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Topic: Environmental Sustainability

floodland

Floodland

Chapter book

A gripping, prizewinning novel about a girl surviving in a devastated world.

Imagine that a few years from now England is covered by water, and Norwich is an island.

Zoe, left behind in the confusion when her parents escaped, survives there as best she can. Alone and desperate among marauding gangs, she manages to dig a derelict boat out of the mud and gets away to Eels Island. But Eels Island, whose raggle-taggle inhabitants are dominated by the strange boy Dooby, is full of danger too.

The belief that she will one day find her parents spurs Zoe on to a dramatic escape in a story of courage and determination that is handled with warmth and humanity.

This book was the winner of the Branford Boase Award 2001 and marked the start of author Marcus Sedgwick’s multi-award-winning career.

the story of climate change

The Story of Climate Change

Non-fiction

The Story of Climate Change introduces one of the most important issues facing our world today, and tells you what you can do to help make a change!

Combining history with science, this book charts the changes in our Earth’s climate, from the beginnings of the planet and its atmosphere, to the Industrial revolution and the dawn of machinery. You’ll learn all about the causes of climate change, such as factory farming and pollution, and the effects that climate change has on humans and animals across the world.

As well as discovering the effects of global warming, you’ll discover practical ways we can work together to solve it, from using renewable energy to swapping meat for vegetables in our diet.

With fact-packed text by Catherine Barr and vibrant illustrations by Amy Husband and Mike Love, The Story of Climate Change will give you all the information you need, and will inspire you to do your part to fight the climate emergency!

a climate in chaos

A Climate in Chaos

Non-fiction, Picturebook

You’ve probably heard about climate change. At least I hope you have – because it’s REALLY IMPORTANT. It affects all of us living on Planet Earth right now, and everyone and everything that will live on our planet in the future.

Our world is warming up, and it’s a big problem. Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain what climate change is, what’s causing it and why it’s dangerous for animals and humans alike. But he’s also FULL of ideas for how you can help! From eating lots more veggies to walking and cycling and thinking carefully about what we need to buy, A Climate in Chaos will get young readers excited about how they can make a difference to keep Planet Earth happy.

This brilliant non-fiction picture book, illustrated in Neal’s trademark collage style, is perfect for readers aged 5-7 who love nature and want to help the environment.

Also available in this series: A Planet Full of Plastic.

Environment

Best children’s books about caring for the environment

Caring for our planet and protecting the environment are important topics for today’s children to explore. In the face of difficult news about climate change, plastic pollution and deforestation, books about the environment can be a great tool for empowering children to understand their choices and to find hope in making a positive impact on our planet.

For this community booklist, we asked our community of primary teachers, TAs, children’s authors, librarians and book lovers to nominate their top recommended books about caring for the environment. From planting trees and recycling waste to eco-campaigns and the work of activists, our list of the best children’s books about the environment is here to help.

Jed’s Really Useful Poem

Picturebook

When the old oak tree in the park dies, the local paper runs a competition for children to write a poem about trees. Jed starts writing immediately. The prize is his photo in the paper and lunch with the mayor! But best of all, Jed discovers that even an old oak tree can have many new lives . . . Recycling makes caring about the environment a worthwhile project for all young readers.

Leaf

Picturebook

When a polar bear arrives unexpectedly in the woods, the other animals fear and avoid him, suspecting him to be dangerous – and his odd habit of collecting leaves only adds to their distrust. Then one day, they watch as he attempts to fly over the water with wings made of colourful leaves… trying to get back home. Perhaps he isn’t so different after all?

The Vanishing Rainforest

Picturebook

Why is the Brazilian rainforest vanishing so fast? And why is it essential not only to the people and animals within it, but to the whole world? Can anything be done to save it? This story, seen through the eyes of a child called Remaema, describes how the Yanomami tribe are battling against potential developers. Can a solution be found that will protect the forest and allow the tribe to continue living as they always have done, while benefiting from limited development? This picture book offers an exciting perspective on a controversial and topical subject.

Uno’s Garden

Picturebook

When Uno arrives in the forest one beautiful day, there are many fascinating and extraordinary animals there to greet him—and one entirely unexceptional Snortlepig. Uno loves the forest so much, he decides to live there. But, in time, a little village grows up around his house. Then a town, then a city . . . and soon Uno realizes that the animals and plants have begun to disappear.

Uno’s Garden is a moving and timely tale about how we all unknowingly affect the environment around us, just by being there—and how we can always learn from our mistakes and find ways of doing things better. It’s an illuminating blend of storybook, puzzle book, and math book. Art + Arithmetic + Environmental Awareness=Graeme Base’s latest masterpiece

The Lumberjack’s Beard

Picturebook

Every day, Jim Hickory the lumberjack heads into the forest with his trusty axe and chops down trees. Unfortunately, all sorts of creatures lose their homes in the process, so Jim gives them a home in his beard – until one day it all just gets too much. Time for Jim to come up with a better solution! A story with a green message.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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