April is Earth Month and QuartoKids recommends these books to explore environmental issues and create consciousness about climate change with your children. It has become increasingly important to observe this month as the harmful effects of climate change which not only poses a threat to our existence but is irreversibly damaging all forms of life. QuartoKids recommends these books to explore environmental issues and create consciousness about climate change with your children
My Friend Tree by Dawn Casey & Genevieve Godbout (Ivy Kids £9.99)
This gentle, romantic story celebrates love, family, and nature through the relationship between a boy, a girl, and the ancient oak tree which is a beloved presence in their lives, providing shade, warmth, acting as a confidant, food and homes to animals and birds and of course, oxygen.
Inspired by their shared love for their old friend, the nameless children plant a new forest and tend to it together, and find that their feelings for each other deepen and change alongside the growing saplings. As their relationship blossoms, so too does the forest. A beautiful picture book about friendship, growing up, and how nature connects us all.
Provides an excellent starting point for discussing the importance of trees.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Always Carry Me With You by Hervé Eparvier and illustrated by Fred Benaglia (Ivy Kids £9.99)
"I wish I were a stone..." begins this book which will resonate with parents far and wide. The father who wishes this goes on to elaborate the many and wonderful qualities a stone has each one illustrated in an understated and beautiful way from being a work of art to a small pebble on the beach to being a reservoir of scientific information.
But for the father who is narrating, the stone is a symbol of love for his child and a way the can always be with her, reminder her of his love.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
The Secret Life of Bugs by Moira Butterfield & Vivian Mine (Happy Yak £12.99)
Discover the secret life of bugs with Luna the friendly ladybird!
Explore magical folklore stories from around the world about bugs from around the planet, and inspire your little readers to develop a lifelong love for bugs. Learn about bug habitats, how high different bugs can fly
Which is the heaviest insect of all? Why are bugs so important to our planet? How can we help protect them?
Check out the Teeny-Tiny Bug Facts that appear on leaves throughout the book. The Secret Life of Bugs, with its engaging illustrations is a mine of fascinating information that you'll want to return to time and time again.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Rewild the World at Bedtime by Emily Hawkins & illustrated by Ella Beech (Wide Eyed Editions £14.99)
This enchanting book soothes primary aged children with 20 bedtime stories about rewilding projects from across the globe that are bringing animals back to the wild – from the Eurasian beaver in Devon to the lynx in the Iberian Peninsula.
Readers can discover the wonderful ways in which nature can restore itself with this collection of non-fiction stories.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, there is a short but useful glossary at the end of the book explaining terms used and a comprehensive index for those who like to dip in and out of a book.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