Time for the Earth Day edition of “Brianna’s Books”! Whether it’s busy beavers or pun-loving forest friends, I’ve gathered some of my favorite new reads to show you how nature—and a few dedicated kids—can change the world one page at a time!
Picture Books
“When Beavers Move In” written by Alison Pearce Stevens and illustrated by Natasha Donovan
When beavers move in, they can change their entire environment. The busy animals topple trees and build dams, which can lead to problematic flooding when they’re too close to where humans live. So when beavers move in next to humans in Puget Sound, folks call for help from the Tulalip Tribes. The Tribes sponsor a beaver removal program and safely transport the beavers to an area where their skills are needed. The beavers immediately get to work building their lodge, which results in a pool of stored fresh water. This creates a habitat for fish to spawn and invites all kinds of flora and fauna back to the area, as well as providing protection from droughts and wildfires. This is a great nonfiction book to share with younger kids, as it provides fascinating information without becoming too dense and features bright comic-style illustrations.
“Our Cities Depend On Us: Rethinking Our Urban Areas to Fight Climate Change” by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
This is a fascinating look at cities around the world and their response to climate change. Written by an architect, the watercolor illustrations are precise and detailed, with just enough information to inspire readers to seek out more. In Singapore, we’re treated to images of lush gardens atop any available surface, from building rooftops to city buses and bus stops. In Vancouver, we learn about skyscrapers made from cross-laminated timber, which is grown sustainably in the area instead of paying for more traditional materials to be shipped from far away. In Bangkok, we see a park landscaped to divert floodwaters away from city streets and into a retention pond that will be appreciated in the dry season. This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved to pore over as a child, and it provides beautiful concrete examples of what the world is doing beyond just “reduce, reuse, recycle.”
Chapter Books
“Little Habitats: Fiddlehead Forest” by Jana Curll
Time for a pun-filled graphic novel! Fern and her friends are distressed when Tree falls over in a big storm. They’re determined to get her upright again—it’s Fern’s personal “guaran-TREE.” Slug tries making a slippery trail to slide Tree back into place, and Moth tries to lure larger animals in so they can help. They continue to try various ploys, but all their efforts fail. “FERN-ally” they realize that the fallen Tree has taken on new life as a Nurse Log, supporting the forest’s ecosystem in myriad valuable ways. With engaging humor and adorable illustrations, this is a wonderful way to learn about the importance of nurse logs.
“The Greenies” written by Emma Mills and illustrated by Sarah Nicole Kennedy
Here’s my one fiction offering this month. After Violet’s parents’ divorce, she’s forced to move with her mom from Chicago to St. Louis halfway through the school year. The only person she knows there is her cousin, and she’s desperate to fit in and make friends. Violet is quickly welcomed by a boisterous friend group, but a secret—and raucous—lunch party under the bleachers leads to the whole group’s detention. Their penance is to join the school’s under-attended Environmental Club and help with their recycling efforts. The friends grudgingly develop respect for the club’s overachieving president, and even begin to share her passion for the environment. Marketed as “The Baby-Sitters Club” meets “The Breakfast Club,” I think readers will enjoy this look at middle school friendships (bonus points for being set in Missouri!).
