This document provides summaries of 9 books and 1 documentary. It begins with a summary of Eyes Wide Open, a book that introduces teenagers to climate change and environmental issues using an appealing black and white design. It then summarizes 7 additional books on various environmental topics ranging from urban agriculture to water usage to prairie ecosystems. It concludes by summarizing the documentary The Clean Bin Project, which focuses on reducing carbon footprints, and the book Fiddleheads to Fir Trees, which explores leaves through poetry and facts. The reviews provide high-level overviews of the content and themes of each work in 1-2 sentences.

1. Green Teacher 106 Page 41
Reviewers in this issue:
Alan Crook, Kristen Ferguson,
Catherine Koons Hubbard,
Jennie Kim, Annie Levine,
Matthew Pariselli, Deborah Roe,
Amy Stubbs, Stacey Widenhofer
and Sofia Vargas Nessi
Eyes Wide
Open
Looking for-
ward to making
a change in
today’s world,
Paul Fleis-
chman’s Eyes
Wide Open: Go-
ing Behind the
Environmental
Headlines is a
great source to introduce students to
climate change and environmental is-
sues. The book tries to give teenagers
a realistic picture of how consumption
(use of energy and natural resources),
and sometimes ingenuity (ignorance
about the impact of our daily actions
on the environment), are affecting the
world. Using an appealing black and
white design, this book is easy to read
and contains plenty of attractive pho-
tos, graphics, bullets and fact bubbles.
It’s divided into six helpful sections,
namely Noticing, Perception, Defense
Mechanisms, Systems, Attitudes, and
Eyes Abroad and Ahead. The tone
can be discouraging at times, draw-
ing on the sad, pessimistic views of
Fleischman’s political, psychological
and historical sources. However, even
though the quantity of topics covered
can be overwhelming, the book chal-
lenges the reader to continue research-
ing what is of interest to them by
providing useful resources, and this is
arguably its greatest strength. – (SVN)
Candlewick Press, 2014, ISBN: 978-
0-7636-7545-5 (pb) 203 pp., US$9.99
CDN$11.00 from <www.candlewick.com>
Pumpkins and Petunias
Drawing young children outside can
prove difficult, but with Pumpkins and
Petunias: Things for Children to Do
in Gardens as a guide, coaxing them
back indoors will become the prob-
lem. Esther Railton-Rice and Irene
Winston’s book
is a compila-
tion of 48
clever, creative,
and engaging
garden activities
aimed at pre-
and elementary
school children.
Divided into
eight sections
focusing on
exploring, observing, and playing,
for example, the activities range from
making a collage out of natural items
found in a garden to mimicking bird
calls. All lessons target inquiry-based,
active learning derived from children’s
innate curiosity to explore the natu-
ral surroundings, and each activity
emphasizes reflection rather than rote
learning. For teachers or educators, the
activities include a note, the objective,
materials required, procedure, and
which processes of learning will be
activated (art, science, or communica-
tion skills, to name a few). There are
suggested ways to expand each lesson,
and there is even a fun group of activi-
ties designed specifically for the often
overlooked winter season. Every child
will learn (and love) something from
this book. – (MP)
Xlibris LLC, 2014, ISBN 978-1-4836-8851-0
(pb), 176 pp., US$15.99 from 1-888-795-
4274, <www.Xlibris.com>
Your Water
Footprint
Simply put,
Your Water
Footprint will
open your eyes
to water usage.
It is easy to
say, turn the
water off when
you brush
your teeth, take shorter showers, and
use a rain barrel for the garden. But
what about the water used to produce
the things we use or the clothes we
wear? Stephen Leahy’s visual book,
full of facts, figures and pictures helps
the reader understand just how much
water we use every day in ways we
often don’t realize. The beginning of
the Water-saving Tips chapter sums it
up nicely – “By knowing how depen-
dent we are on water, not only for our
health but for our modern lifestyles,
we can change what we do. We can
reduce wastage, change habits and
make water-smart product purchases,
all of which can save both water and
money.” This fact-packed book would
be a welcome addition to any educa-
tor’s water resource library and is most
suitable for students in grades 4 and
up. The photos and visual comparisons
are easy enough for younger students
to comprehend and the facts and fur-
ther descriptions add that bit of extra
information that the older students will
engage with. – (SW)
Firefly Books Ltd., 2014, ISBN: 978-1-
77085-295-2 (pb), 144 pp., CDN/US$19.95
from US (800) 387-5085, CDN (800) 387-
6192, <www.fireflybooks.com>
Farming
the City
The urban
areas of the
world have
huge untapped
potential for
growing food.
Not only can
city food pro-
duction result
in fresher food for urban residents but,
as Farming the City: Food as a Tool
for Today’s Urbanisation discusses,
urban agriculture also has the added
benefit of connecting communities,
creating better waste management
and energy systems, simplifying food
transport and beautifying open spaces.
The book, edited by CITIES, high-
lights several urban projects around
the world that have successfully estab-
lished a system for urban agriculture.
