greenwish’s!green!booklist!forpre2kindergarten!...

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Green Wish’s Green Book List for Pre-‐Kindergarten There are many “green” books that appeal to the very young reader. This list supplements Green Wish’s My Green Book Report: Reading Activities for Primary Students, and can be used by teachers in the classroom or by parents at home to bring a little green knowledge and fun into the lives of young children! Please continue to visit www.GreenWish.com for other sources of earth-‐friendly education. Book Description

Title: Gabby and Grandma Go Green Author: Monica Wellington Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers Age Range: 3-‐5 Description: When Gabby and Grandma get together, “Green Day” means “Fun Day.” From sewing their own cloth bags and buying vegetables at the Farmers’ Market to recycling their bottles, these two know how to have a good time while doing good things for the earth. The illustrations in Monica Wellington’s popsicle-‐bright palette—enhanced with myriad shades of green—result in a perfectly “green” addition to her books for the very young.

Title: Yucky Worms: Read and Wonder Author: Vivian French Illustrator: Jessica Ahlberg Publisher: Candlewick Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated—and fascinating—creature.


Title: Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer Author: Carol Brendler Illustrator: Ard Hoyt Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Winnie Finn is crazy about earthworms and knows everything about them. When spring arrives in Quincy County, all she can think about is the county fair coming up. This year, she would like nothing more than to win a prize for her worms so that she might buy a shiny new wagon for transporting them around. Trouble is, there’s no prize at the fair for worms. Bright, energetic illustrations accompany this jaunty tale about a young girl’s creativity that will inspire readers of all interests—but especially those with a love for something wiggly.

Title: Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids Author: Gail Gibbons Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Age Range: 3-‐6 Description: This lively and informative handbook explains the process of recycling from start to finish. The book focuses on five different types of rubbish—paper, glass, aluminum cans, plastic and polystyrene.

Title: Charlie and Lola: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers Author: Lauren Child Publisher: Dial Books Age Range: 3-‐5 Description: After Charlie convinces Lola to recycle her old toys instead of throwing them away, Lola discovers a recycling competition. If she can recycle 100 plastic, metal, and paper items, she can get her very own real live tree to plant. But she only has two weeks, so Lola decides to ask her classmates to help. They turn out to be extremely very good recyclers indeed. This adventure is printed on FSC-‐approved paper and includes recycling tips as well as a tree poster just like


Lola’s, so kids can keep track of their recycling projects and help to save the planet all on their own.

Title: Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf Author: Olivia Bouler Publisher: Sterling Age Range: 3-‐9 Description: One 11 year-‐old girl can make a difference—as budding ornithologist and artist Olivia Bouler has proven, single-‐handedly raising more than $175,000 for the Gulf Coast oil spill recovery. Devastated by the disaster and eager to do her part, Olivia wrote a letter to Audubon. Declaring herself “11 years old and willing to help” she offered her own bird paintings to raise contributions for Gulf recovery efforts. The idea took flight, and Olivia proceeded to send more than 500 paintings—many of which are captured in this lavish picture book that recaps her valiant campaign to save birds affected by the spill. A 2012 Parents’ Choice Gold Awards winner!

Title: The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time Author: David Davis and Jan Peck Illustrator: Carin Berger Publisher: Sterling Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Mother Goose has gone green—and this playful picture book invites kids to join the fun. In these delightful “recycled” rhymes, Old Mother Hubbard shops with cloth grocery bags; Old King Coal is a better old soul, working to keep our skies smoke-‐free; and Hickety, Pickety is now a cage-‐free hen! Carin Berger’s eco-‐friendly collages are created from ticket stubs, newspapers, and other reused items.


Title: Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya Author: Donna Jo Napoli Illustrator: Kadir Nelson Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Through artful prose and beautiful illustrations, Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson tell the true story of Wangari Muta Maathai, known as “Mama Miti,” who in 1977 founded the Green Belt Movement, an African grassroots organization that has empowered many people to mobilize and combat deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental degradation. Today, more than 30 million trees have been planted throughout Mama Miti’s native Kenya, and in 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari Muta Maathai has changed Kenya tree by tree—and with each page turned, children will realize their own ability to positively impact the future.

