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Books/DVDs/Videos, Continued
Age Level |
Title |
Author |
Book Summary |
Copyright/ |
Format |
Youth--Ages |
Home |
Baker, Jeannie |
This wordless book begins with a mother and father holding their newborn in an urban environment with only a trace of the natural world. As the baby grows, so too does the greening of the neighborhood, turning a drab city street into a living, thriving home. |
2004:Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages |
Window |
Baker, Jeannie |
This wordless book begins with a mother holding her newborn son as she looks out the window at a pond and lush vegetation. The following illustrations show the changes in the landscape during the next 20 years. |
1991:Greenwillow Books, a division of William Morrow & Co., NY, NY |
Illustrated |
Ages |
Tree of Life |
Bash, Barbara |
This book describes the lifecycle of one of Africa's trees--the baobab, which has branches that look like gnarled roots. These trees, often measuring 60 feet tall and 40 feet across, have a lifespan of over 1000 years. In the book, the baobab tree dies--but one of its seeds sprouts, so life continues. One of nature's great lessons is recreated in this wonderfully illustrated book. |
2002: Sierra Club Books, San Francisco, CA
|
Illustrated |
Youth--Ages 4 and up |
The Quiltmaker's Journey |
Brumbeau, Jeff and Gail Marcken |
This is a story about the value of generosity. A young girls leaves her home and village, and finds many less-fortunate people in the world. The young girl discovers a gift she can share with these people, which enriches their lives and her own. |
2004: Scholastic Inc. |
Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 4-8 |
Butterfly House |
Bunting, Eve |
After saving a caterpillar, a young girl and her grandfather build a butterfly house. The child decides to bring outdoor beauty into the box by painting a colorful “garden” on the insides of the box, and a blue sky on the inner lid. The caterpillar undergoes the metamorphosis and is set free by the tearful girl. In her older years, the “girl” (who narrates the story) enjoys the many butterflies in her own garden. A touching story. |
1999: Scholastic Press 0-59084-884-4 |
Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 4-8 |
Secret Place |
Bunting, Eve |
The young narrator discovers wildness among a city's concrete. He shares his find with a few grateful adults and, at the same time, introduces readers to wildlife he's discovered. As his enthusiasm for wildness grows, he wants to tell others but is cautioned to “be careful,” as some may want to take it and change it. |
1996: Clarion Books 0-39564-367-8 |
40 pgs., Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 4-8 |
Hey, Get Off Our Train |
Burningham, John |
This is a story about the perils facing animals around the world...from pollution to habitat destruction. |
1994: Dragonfly Books |
Illustrated picture book |
Adult |
Sharing Nature's Interest: Ecological Footprints as an Indicator of Sustainability |
Chambers, Nicky and Craig Simmons and Mathis Wackernagel |
This book communicates ways to calculate the impact individuals have on the earth. It identifies areas to focus on and ways to work toward sustainable development. |
2000: Earthscan Publications Ltd., Sterling, VA |
185 pgs., Nonfiction |
Ages |
The Great Kapok Tree |
Cherry, Lynne |
This wonderfully illustrated and highly recommended book depicts the lushness of the Amazon rainforest, and why it needs to be protected. |
1990: Gulliver Green |
Illustrated |
Ages 4-8 |
Miss Rumphius |
Cooney, Barbara |
As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all. |
1982: Viking |
Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 5-9 |
Wake Up, World! |
Hollyer, Beatrice |
This book provides information about the day in the live of children around the world. |
1993: Puffin 0-8050-6293-9 |
Illustrated picture book |
Adult |
Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability |
Horn, Greg |
Former CEO of General Nutrition Centers (GNC), Horn explains effects on the environment from food, products, energy choices and other issues. In each chapter, he provides recommendations on living healthier. |
2006: Freedom Press 1-89391-047-4 |
171 pgs. Nonfiction |
Ages 12-18, adult |
Natural Connections |
Howard, Sharon and Michael Rosen |
Articulate scientists and beautiful photography underscore this video that addresses the importance of biodiversity. Though focused on issues in the NW United States, the video is excellent and includes clips about advertising and consumption.Click here for a video summary. |
2000:
Howard Rosen Productions |
46 min., Video |
Adult |
The Better World Handbook |
Jones, Ellis; Ross Haenfler; Brett Johnson; Brian Klocke |
The book begins with a summary of problems and foundations necessary for building a better world. The authors (four university professors) then address topics such as food, money, transportation, work, and media, focusing on activities that support a better world. |
2001: New Society Publishers 0-86571-442-8 |
300 pgs., Nonfiction |
Adult |
The Better World Shopping Guide: Every Dollar Makes a Difference |
Jones, Ellis |
This social and environmental focused pocket-sized guide ranks products from A to F-turning your grocery list into a most powerful tool to change the world. Jones currently teaches sociology at UC-Davis. |
