The Great Big Green Book

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Think of the future. Can you imagine our planet as beautiful as it used to be? You could be the one to help make it beautiful again, with the things you do and the ideas you have. Your planet needs YOU!" Join authors Ros Asquith and Mary Hoffman as they explain what we need for life on Earth and show us the importance of the rainforests and the oceans. In this bumper book of environmentally friendly ideas, they explain that we need to look after our planet, showing how some of the things we take for granted are running out, and how we have polluted so much our planet. As well as facts about our planet, the book is full of brilliant action plans to help save our planet, including ideas for saving water, saving energy, recycling, repairing, growing seasonal food, cooking fresh food, saving on packing, asking questions... and thinking of new inventions and big ideas. This is the eco-friendly guide to helping save the planet that all young children can learn from!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-4-A multiethnic bunch of kids (including four in wheelchairs and one with a walker) skitter across the pages of this cheerful picture book on the importance of thinking green. Children and adults consider issues such as climate change and the shrinking rain forest, as well as ways to make a difference. Readers will appreciate the fun details of the cartoon illustrations, such as a cat who provides a comical running commentary; brief asides in speech bubbles from people, animals, and even plants; and small decorative drawings on the page borders. Many of the ideas mentioned are activities that kids can participate in (turning off the TV when it isn't in use, recycling). The author's simple, chatty text reassures the worried that saving the environment can be difficult because "the grown-ups make these decisions-but you can talk to them about it." Because the book was originally published in the UK, there are some Briticisms (elevators are called lifts, sneakers are trainers), but readers won't find these terms too intrusive. Pop this on the shelf with such titles as Michelle Mulder's somewhat more challenging Trash Talk: Moving Toward a Zero Waste World (Orca, 2015), Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin's solid True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet (National Geographic, 2008), and Brad Herzog's simple S Is for Save the Planet: A How-to-Be-Green Alphabet (Sleeping Bear, 2009) for a sturdy quartet of inventive ways to raise kids' awareness. VERDICT An upbeat, colorful appeal to be environmentally conscious.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Hey reader The earth needs you This oversize volume uses child-friendly prose to discuss the problems of climate change, animal extinction, and water issues. The book's clearly stated message is that everyone can help make changes and emphasizes that ideas can come from anyone. With that, the book offers its own suggestions for everything from using thicker curtains for warmth to turning off electric appliances when they are not being used to growing a garden. Repair, reuse, recycle is the book's mantra. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations feature a diverse group of children who illuminate each concept on the double-page spreads. A couple of British words (loo rolls, tyre) might be confusing. However, the illustrations have a universal air. A funny, egocentric cat who provides his own running commentary as the pages turn adds a humorous note to the topic. Kids who want to save the planet will find lots of ideas here.--Edmundson, Martha Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

Busy, colorful cartoons accompany text meant to encourage environmental activism in children. The title page shows a Quentin Blake-ish, orange-and-black-striped cat in the upper corner. The cat's speech bubble reads, "Can you find ME every time you turn a page?" The device may help retain the attention of those who begin to flag from too much informationor help more anxious children tune out the most devastating facts. Each double-page spread has a title that organizes a nonlinear movement of topics that range among praising the Earth, proclaiming its demise and saving it. The cartoons sometimes grate inappropriately against the British, prosaic, didactic text, as when sad dogs with bursting bladders and pastel dinosaurs "queue" near the words, "If we lose too many treeshumans could end up extinctlike the dinosaurs!" Then there's the cartoon about species endangerment: "How will Santa get to all the homes without reindeer?" The art shows much cultural and ability diversity, including an uncomfortable moment between a child in a wheelchair and a "green" family asking, "Do we really need LIFTS?" In addition to providing expected conservation prompts, the text encourages children to ask questions and to be inventive. Besides imploring kids to fight climate change, the text admits at one point, "It's hard because usually the grown-ups make these decisions." Far too hard a sell for the intended audience. (glossary, websites) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.