It suggests ways in which city plan-
ners, farmers and other stakeholders
may work together to map out avail-
able resources (water sources, food
waste, etc.) and then create different
types of agricultural zones; for rooftop
gardens, areas suited to aquaculture,
those best for soil cultivation, and so
on. Issues related to public policy, eco-
nomics, and social investment are also
covered. Much of the information in-
cluded is both interesting and valuable,
with a writing style akin to that of a
Resources

2. Green Teacher 106Page 42
scientific journal. That being said, the
book is appropriate as a resource for
urban planners and those interested in
developing urban agriculture projects
or as supplemental reading for college
students or high school teachers work-
ing with related subjects. – (DR)
Trancity/ Valiz, 2013, ISBN: 978-90-78088-
63-9 (pb), 232 pp., US$32.50 from <www.
artbook.com>
Social Justice Art
Social Justice Art: A Framework
for Activist Art Pedagogy by Marit
Dewhurst offers an exciting approach
to creating a better world through the
medium of art. Based on observa-
tions of sixteen high school students
in an activ-
ist art class,
Dewhurst
explains how
she managed
to practice art
to fight social
inequalities
and injustices
via four learn-
ing processes:
connecting,
asking stu-
dents about specific problems in their
own communities; questioning, going
deeper into the root of the problems
that were unearthed; translating,
expressing their messages to the public
through art; and evaluating, dissecting
their work and its influence on the in-
tended targets. In this book, educators
will find examples of curriculums and
pedagogical tips if they are looking
to run a similar program. An added
bonus, at the very end the author has
included her own research notes and
sample activities. This is a valuable
resource to awaken social responsibil-
ity and encourage creative, individual
voices within the classroom. – (SVN)
Harvard Education Press, 2014, ISBN: 978-
1-61250-736-1 (pb), 152 pp., US$26.95
from (888) <www.harvardeducationpress.
org>
The Cow in Patrick
O’Shanahan’s Kitchen
Patrick O’Shanahan dragged
his feet to the kitchen for another
boring breakfast. He didn’t see
it at first, but it was definitely
there. A cow was in the kitchen!
And so begins this fun and fan-
tastical tale by Diana Prichard,
of a cow, a chicken, and a maple tree invading a young
boy’s kitchen to provide a magical French toast meal. Chil-
dren will enjoy the lively illustrations by Heather Devlin
Knopf and the absurdity of the situation, but they will also
walk away with a greater understanding of where common
foods like milk and eggs come from. As the author herself
states, “talking to kids and their families about food and
farming is one of my favorite parts of being a farmer.” This
book shows just how important farms are when it comes to
providing something we often take for granted – breakfast.
But it delivers its message in a way that is silly and enter-
taining, and sure to get young children laughing down to
the very last word: Oink! – (CKH)
Little Pickle Press, Inc., 2013, ISBN: 978-1-939775-01-6 (hb),
32 pp., US$17.95 from 877-415-4488 or (415) 340-3344, <www.
littlepicklepress.com>
The Box People
Kenny Peavy’s simple, almost
quirky book is the first in the
Ersatz Trilogy and manages to
be both delightful and cap-
tivating despite – or perhaps
because of – its homemade,
hand-drawn appearance.
Accompanied by fun, engaging illustrations by Callan
Bentley, The Box People describes, in rhyme, a society of
people living in boxes: box-shaped buildings, box-shaped
cars, eating boxed food and watching shows on boxes.
Their world is painted in dull shades of gray and brown.
Even a young child should have no difficulty drawing
parallels between the box world and the modern one in
which we live. The plot twists when a young man leaves
his box to visit a park. Here, surrounded by colors, he be-
gins to smile. He concocts a plan to move to the woods,
and is soon followed by a group of curious box people,
all of whom begin to feel happy in this new world filled
with colors and circles. “And when they returned to their
little box town, it wasn’t too long before they tore the
boxes down.” The message is simple: we are happier and
healthier the more we connect to nature. It is a conclu-
sion that many children need to arrive at, and one that a
reader of any age can understand. – (CKH)
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc., 2013, ISBN: 978-1-62287-
462-0 (pb), 25 pp., US$10.95 from <www.firsteditiondesign-
publishing.com>
Who Needs a Prairie?
A Grassland Ecosystem
Who Needs a Prairie is a wonder-
fully complete look at the large,
western prairie that many children
have never seen. From the animals
that call it home (free roaming
bison and pronghorn antelope), to
the climate through the seasons,
the food chain, and the importance of fire, Karen Pat-
kau’s book provides all of the information a teacher or
parent needs to introduce this unique, often overlooked
ecosystem. Elementary aged children can also use this
book as a helpful resource in researching the ecology of
a prairie. The digital illustrations are particularly well
done, looking like a cross between paintings and photo-
graphs. Patkau handles the factual language beautifully
– she understands her audience, and keeps the language
straight forward, simple, yet interesting. Although the
prairie in this book refers specifically to the wild, open
prairie of the Great Plains and not the smaller grassland
areas found in places like Wisconsin, it is nevertheless
Books for Young Readers

3. Green Teacher 106 Page 43
Celebrate
Nature!