Title: Big Earth, Little Me Author: Thom Wiley Illustrator: Kate Endle Publisher: Cartwheel Books Age Range: 3-‐5 Description: Printed with organic-‐soy-‐based ink, this book with flaps empowers young readers by teaching 10 simple, everyday ways to save the world.

I can help.

I can recycle. I can turn off the water. I can turn off the lights.

From the adorable cut-‐paper collage illustrations to the simple text, Big Earth, Little Me is a book that thinks globally, but focuses locally.


Title: What Do You See? (Little Green Books Series) Author: Stephen Krensky Illustrator: Amy Schimler Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 2-‐5 Description:

I show up bright against the sky. I swoop and swoosh and flutter by.

What can I be? What do you see?

Stephen Krensky’s clever, rhyming text entices young readers to guess which endangered species are hiding beneath the flaps. From a panda bear to a monarch butterfly, each spread features text and flaps that hint at each animal’s identity, until finally it is revealed by lifting the flap. Composed of 100% recycled material, this playful and interactive book is both entertaining and environmentally friendly.

Title: I Want to Go Green! But What Does that Mean? Author: Jill Dunn Illustrator: Bohdi Hill Publisher: AuthorMike Ink Age Range: 3-‐5 Description: I Want to Go Green! But What Does that Mean? is a fun rhyming story for elementary-‐aged children that explores what it means to “go green.” The adorable character in this beautifully illustrated picture book takes readers on a silly, yet educational adventure as he discovers simple ways to conserve resources and keep our Earth clean.


Title: The ABCs of Going Green Author: Jill Dunn Illustrator: Bohdi Hill Publisher: AuthorMike Ink Age Range: 3-‐5 Description: The ABCs of Going Green teaches children not only the alphabet, but how to live a green lifestyle, as well!

Author: IKids (Little Green Books Series) Publisher: Little Simon Series: Green Start Age Range: 1-‐6 Description: This earth-‐friendly series is made from 98% post-‐consumer recycled materials and printed with eco-‐friendly inks. Each hardcover book’s simple, nonfiction content inspires children to love and respect the natural world, and the parent spread at the back of each book shows how easy it is to practice (and teach!) earth-‐friendly habits right at home. Little things we do every day can make a big difference in helping our Earth. Kids will discover all the simple things they can do to help the world.

• Animals Everywhere Children will love exploring all the incredible lands that animals call home.

• Baby Animals Kids will seek and find all the baby animals as they discover some of the most amazing endangered species.

• In the Garden Children will learn about the healthy foods they can grow right at home, and discover how eating fresh foods helps them grow, too.

• Little Helpers Kids will discover that the little things they do


every day can make a big difference to our world.

• One Tree From the insects that nibble on its leaves to the tiny creatures that call its branches home, one tree is the center for a whole world of life!

• The Five Senses From the gentle morning breeze to an evening’s sunset, we feel, taste, hear, smell, and see nature’s beauty every day.

Title: Where Does the Garbage Go? Author: Paul Showers Illustrator: Randy Chewning Publisher: HarperCollins Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Follow that garbage truck:

• To the landfill, to see how trash keeps piling up;

• To the incinerator, to see how trash can be turned into energy;

• To the recycling center, to see how a soda bottle can be turned into a flowerpot.

Filled with graphs, charts, and diagrams, Where Does the Garbage Go? explains how we deal with the problem of too much trash and provides ideas for easy ways to be a part of the solution.


Title: Why Should I Recycle? Author: Jen Green Illustrator: Mike Gordon Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series Age Range: 4-‐7 Description: Mr. Jones is a teacher who sets a good example for kids by separating his trash for recycling. When he takes them on a class trip to a recycling plant, they learn the value of recycling.

