It's Up to Us: A Children's Terra Carta by Christopher Lloyd

Terra Carta For Nature, People and Planet

Nature - we live our lives surrounded by people and other living things

People - humans find everything we need in the Nature that surrounds us

Planet - then we noticed something - the Earth is getting hotter

Terra Carta - but wait! We can bring Nature back into balance

Terra Carta is modelled on the Magna Carta. "That revolutionary British text, handwritten by feudal lords on sheepskin in 1215, was a treaty signed between British nobles and their king. Its principles, revised and enumerated over the years, have become the foundation for Western legal systems, enshrining the principle that sovereigns are subject to the rule of law and all citizens have the right to due process—an underpinning of British common law, as well as the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights."  Quartz

Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British crown, has asked the world’s CEOs to guarantee the rights of nature in capitalism. His 17-page Terra Carta, meaning Earth Charter in Latin, is a “recovery plan for Nature, People & Planet.”

The two covers above are from the US and walker Books Australia. Note the tiny differences.

Explaining how we find ourselves in the situation we are now, the book presents understandable principles for change: investing in renewable energy sources, protecting coral reefs, forests, savannas and wetlands, listening to the wisdom of indigenous communities, working with scientists to find smart solutions, and demanding that the leaders of our countries and businesses put nature first. Book Trust

This book should be added to every school library. I adore books like this that allow me to discover a huge range of international illustrators - some of I do know of course but many who are new to me.

Thirty-three highly talented children's artists and illustrators are featured in the book, including:

Mehrdokht Amini (UK), Stuart Armstrong (USA), Harmony Becker (USA), Wesley Bedrosian (USA), Sally Caulwell (Republic of Ireland), Raul Colon (USA), Reza Dalvand (Iran), Owen Davey (UK), Sally Deng (USA), Paolo Domeniconi (Italy), Leah Marie Dorion (Canada), Blak Douglas (Australia), Barry Falls (UK), Victoria Fomina (Russia), Gunnella (Iceland), Nick Hayes (UK), Kumiko Horibe (Japan), Isol (Argentina), Su Jung Jang (UK), Murat Kalkavan (Turkey), Gwen Keraval (France), Ye Luying (China), Esteli Meza (Mexico), Poonam Mistry (UK), Rutu Modan (Israel), Musa Omusi (Kenya), Nick Sharratt (UK), Peter Sis (USA), Sydney Smith (Canada), Vanina Starkoff (Brazil), Fotini Tikkou (Greece), Luisa Uribe (Colombia), Stuart Armstrong (USA) and Phung Nguyen Quang & Hunh Kim Lien (Vietnam). 

Watch this trailer where you can see inside this book. Seven Impossible things Before Breakfast shares several pages too. Here is the page by Sydney Smith (Canada):

Here is part of the page by Raúl Colón (USA):

I am imagining the excitement of each illustrator as they received the words for "their page".  This process reminds me of these books. Check my previous post about international illustrators.

Kind

I will highlight a few of the illustrators in It's Up to Us:

Luisa Uribe (Columbia)

Fotini Tikkou (Greece)

Raúl Colón (USA)

Poonam Mistry (UK)

Nick Sharratt (UK)

Blak Douglas (Australia)

Sally Deng (USA)

Owen Davey (UK)

Paolo Domeniconi (Italy).  (This new book by Jane Yolen will be published in 2023. He has over fifty books and I am very keen to explore his work further)

A Song of Gladness by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Emily Gravett

I've been talking every morning to a blackbird, telling him why we are so sad. He sits on his branch and listens.

In 2020 the world changed. Michael Morpurgo describes it is a year of sorrows. One morning he heard a blackbird singing in his garden. 

"Sensing his welcome, I sang back, echoing his song. We had a conversation. It sounds fanciful. At first I thought it was fanciful. But when he was there waiting for me, singing for me, every morning. I knew he was trying to get to know me, to tell me something, something important - urgent even."

That is the message you will find in this book. Our planet depends on us. We are all part of our planet and we have to care because our earth is precious and fragile.

The music for the blackbird's song is presented on the end papers. 

Travel the globe in this inspiring journey through the animal kingdom. A Song of Gladness is a timely reminder of the beauty and importance of the natural world from two of today's most celebrated children's book creators.  From a blackbird in a Devon garden to leopards in the African savanna, hibernating bears and chimpanzees high in the forest canopy, A Song of Gladness reminds us all of our connection with nature, and with each other, and the urgent need for us to join together in caring for the planet and every creature in it.