Celebrate
Nature: Activi-
ties for Every
Season is a
guide to assist
elementary
school educa-
tors in encour-
aging children
to embrace the outdoors. Rooted in the
idea that nature provides a superior
educational setting to the over-engi-
neered electronic one most children
encounter, Angela Schmidt Fishbaugh
divides her book into four main parts,
or seasons, beginning with autumn.
The nature-based activities included
are cross-disciplinary, with each
one touching on Math, Science, Art,
Drama, Building Blocks, Language
Arts, Reading, Writing and Music.
Each section also shows ways to bring
the lessons back into the classroom
and how parents can expand on them
at home. In the spring section of the
book for example, one suggestion the
author proposes is that teachers have
children collect flowers while on an
outdoor walk. In music class they can
create songs about the flowers they
retrieved. Additionally, there are ways
to use the flowers in each of the other
subjects. The author stresses that
children benefit from spending quality
time in the outdoors and have lower
incidences of hypertension and ADHD
by doing so. The guide is easy to use,
and the fun, nature-inspired activities
will surely be instrumental in design-
ing a memorable academic year that
no child will soon forget. – (AL)
Red Leaf Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-1-60554-
034-4 (pb), 239 pp., US$29.95 from (800)
423-8309, <www.redleafpress.org>
The Clean Bin Project
Looking for a way to show people
how easy it is to make a difference in
their carbon footprint? The Clean Bin
Project, a documentary focusing on
just that, is the way to go. Grant Bald-
an excellent guide to a truly fascinating landscape. It
answers the question in the title most effectively in the
end by looking at the larger world, and showing what
might happen if vast food-growing grasslands disappear
from the earth. Who Needs a Prairie? We all do. – (CKH)
Tundra Books, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-77049-388-9 (hb),
CDN$19.99 from <www.tundrabooks.com>
Flowers Are Calling
Flowers are calling – calling
a butterfly, a bee, a nectar
bat at night. Ignored by
some animals – like the little
black bear, who doesn’t care
– flowers attract the pollina-
tors in Rita Gray’s beautiful book that strikes a wonderful
balance between science, poetry, and art. The book makes
the point that certain animals depend on flowers, and
the flowers in turn depend on them. Mixed amongst the
rhymes, the author highlights some of the wonderful facts
about different flowers and their relationship with pollina-
tors, sure to fascinate young children. The illustrations by
Kenard Pak are appealing and reminiscent of two-dimen-
sional Chinese landscape paintings. The group of three-
and four-year-old children who “test read” this story in a
nature-based preschool classroom loved the pictures and
the gentle rhymes; and the teacher loved it as a very child-
friendly way to introduce the study of botany. – (CKH)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2015, ISBN:
978-0-544-34012-1 (pb), 32 pp., US$16.99 from <www.hmhco.
com>
NEIGHBORS the Water Critters
NEIGHBORS the Water Critters is both a picture book
and a collection of poems by George Held about animals
that live in or near the water. The animals include the
beaver, “most admirable rodent, known for buck teeth,
whose ever-growing incisors gnaw on wood to eat” and
the polar bear, “pity the poor polar bear, who has the
distinction of heading for extinction.” There is also a
seal, manatee, whale, shark, and many others, all with
their own page, their own poem,
and an assortment of useful,
informative facts told in simple
elegant verse. The combination
of natural history with thought
provoking poetry and large,
bright, appealing drawings by
Joung Un Kim makes this a
wonderful book for young chil-
dren ages 3-9. The fact that each critter is dependent on
water ties them all together. The final page of the book
offers a list of “Do You Know” questions, the answer of
each can be found in one of the poems. – (CKH)
Filsinger & Company, Ltd., 2015, ISBN: 978-0-916754-31-0 (hb),
32 pp., US$25.00 from (212) 243-7421, <www.filsingerco.com>
Fiddleheads to Fir Trees:
Leaves in All Seasons
From the curly-leaf pondweed,
twisting twirling tickling, to the
quaking aspen, flutter, shiver shake
and quiver, this natural history
book by Joanne Linden explores
leaves through both poetry and
fact. On one side of each page, a
gentle poem with evocative lan-
guage reminds us of the beauty of the leaf. On the facing
page, we’re given a short description, with an explana-
tion of the leaf’s adaptations and uses. What a wonderful
book for an educator: read the poems aloud to a group of
young children, or use the book as an accessible science
guide to further understand the leaves in your area. The
fact that all four seasons are included takes this book
beyond the standard Autumn Leaves exploration of many
preschools. The illustrations by Laurie Caple are colorful
and remind us that leaves, in their own right, are as var-
ied and beautiful as the animals and flowers that depend
on them. – (CKH)
Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2013, ISBN: 978-0-
87842-606-5 (hb), 32 pp., US$12.00 from (800) 234-5308
<www.mountain-press.com>

4. Green Teacher 106Page 44
win and Jenny
Rustemeyer,
creators of the
documentary,
are a young
couple who
decided to start
a challenge
– who can
produce the
least amount of
garbage in a year? There are rules of
course, but they are able to bring some
light to everyday things that you may
not think about, like taking your own
bags to the grocery store, making your
own toothpaste, and avoiding straws
and toothpicks. This film is funny,
entertaining, engaging and helpful to
anyone that is thinking about contrib-
uting to a healthier environment. As
light-hearted as they make it seem,
the filmmakers are able to insert some
educational aspects about the dispos-
able society we live in. They visit
the landfill to learn more about the
process and also provide the viewer
with information about the devastating
amount of plastic that is making its
way to our oceans. I enjoyed watch-
ing these everyday people make some
very simple changes in their lives and
in the process, make a large environ-
mental impact. – (SW)
Video Project, 2010, (DVD), 50 or 77 min.,
CDN$250 (college/university) or $89 (K-12)
from (888) 607-3456 (CDN) or (800) 475-
2638 (US), <www.cleanbinmovie.com>
“My Daughter Can’t Wait for
Monday Morning!”
