Aladdin; 283 pages; $16.99) Travy Trivas' first children's book "The Wish Stealers" is a great read with a fabulous message about the environment – and following your dreams. The book follows Griffin Penshine (don't you love the name?), a young girl with a lot of heart. When Griffin receives a box of pennies from an old woman – who turns out to be a wish stealer – she must embark on a journey to save the dreams of those the villain has taken them from. Her own wishes hang in the balance throughout the book, which boasts fantasy, adventure and a captivating plot. So, what does all this have to do with Earth Day? For starters, Griffin gets her whole school to collect pennies for charity. And, Los Angeles-based Trivas has teamed with Pennies for the Planet, an educational fundraising campaign for children in grades two through six. The program is supported by TogetherGreen and teaches students about threatened ecosystems and offers ways children and their families can help sustain the environment. Fabulous! Note: The book is suggested for more advanced readers.  'Here Comes the Garbage Barge' [ages 4-8] By Jonah Winter; illustrated by Red Nose Studio (Schwartz & Wade; 40 pages; $17.99) Next up on my recommended Earth Day-reading list is "Here Comes the Garbage Barge," which is based on a true story about a town, 3,168 pounds of garbage and nowhere to put it. Until Gino Stroffolino – "this guy in the garbage business" – comes with a plan to haul the trash from Long Island to North Carolina on a barge following the Break of Dawn tugboat. Cap'm Duffy St. Pierre has the task of hauling all that garbage – but the plan doesn't work out quite as the schemers had hoped. I'm not going to tell you the rest, but it's a classic tale. I love it – and the images are even better! They feature photographs created from junk, trash, and other objects. So creative. And, of course, it offers a great message about recycling.  'Tess's Tree' [ages 4-7] By Jess M. Brallier; illustrated by Peter Reynolds (HarperCollins; 32 pages; $16.99) This is a powerful, moving story about a girl named Tess and the connection she has with her favorite tree. Unfortunately, the tree is very old and must be removed from her yard. Tess must learn to come to terms with the loss, and she finds a way to remember the legacy of the tree's leaves, its shade and all the fun times it offered her. It's a beautifully moving story with touching illustrations that showcase Tess's pain – and, eventually, her happiness. I love this book, and it will teach your children to value nature around them.  For more nature-themed books, check out "Storytime." I'm featuring three different selections, all geared toward teaching kids to love and learn from their environment. And, be sure to stop by Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday for a reading of "Baby Lauren and Theodore," which is written by O.C.'s own author, Deborah Sherrell. She'll be signing copies of the book, too. The reading gets going at noon, but the museum will be offering other green activities throughout the day. For more information, visit pretendcity.org. Happy Earth Day!  Kristen Schott is OC Family's children's book editor. Be sure to check out "Storytime," my video book reviews, for more fun facts about stories you and your kiddies must read. Author spotlight: Rhonda Fischer 'That Cat Can't Stay' Calling all book lovers 'Where the Mild Things Are' by Maurice Send-up That dog's gettin' old 'Prentice Hall: The American Experience' Pick up this springtime counting book One whimsical story Anaheim Public Library launches book donation campaign Gosh, I love Spoonfuls of Stories 'Are You My Mother?' Poetry for kiddies Books aplenty in O.C. Vocab – it's not a nightmare anymore 'What reading can do for your kiddies' A look back Book with no words 'Pickle Things' Book vs. Kindle A world of magic awaits Hearts and hugs? 'Rita and Whatsit' Colds and books More 'Twilight'? 'Princess and the Frog' Where do you read? Are they really 'Indestructible'? Book journals 'Weezer Changes the World' 'All Kinds of Families' |
||||
RSS SubscribeSEARCH THE SITE