Title: It’s Earth Day! (Little Critter series) Author: Mercer Mayer Publisher: HarperFestival Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Little Critter is on a mission! After watching a film about climate change at school, Little Critter decides to do his part to slow down global warming. With the help of his family and friends, Little Critter begins to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Together, they learn about the importance of not wasting water or energy. Join Little Critter as he plants a tree, makes a climate control machine, and helps the polar bears.

Title: The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle Author: Nuria Roca Illustrator: Rosa M. Curto Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 3-‐6 Description: Attractive color illustrations and easy-‐to-‐follow text combine to present factual information that younger children will readily absorb and understand. The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle describes the ways in which kids and their families can avoid waste and be environmentally conscious. Four pages presenting activities for children appear at the back of the book, followed by a two-‐page section for parents, with tips on explaining the subject in more detail.


Title: The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling (Little Green Books Series) Author: Alison Inches Illustrator: Mark Chambers Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 4-‐6 Description: Peek into this diary of an aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a display on a bookshelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life … as a baseball bat!

Title: The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling (Little Green Books Series) Author: Alison Inches Illustrator: Pete Whitehead Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 4-‐6 Description: Learn about recycling from a new perspective! Peek into this diary of a plastic bottle as it goes on a journey from the refinery plant, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life...as a fleece jacket!

Title: I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (Little Green Books Series) Author: Alison Inches Illustrator: Viviana Garofoli Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 4-‐6 Description: Meet Max the Little Monster, a cute, furry green monster who is an environmental nightmare. He leaves on all the lights, keeps his computer plugged in, blasts the TV and hoards his old toys until, finally, his excessive ways cause a power outage. With no TV to watch, computer to play on, or video games to play with, Max finds there is a whole big world outside that he can make a difference in the environment.


Title: The EARTH Book Author: Todd Parr Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Age Range: 3-‐6 Description: “I take care of the earth because I know I can do little things every day to make a BIG difference...” With playfulness and sensitivity, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-‐friendly picture book. Featuring a circular die-‐cut Earth on the cover and printed entirely with recycled materials and non-‐toxic soy inks, this book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good—from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper, to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways.

Title: Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration Author: Alyssa Satin Capucilli Illustrator: Pat Schories Publisher: HarperFestival Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: It’s Earth Day! Join Biscuit as he helps take care of our green world. From planting seeds to cleaning up, Biscuit’s celebration is an exciting adventure for Earth Day and for every day.

Title: Don’t Throw That Away!: A Lift-‐the-‐Flap Book about Recycling and Reusing (Little Green Books) Author: Lara Bergen Illustrator: Betsy Snyder Publisher: Little Simon Age Range: 4-‐6 Description: You can keep that trash and reuse it in all kinds of

wonderful ways! Do you see that old jar? Don’t throw that away!

You can turn it into...a new vase! Follow an eco-‐conscious superhero as he teaches kids how to recycle and reuse common household items.


The six large flaps throughout show that ordinary trash is really a treasure. From turning old clothes into fun costumes or an old box into a brand new car, kids will learn that saving the environment is super cool!

Title: The Earth and I Author: Frank Asch Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: This story celebrates the friendship that one child has with the Earth. They play together, listen to each other, and nourish each other. But when the Earth is sad, the child is sad-‐-‐so he finds a way to make his friend, the Earth, happy.

Title: Water Author: Frank Asch Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Age Range: 4-‐8 Description: Water is beautiful, useful, and, in its many forms, vital to life. In this companion to The Earth and I, Frank Asch encourages young readers to appreciate anew one of our most precious resources.

Title: Reusing and Recycling (Help the Environment) Author: Charlotte Guillain Publisher: Heinemann Age Range: 4-‐6 Description: This series introduces very young children to the concept of caring for the environment in an attractive and accessible way. Based on children’s real-‐life experiences, the books focus on things children can do to help the environment and keep the world around us clean. In this book, children learn about reusing and recycling common household materials including paper, glass, plastic, and metal.

greenwish’s!green!booklist!forpre2kindergarten!...

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