In “My Daughter Can’t Wait for
Monday Morning,” Martin J. Sterling
shares his approach to teaching and
classroom management for elementary
school students. The author uses his
years of teach-
ing experience,
combined with
the ecological
perspectives of
Capra, Chopra,
Briggs, and
Peat to pres-
ent a program
for teachers to
create a sense
of community within the classroom.
Sterling believes that classrooms
are a living system and that they are
ecological in that students interact
with one another. The essence of the
program is that students are divided
into four groups, called the Four Com-
munities. Each group is situated in a
corner of the classroom and students
have autonomy and responsibility
within the group and the classroom.
Students participate in learning
through community discussion and
collaboration. Sterling provides teach-
ers with specific lessons and activities
to guide teachers in setting up such a
classroom. In one example from the
model, teachers use a token economy,
giving and taking away group points
based on behaviour. Overall, the book
would be a good resource for teachers
looking to try a fresh approach not
only to classroom management, but
teaching in general. – (KF)
Frazer/Sterling Publications, 2013, ISBN:
978-0-9881379-0-5, 314pp., US$32 from
<www.amazon.com>
Common Threads
“I realized that the simple act of
weaving and teaching hand-based
skills is, for me, at the center of a quiet
revolution.” With that, Sharon Kallis
introduces
her book
Common
Threads, an
insightful and
visual guide
to creating
communal
handwork,
and as a
result, a thriv-
ing sense of belonging. Separated
into three parts (Places, People, and
Plants), Kallis’ book suggests there is
profound power in looking deeper at
our surroundings and recognizing the
opportunities and partnerships avail-
able at our fingertips. In the People
section, the author illuminates a story
from her own past to highlight the im-
portance and benefits of working with
others on a nature-based project. The
uncomplicated experience involves
creative minds, a collective interest in
weaving a semi-permanent installation
for a garden, and a desire to connect
with the earth and the individuals
working on the project. With helpful
tips and practical advice on controlling
invasive species, urban gardening,
and green-waste management, this
book underscores the relationship
between production and consumption,
and the notion that a return to nature
is all that’s required to provide for our-
selves and strengthen community ties.
Concerned citizens and artists
can learn from this book, but educa-
tors to all students can easily step
away with a basket full of ideas to
build upon. – (MP)
New Society Publishers, 2014, ISBN:
978-0-86571-778-7 (pb), 261 pp., US/
CDN$29.95 from 1 888 567-6772, <www.
newsociety.com>
Educating
for Hope in
Troubled
Times
The subtitle of
David Hicks
book best
describes its
focus — Climate
change and the
transition to a post-carbon future.
How exactly do we create hope in
this transition period? First we start,
by addressing hope as a verb, and not
a noun. In one of four main sections
the author discusses facing change by
acknowledging feelings, questioning
the future and accepting the transi-
tion that has already started. Creating
an emotional literacy in students that
bridges the cognitive and affective. As
the author walks the reader through
the transition each major phase is
broken in to two to three subtopics.
Discussion of these topics is at a fairly
high level, and planners will find it
extremely useful. The book is process-
oriented, and provides a gateway for
further development rather than just a
series of answers. The focus is K-12,
but it would be a useful text for educa-
tion students currently in university
as well. Most of the examples used are
local to the UK. Hicks comes down on
the left side of the political spectrum,
and pulls no punches when it comes
to current British government actions.
