In celebration of Earth Day, three authors shared the value of protecting nature, spotlighting environmental activists, and inspiring young readers to take action.
Ann E. Burg
Why was it important to you to create a book addressing environmental conservation for young readers?
Environmental conservation should be important to all of us, but I’m convinced that the enthusiasm and creativity of middle schoolers will generate the commitment that’s necessary to heal our fragile planet.
What specific environmental concern does your book address?
While Rachel Carson is most remembered for her opposition to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, she does not address pesticides as the sole source of our damaged Earth. For Rachel, the greatest environmental concern was our desire to control nature rather than live in harmony with it. Force of Nature explores Rachel’s lifelong devotion to the Earth and all her creatures.
What do you hope your book teaches young readers about their relationship to the planet?
Rachel Carson reminds all of us that we are a part of nature and that in taking care of it, we are taking care of ourselves and each other. It would be wonderful if all my readers could recognize the inherent interconnectedness of the natural world and cherish our planet as Rachel did.
Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg, illus. by Sophie Blackall. Scholastic Press, Mar. 5 $19.99 ISBN 978-1-338-88338-1
Lucy Hawking
Why was it important to you to create a book addressing environmental conservation for young readers?
I wanted to write a book which helps young readers to understand that their views and opinions on the world in which they live do really matter. While I expect the readership for this book to be quite young, I would like them to develop a sense of agency over the future of their beautiful planet and to know that through activism and self-expression, their voices can be heard and they can influence the ways in which we use and share the precious resources of the Earth.
I want our readers to get the sense of science as an inspiring activity, something that draws them in and where they could play a vital and exciting role in making our future a place they want to live. I hope this book helps plant the thought that science may be more accessible and diverse than they might otherwise believe as well as something they can enjoy and share with others.
What specific environmental concern does your book address?
You and the Universe is intended as a starting point to engage young readers’ imaginations and spark their curiosity so that they can begin to understand different environmental issues. The book is designed to introduce these readers to the wonder and beauty of our planet and the need for us to work together to protect it, in whatever way we can. It’s a first step to building confidence, knowledge, and awareness for readers as well as creating a journey around the universe for parents, teachers, caregivers, grandparents, and children to embark on together.
What do you hope your book teaches young readers about their relationship to the planet?
I hope this book awakens a sense of wonder in readers and helps them to appreciate the extraordinary planet on which we live. I also hope it helps to give them confidence that their voices matter and that no one is too small to make a difference.
You and the Universe by Stephen Hawking with Lucy Hawking, illus. by Xin Li. Random House, Mar. 26 $19.99 ISBN 978-0-593-43211-2
Yuval Zommer
Why was it important to you to create a book addressing environmental conservation for young readers?
When it comes to discussing our relationship with planet Earth, we tend to use abstract, big words such as environmentalism, sustainability, and conservation. I wanted to convey these big ideas to small readers. As always, I wondered, what would be the best way to explain these to my inner child? I decided to go for a modern-day fable where the environment is depicted as a vast, living, breathing, green creature who needs us as much as we need it. Children have an instinctive curiosity and love for nature, so I chose the voice of a small child as the hope that brings a better future.
What specific environmental concern does your book address?
I decided to highlight issues that I could bring visually into the story, such as deforestation, pollution, industrialization and similar man-made activities that impact our environment.
The differences in [The Wild’s] [the fantastical location featured in Zommer’s book] health are made visible also via the use of color, from fresh greens and clear blues to muddy, smoky greys and back again. As people begin to seek a more mutual relationship with nature, where there is give as well as take, The Wild begins to heal and becomes spectacular once again.
What do you hope your book teaches young readers about their relationship to the planet?
Ultimately, this is a book offering the promise of change through individual and collective action. When enough people speak up and work together to care for The Wild, there is hope for its future. The message for young readers is one of empowerment: our efforts have the power to do good and reverse years of environmental damage. Whether big or small, if we all act, even the smallest change can mean a difference.
The Wild by Yuval Zommer. Doubleday, Feb. 27 $18.99 ISBN 978-0-593-70898-9
