Nature – Why We Need to Care for Our Planet by Joli Hannah and Amelia Herbertson (Albatross Books) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN: 9788000070070
Reviewed by Kellie Nissen
With our planet in its current state, the importance of books that focus
on biodiversity, ecology, forestry and ecosystems, and that are written at a
comprehensible level for young readers, is paramount.
In Nature – Why We Need to Care for Our Planet author Joli
Hannah has crafted a range of chapters, each one focusing on a different aspect
and each with a short relatable story and call to action.
With chapters on rainforests, farming, deforestation, coral reefs,
commercial fishing and more, Joli Hannah has left no aspect unexplored and
gives readers a taste of each, leaving them with the desire to set off and find
out more for themselves.
Written in an easy-to-read style, with short chapters and digestible
chunks of facts blended with story, readers are invited to consider the world
around them with open eyes, to look at what we – as humans – have done, what we
are still doing and, most importantly, what we could be doing to save our
planet. The author’s passion for the environment is clear, and infectious.
The bright and beautiful illustrations by Amelia Herbertson offer, in
themselves, hope for the future. They are perfect for the target readership,
who may just be transitioning into the non-fiction genre, or who may find
photos too confronting.
The final chapter, ‘What can we do for you, Earth?’ offers suggestions
that are easy for children to implement, and that act as a springboard for
further discussion, whether with parents and carers, or with teachers and peers
at school. And the ending quote by marine biologist Sylvia Earle says it all:
“No one can do everything, but we can
all do something.”
Nature – Why We Need to Care for Our Planet is perfect for children aged from 6 to
9 years, who are transitioning from shared to independent reading, or from
fiction to non-fiction. This would also be the ideal book for teachers who work
with English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) students as a reading
and comprehension focus, and a springboard for conversation.
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