– (AC)
Institute of Education Press, 2014, ISBN:
978-1-85856-553-8 (pb), 202 pp., £26.99
(approx. US$44.95) from (020) 7763-2157,
<www.ioepress.co.uk>
The Teaching Brain
The Teaching Brain, written by Van-
essa Rodriguez and Michelle Fitzpat-
rick, investigates what it means to be a
teacher and all the preconceptions the
title carries with it. Divided into three
parts, and employing first-hand ac-
counts throughout, the book begins by
establishing the faults in our current
definition of ‘teaching’ and identifying

5. Green Teacher 106 Page 45
how that errone-
ous definition
was construct-
ed. The second
part of the book
unpacks the
contents of a
‘teaching brain,’
and the third
part follows by
arguing that
we all pos-
sess a ‘teaching brain’ waiting to be
engaged. The future of education is
discussed as well, and the point that
concerned, capable teachers are in
high demand is hammered home. The
book makes clear that teaching is a
multi-faceted process that requires five
areas of awareness, and if nothing else,
it sheds light on the invaluable work
of teachers. There is something for us
all to glean from this book, whether
you’re a teacher yourself, a parent, or
someone looking to better understand
the critical role of our teachers (and
the teacher in us all). – (JK/MP)
The New Press, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-59558-
996-5 (hb), 231 pp., US$26.95 from (212)
629-8802, <www.thenewpress.com>
The Leaf Anthology of Urban
Environmental Education
The Leaf Anthology, edited by Dan
Strauss, is a collection of 21 lessons
which educate urban students about
humanity, our infinite reliance on the
planet and the
impact that
the status quo
has upon it.
The included
projects are
intended to
inspire stu-
dents to take
an active role
in protecting
their environ-
ment. Each lesson is submitted by a
school within the LEAF Network,
a group of 24 high schools creating
innovative ways to teach conservation
and urban sustainability to teenage
students. Concepts presented in this
book create a strong sense of com-
munity and creativity and enable high
school students to make real change
within their neighborhoods. Lessons
are catalogued into one of three set-
tings: Natural Cities, Human Cities
and Evolving Cities, allowing teachers
to pick the area which best suits their
school community. The bonus fourth
category, Citizen Science, offers up
four ways to get students involved in
contributing to a bigger project. The
majority of the lesson plans are indi-
vidually available for free online. If
you require a print copy please contact
the organization to ask about one of
their limited run copies. – (AL/AS)
The Nature Conservancy, 2013, (pb), 314
pp., from (703) 841-5300, free online from
<www.nature.org/leaf>
Book of Animal Poetry
From the scorpion to the starfish, and
the snake to the seal, Book of Animal
Poetry swims deep and soars high
to include them all. With 200 clever
and creative poems by writers such as
Robert Frost
and Emily
Dickinson, and
with exquisite
photographs
to complement
each entry,
children will
cherish this
collection.
Selected by
J. Patrick Lewis and separated into
seven categories, namely the big, little,
winged, water, strange, noisy, and
quiet ones, every child is bound to
connect to at least one of the animals
showcased here. Whether it be the
whales “with walloping tails” off the
coast of Wales, or the ghostly sand
stingray that rises and hovers “like a
billow of brown rippling around,” this
book is equal parts educational and en-
joyable, enlightening and entertaining.
Teachers can read the poems to their
students, or have them read the poems
themselves once they’re capable, to
support existing curricula or a fun
expansion to a particular lesson. Addi-
tionally, this book could be a fantastic
tool for parents hoping to encourage
reading among children. Either way, it
shouldn’t be passed up. – (MP)
National Geographic Society, 2012,
ISBN: 978-1-4263-1009-6 (hb), 183 pp.,
US$24.95/CDN$27.95 from 1 800 647-
5463 or <www.nationalgeographic.com/
books>
Understanding Orchards
School orchards are popping up across
North America. They are worthy en-
deavors that provide many educational
opportunities for students, yet they re-
quire more care and thought than one
may imagine.
David Barnes
and Susan
Poizner’s
Understanding
Orchards: Soil
and Biodiver-
sity in Fruit
Trees focuses
on the issues
of soil assess-
ment and polyculture. This teacher’s
guide is divided into two units with
three hands-on activities in each. The
activities are straightforward and easy
to carry out within the school set-
ting. In the soil unit, students learn
to determine soil components, assess
soil drainage and water retention, and
improve soil through the addition of
chemical-free soil amendments. In the
biodiversity unit, students learn about
the levels of diversity and complete
basic tasks related to site diversity
assessment, fruit tree classification,
and orchard design. While this booklet
does not contain as much background
information as one may prefer, the in-
formation provided is clear, with thor-
ough definitions of new vocabulary.
Teachers using this guide will need to
do additional reading to supplement
the activities. However, it serves its
purpose as an introductory launch-
pad into orchard-planning projects for
students aged 12-17. – (DR)
Community Orchard, 2013, ISBN: 978-1-
48205-586-3 (pb), 35 pp., US$20.00 from
<www.communityorchard.ca/curriculum>
The Teacher’s Guide to Media
Literacy
The Teacher’s Guide to Media Litera-
cy by Cyndy Scheibe and Faith Rogow
is a comprehensive exploration of all
that relates to media literacy educa-
tion. The first three chapters address
what is meant
by media,
media literacy,
and media
literacy educa-
tion, and the
remaining six
chapters delve
into how me-
dia literacy is
best expressed
and taught
to students. For example, chapter
six provides ways to integrate media
literacy into specific subject areas such
as Math, English Language Arts, So-

6. Green Teacher 106Page 46
cial Studies, and Physical Education.