2006: New Society Publishers 0-86571-576-9 |
200 pgs., Nonfiction |
Adult |
The Better World Handbook: Small Changes that Make a Big Difference |
Jones, Ellis |
Designed to reach people who normally would not consider themselves activists, this book is intended to help citizens create a more just, sustainable, and socially responsible world. (See above.) |
2007: New Society Publishers 0-86571-575-0 |
301 pgs., Nonfiction |
Youth--Ages 8-12 |
Children Just Like Me |
Kindersley, Barnabas and Anabel |
The book describes the lives of children around the world, and includes photos of their families, their homes and schools, foods they eat, and other aspects of their lifestyles. |
1995: Dorling Kindersley Publishing 0-7894-0201-7 |
Illustrated picture book |
Adult |
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder |
Louv, Richard |
Louv says today's kids are increasingly disconnected from the natural world, even though research shows that exposure of youngsters to nature can be an effective therapy for attention-deficit disorder and other problems. Book is highly rated by environmental educators; good review from Scientific American as well. |
2005: Algonquin Books |
336 pgs., Nonfiction |
All ages |
Hungry Planet |
Menzel, Peter and Faith D'Aluisio |
This book, featuring 30 families from 24 countries around the world, presents a photographic study of the foods they eat in one week. |
2005: Material World Books and Ten Speed Press |
288 pgs., Nonfiction |
Ages 10 and up |
Touching Spirit Bear |
Mikaelsen, Ben |
A cruel delinquent faces the challenges of living on a remote Alaskan island, a Native American option to jail. The boy, Cole, learns a lot during his efforts to survive…and the story should hold a 7 th grade boy's interest, as it's a bit gory. |
2001: HarperTrophy, a division of HarperCollins , NY , NY |
240 pgs. |
Ages |
Taking Care of Our Earth |
100% Educational Videos |
Students learn about taking care of the environment through animated characters, including an aluminum can that was thrown in the garbage instead of recycled. The video also explains natural resources. |
1999: 100% Educational Videos |
17 min., Video/DVD |
Ages 9
|
One Good Apple |
Paladino, Catherine |
This book makes a case for sustainable agriculture. It describes dangers of using pesticides and fertilizers on foods and on all living things, and alternatives. |
1999: Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston |
48 pgs., |
Youth--Ages 4-8 |
Earthways: Simple Environmental Activities for Young Children |
Petrash, Carol |
Earthways contains developmentally-appropriate, imaginative activities in science, nature and art. The activities are designed to empower young children to feel a joyous kinship with nature. |
1992: Gryphon House 087659156X |
206 pgs., Nonfiction |
Ages 12 and up |
World Population |
Population Connection |
This video/DVD provides a dramatic look at the history of population growth across the globe. |
2000: Population Connection |
7 min., Video/DVD |
Adult |
Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers |
Quart, Alissa |
The author gives examples of ways that branding of products occurs, and provides information about marketing to younger audiences. |
2003: Perseus Publishing |
256 pgs. |
Youth--Ages 4-8 |
The Lorax |
Seuss, Dr. |
The Lorax shares a powerful message about the environment in this classic. Brilliant and whimsical rhymes and delightful creatures tell the story that " UNLESS someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better...It's not. " |
1971: Random House Books for Young Readers 0-39482-337-0 |
72 pgs., Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 5-12 |
Song of the Water Boatman and other Pond Poems |
Sidman, Joyce |
Sidman shares 11 poems about pond life and its diversity. Each poem is accompanied by a paragraph that provides information about a part of pond life, A combination of poetry and science. |
2005: Houghton Mifflin Co. 0-618-13547-2 |
Illustrated picture book |
Youth--Ages 8-12 |
If the World Were a Village |
Smith, David |
If 6 billion people on the planet were a village of 100, what would it look like? The book explains whom lives in the village, where they live, how fast the village is rowing, what languages are spoken, what religions are practiced and more. |
2002: Kids Can Press, Tonawanda , NY 1-55074-779-7 |
Illustrated Picture Book |
Youth--Ages 4-12 |
A Life Like Mine |
UNICEF |
This book beautifully profiles 18 children from around the world and addresses survival, development, protection and participation. |
2005: DK Children 0-75661-803-7 |
128 pgs. Nonfiction |
High school, adult |
One Good Road Is Enough |
Waller, Robert James |
Essays on a variety of topics, including environmental concerns, harried lifestyles, and ethics. |
1990: Iowa State University Press 0-81381-880-X |
210 pgs., Nonfiction |
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| Website mission: Provide formal and nonformal educators with resources, lessons plans,
and a forum for information exchange to facilitate education about waste in K-12 classrooms. Webmaster: Susan Salterberg,
Center for Energy and Environmental Education,
University of Northern Iowa,
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0293; salterberg@uni.edu Last Updated: January 5, 2005; Copyright 2005 University of Northern Iowa. All Rights Reserved. http://www.uni.edu/ceee/wastereduction |