Chapter seven provides media literacy
lesson plans that educators can draw
on and incorporate into their teach-
ings. Each suggested lesson includes
an overview of what the lesson entails,
which curriculum areas the lesson
targets, which grade levels it’s suitable
for, and the specific learning objec-
tives of the lesson, among other things.
This book is highly recommended for
teachers of all grade levels. – (JK/MP)
Corwin, 2012, ISBN: 978-1-4129-9758-4
(pb), 245 pp., US$41.95 from (800) 233-
9936, <www.corwin.com>
How I
Became an
Elephant
It is amaz-
ing to see our
young people
in action! How
I Became an
Elephant, fol-
lows 14-year-
old Juliette as
she travels from California to Thailand
to learn about the mistreatment of
elephants. Filmmakers Tim Gorski
and Synthian Sharp follow Juliette’s
journey to discover how these majes-
tic creatures are trained and traded.
While there, she is able to connect with
a woman named Lek, who has been
an elephant advocate for over three
decades. What I admire most about Ju-
liette’s journey and passion is that she
is able to take these experiences and
information and use them to educate
her peers in the U.S. and worldwide.
As part of that education, she discusses
(and shows images of) the treatment of
elephants, which may be hard for some
sensitive viewers to process. That be-
ing said, once you know the problems,
you can take a stand to help rectify
them. Her dad sums it up nicely when
he says, “This is a big deal, you are
making a difference,” encouragement
that all of our youth should hear and
take example from. – (SW)
Green Planet Films, 2013, (DVD), 82min,
US$149 (Colleges & Institutions) or $49 (K-
12) from <www.greenplanetfilms.org>
Groundswell Rising
“I don’t want to leave…” Fracking
(hydraulic fracturing) has had a huge
impact not just on the U.S. energy
sector, but also on the people and com-
munities where it takes place. Ground-
swell Rising documents that impact
in a personal,
and at times
painful, way.
Individual sto-
ries dominate
this docu-
mentary by
Renard Cohen.
He reinforces
the stories
with im-
ages that bring home the day-to-day
circumstances of living with a major
industry booming in your rural/small
town. This is definitely a Not In My
Backyard (NIMBY) situation, but on
steroids. Second- and third-generation
residents are subject to light, noise,
and air pollution; falling property
values, water well contamination and
health impacts. Companies misrepre-
sent the facts to potential leaseholders
and minimal effort is put into provid-
ing water to those whose wells are
contaminated. Clean air and water
acts are flouted because the industry is
exempt. Yet residents fight back. Small
victories have led to larger demon-
strations and even statewide bans (in
Vermont) or moratoria (New York)
— a true groundswell. The story told
here is U.S. centric, but Canada now
produces 15 per cent of its natural gas
through fracking. There is no federal
legislation in place and only a patch-
work of provincial regulations. This
documentary lays bare the human cost
of oil and gas in the 21st Century, and
should be in the arsenal of anyone
wishing to stop or limit fracking in
their region, and of teachers of middle
school and up. –(AC)
Bullfrog Films, 2014, ISBN:
1-94154-519-X(DVD), 70 min., US$295.00
purchase/ US$95 rental from (610) 779-
8226, <www.bullfrogfilms.com >
Turning
Trash into
Treasure
for Young
Children
It is integral
to instill in
children at
a very young age, the importance of
repurposing waste and recovering
resources. Turning Trash into Treasure
for Young Children serves as a guide
for educators focused on changing
the behavior of future generations
and on creating a society that makes
less waste. Adam Buckingham’s book
outlines activities which he hopes will
serve as a catalyst to create those types
of communities. Thought-provoking
projects include creating a child’s
stage out of old flat screen television
frames, benches using wooden crates
and an old bath tub used as a large
planter. In the process of reusing trash
and turning it into playthings, children
can be shown that our resources are
finite and that with a little imagina-
tion, discarded items can once again
become usable. The book guides edu-
cators of any type, including parents,
through projects that repurpose trash
into games and activity centers for
youth. The activities are geared to-
wards toddlers up to children in third
grade, although they could be adapted
for a wider age range. Tapping into the
creative senses of young children can
result in innovation down the road,
changing the way industry operates
and impacts our world. – (AL)
Adam Buckingham, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-473-18714-9, 109pp, US $20.30 from
<www.trash2treasure.co.nz>
Nature
Education
with Young
Children
We underesti-
mate children’s
capacity to
absorb and
construct an
understand-
ing of complex
concepts. However as recent research
shows, they’re more than capable
of achieving this. The key is allow-
ing children the opportunity to build
connections between ideas within a
particular domain. Nature Education
with Young Children, edited by Daniel
R. Meier & Stephanie Sisk-Hilton,
is a great teacher resource exploring
this idea. It combines the theory and
practice of nature education, grounded
in children’s inquiry-based learning,
and is designed for early childhood
educators (ECE), garden teachers
and outdoor educators. In the book,
eleven authors share their experiences
and practical tips on educating in an
active, discovery-based fashion. For
example, Camille T. Dungy shows
how adults can share their nature
experiences with their toddlers in
everyday encounters. She says watch-

7. Green Teacher 106 Page 47
ing the world shift and discovering its
wonders can be a deeply engaging way
for adults to interact with children.
The book stresses that children learn
best through play and exploration, es-
pecially when prompted by their own
curiosity. Helpful photos and com-
mentaries in the book make it easy
for readers to grasp how to implement
nature study in an early childhood
education curriculum. – (JK)
Routledge, 2013, ISBN: 978-0-415-65589-
7 (pb), 225 pp., US$38.95 from (800) 634-
7064, <www.routledge.com>
Climate
Smart &
Energy Wise
This is a very
useful source-
book for admin-
istrators, depart-
ment heads and
educators from
middle school
through post-secondary, particularly
in the US, who want to address issues
and concepts related to energy, climate
and global warming. It presents a road
map for acquiring the background,
resources and best practices needed for
integrating these topics into curricula.
While presented at a fairly high level,
it provides copious links to climate and
energy frameworks, science standards
and expectations, and a clearinghouse,
Climate Literacy and Awareness
Network (CLEAN), of almost 250
activities and over 600 resources. Next
Generation Science Standards are par-
ticularly emphasized, as they provide
the best opportunity for a broad use of
consistent curricular elements. Another
table looks at key energy- and climate-
related curricular expectations in detail
from K through high school, and how
they link to Common Core math and
language arts. Under taking informed
action, emphasis is placed on infusing
age-appropriate concepts and experi-
ences throughout age levels from K
through higher education. There is a
wealth of information here for program
and curriculum developers in both
the U.S. and Canada. Practitioners,
particularly classroom teachers, might
be better off focusing on the outstand-
ing CLEAN website and the materials
posted there (cleanet.org). –(AC)
Corwin Press, 2015, ISBN: 978-1-4833-
0447-2 (pb), 171 pp., US$29.95 from (800)
233-9936, <www.corwin.com>
The Year
Comes Round
This whimsi-
cal book of
haiku by Sid
Farrar guides
us through the
seasons and
introduces us
to their many characters. Beginning
in winter, snowmen hope the sun does
not notice their coal smiles and carrot
noses. During spring, a robin invites
an earthworm back to her nest to
meet her children, and summer brings
grumbling skies above like-minded
corn rows. In autumn, apples and
pumpkins await their new futures as
pies with faces. Charming illustrations
by Ilse Plume accompany beautifully
crafted words in this read that is sure
to delight the newest readers to the
most seasoned of them all. The poems
serve to teach and inspire readers of
all ages with simplistic yet profound
ideas about the personification of
nature. On the surface, the ideas teach
children about the natural cycles of
the seasons, but deeper down, the
artistry and intrigue of the timeless
haiku comes forth. The language used
is basic enough to be used as a read
aloud to pre-readers. The simplicity
of this haiku lends wonderfully to the
harmonious way that seasons blend
together seamlessly and fulfill all the
needs of nature’s inhabitants. – (AL)
Albert Whitman & Company, 2012, ISBN:
978-0-8075-8129-2 (hb), 32 pp., US$16.99
from <www.albertwhitman.com>
Young Voices
for the Planet
“Kids Have
Power!” So
says a kid in the
Young Voices
for the Planet
program, and
of course, that’s
the key. Hope
replaces fear
when you can do something about
climate change. That’s the goal of this
innovative, web-based approach to
involving youth in the fight against
planetary warming. At its core are a
series of nine award-winning three- to
five-minute films where kids describe
what they’ve done to reduce green-
house gases and their effects. And I
don’t mean plant a tree. I mean plant
millions of trees. Once these little role
models rev kids up, there are materials
available to channel that energy into
productive projects, whether they’re
repeats of filmed efforts or new ways
to get at the problem. On-line lesson
plans are available, keyed to each film
and U.S. standards, as well as links to
maps and graphs which clarify con-
cepts. There is a book and teacher’s
guide that explain our changing cli-
mate, as well as a manual for teachers
and leaders that contains movie-linked
lesson plans and support materials.
In their own words, this program
“replaces fear-based instruction with
action-oriented inspiration.” It will
inspire kids from Grade three through
high school, and may even shame some
adults into doing more for the cause. It
shamed me. – (AC)
Corwin Press, 2014, ISBN: 978-1-4833-
1723-6 (pb), 143 pp., US$19.95 from (800)
233-9936, <www.corwin.com>
Young Voices on Climate Change, 2011,
US$19.95 (personal use)/US$29.95 (non-
profit use), <www.youngvoicesonclimat-
echange.com>
Shanleya’s
Quest
Thomas Elpel’s
Shanleya’s
Quest: A Botany
Adventure for
Kids Ages 9 to
99 stems from
the idea that we
keep each other alive with our stories.
Elpel turns the potentially drab topic
of plant taxonomy as it relates to food
and medicinals into a story of adven-
ture and discovery. Each plant family
receives a page of text accompanied
by a whimsical, full-page illustra-
tion by Gloria Brown. On her voyage,
Shanleya encounters eight islands
where each of the plant families (mint,
parsley, mustard, pea, rose, aster, lily
and grass) reside. With the help of a
mysterious Guardian, Shanleya learns
about each family (cosmology, evolu-
tion, key characteristics, what foods
or medicines are contained therein,
and if any members are poisonous). A
set of playing cards and instructions
for five different games reinforce the
learnings, and a related lesson plan is
free online. Looking past the story’s
metaphors, this book may be a useful
way to introduce students to plant pat-
terns and the reasons to know them.
Teachers with younger students may

8. Green Teacher 106Page 48
have to explain the odd concept or
metaphor. This is a companion piece
to the author’s Botany in a Day, which
was reviewed in the fall 2014 edition
of Green Teacher. – (AC/AS)
HOPS Press, LLC, 2005, ISBN: 1-892784-
16-5 (hb), 32 pp., US$15.00 ($25.00 with
cards), from (406) 685-3222, <www.
hopspress.com>
Outlaw
Weeds of the
West
Aerial Attack-
ers, Shifty
Drifters, and
Creepy Trick-
sters – these
are a few of the
pesky weed groups author Karen M.
Sackett sheds her light on (or takes her
weed wacker to) in the creative and
fun book Outlaw Weeds of the West.
With engaging illustrations by Ed
Jenne and colourful, visually-appeal-
ing photographs, the West’s worst and
most invasive noxious weeds (plants
that pose a serious threat to wildlife
and agriculture) are profiled here.
Throughout her book, Sackett clarifies
what makes a weed noxious, explores
how weeds take control of select re-
gions, and provides methods for elimi-
nating their unwanted presence. For
example, Sackett introduces readers to
special agent Cyphocleonus achates,
also known as Sifo for short, which
kills its target weed, the knapweed.
There’s also a section in the book
reserved for the ten worst weeds of the
West, appropriately titled Guide to the
Most NOT WANTED Weeds in the
West (including the Canadian Thistle).
With aliases, mugshots, and noxious
behaviour traits listed here, readers
will be able to identify and conquer
these weeds should they ever come
face-to-flower with them. This book is
the tool teachers have been searching
their garden sheds for to hook young
children on the topic of weeds. – (MP)
Mountain Press Publishing Company,
2014, ISBN 978-0-87842-630-0 (pb), 44
pp., $14.00 from Mountain Press Publish-
ing Company, (406) 728-1900 or (800) 234-
5308, <www.mountain-press.com>
Washashore
Whether it’s a frigid wintry night
when you’re dreaming of the sun’s
tender touch, or it’s summer and
you find yourself sprawled out on a
beach, Suzanne Goldsmith’s novel
Washashore is a warm and resonating
story. Self-reliant Clementine Harper
(or Clem, as we get acquainted with
her) is a fourteen-year-old forced to
abandon the comforts of her home in
Boston to spend the winter months on
the magical island of Martha’s Vine-
yard. With no friends to turn to and
her parents’ marriage disintegrating,
Clem is driven
out of her cot-
tage and into
the wondrous
island where
she encounters
a lonesome boy
named Daniel
and a fallen
osprey. Both
boy and bird
spark a fire in
her to protect and preserve the natural
ecosystems of Martha’s Vineyard,
and as readers we revel in her growth.
Set against the backdrop of the 1970s,
Goldsmith’s style is soft and quiet,
paying special attention to the vivid
details of the shores, woods, and skies
that make the island the enchanting
place it is. Ideal for young adults and
teachers looking for a novel study of
environmental content, this book will
capture, transport, and inspire a great
breadth of readers. – (MP)
Lucky Marble Books (an imprint of Pag-
eSpring Publishing), 2013, ISBN 978-1-
939403-12-4, (pb), 275 pp., $9.99 from
Lucky Marble Books, <www.luckymarble-
books.com>
From Pristine to Earth
In Ashley Ivanov’s ebook From
Pristine to Earth, Marlo, a middle
school student and resident of the
planet Pristine, is sent to Earth to
explore its
environment for
a school project.
With no gar-
bage in Pristine,
you can imag-
ine his surprise
upon arriving
in a land-
fill. Through
a series of
adventures
and misad-
ventures, Marlo learns of the impact
of plastics on the environment. The
book also mentions issues such as
the greenhouse effect and its impact
on humans and the physical environ-
ments. We follow Marlo as he works
with his new-found friends to change
the attitudes of people, governments
and industries. This book is geared
towards middle school students, has
some humourous sections and would
provide a fun alternative to traditional
teachings on these issues. – (EJ)
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Plat-
form, 2014, ISBN: 10:1499614578, 264 pp.,
US$2.97 from <www.amazon.com>

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