With beautiful illustrations by Emily Gravett this is a book that you should add to your Primary school or Preschool library. 

This story originally appeared in The Book of Hopes edited by Katherine Rundell - which is a book I have had on my to read pile for way too long.

Students from The Kings school have made a video of the text using their own illustrations. 

Dear Little One by Nina Laden illustrated by Melissa Castrillón

 "Care for this world. It will be a friend to you, and be there 

for your children and their children too."

A couple of days ago I talked about Dear Earth. Tonight I discovered Dear Little One - these two books could be read side by side.

Here is part of the text:

"Dear Little One, You time on Earth has just begun. Take in the sights. Take in the sound. Take in the sents that excite and astound. Celebrate flowers. Be grateful for bees. Their work bears fruit. Worship the trees."

I mentioned Melissa Castrillón in a previous post - she is my new favourite illustrator discovery! Here is an interview with Melissa where you can see more of her art. 

Alongside each shining suggestion from Nina Laden, are intricate, winding illustrations from Melissa Castrillón, reminiscent of the historical botanical pictures of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Bookwagon

Laden and Castrillón have paired to create a lush, visually stunning ode to the beauty of nature. School Library Journal

You can see more books by Nina Laden here. 

Dear Earth by Isabel Otter illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi

Earth you are full of such wonder, but you are fragile and you need love and care. Grandpa says that humans have hurt you ... but we can heal you too. Love from Tess 

Tessa listens to her grandfather who tells her all about our amazing planet. She decides to write a letter and as she does we see all the places she plans to explore - underwater, the Savannah plain, jungles, the arctic, forests and the tops of the highest mountains. 

This is an empowering book about our fragile planet and at the back the author lists some simple ways to make a difference - walk to school, clean up the beach, recycling.

There are lots of wonderful books about caring for our environment. Here are a couple of possible companion reads but you can find lots more here in various Pinterest collections from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. Sustainable Development Goal 17; Goal 13; and her collection on Sustainability.  You can also read about all of the goals and all of the terrific books and ideas collected by my friend. 

There are a couple of very special aspects of this book that I need to highlight. Firstly I adore the two pages where you need to turn the book longways to see the ocean on one spread and the tall forest trees on another page. Secondly I am so happy to see the little girl in this book is not the usual body shape. She is a girl with beautiful brown skin and large legs. She is has a shape many young girls can relate to.

Successfully combining exploration and the wonders of nature with a crucial message about environmental issues, this beautifully illustrated book with Clara Anganuzzi’s fine, detailed and sometimes dramatic, scenes of the natural world shown from a variety of viewpoints as well as the different landscapes, is a must for families and primary classrooms. Red Reading Hub

The full-page illustrations are simply divine, they shine off each page and show the world in all her glory. Whispering Stories

Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman

Watch this book talk by Colby Sharp. He uses the word - Breathtaking - I agree!

Carl and the Meaning of Life is a book about the interconnections of life on earth. Beneath the surface (yes Carl lives beneath the surface) you get a sense that a huge amount of scientific research went into the writing of this book but it is presented with such a light touch that it is only after reading about the role of Carl in our ecosystems that you marvel at what you have just learnt or discovered. This is a book that seems so simple but the meaning is so big. Carl is also a book about discovering yourself and your purpose.

Carl is not a bird, or a bear, or a beaver - he is an earthworm. He is happy with his life of burrowing, tunneling, digesting, feasting and casting turning hard dirt into fluffy soil until one day a field mouse asks a question. This question sounds innocent enough - why?

"Why?
Carl did not know why.
But now he needed to find out.
So Carl stopped making fluffy soil."

Do you remember Tenrec?

Carl, like Tenrec, sets off to find an answer. He asks every animal he meets:

"Why do I do what I do?"

He asks a rabbit, a fox, a squirrel and many others. His journey takes many days and the days turn into months. The ground becomes hard and barren. Nothing will grow. The birds fly away and the animals move on. Wandering through this now desolate land Carl meets a ground beetle. The ground beetle cannot find any grubs. That is when Carl notices the land is hard - there is no fluffy soil. Carl sets to work again munching, digesting, casting and tunneling to make the soil fluffy again. Over time the landscape is transformed above and below the surface. Balance has been restored.

The final page of this book has a quote about worms from Charles Darwin:
"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organised creatures."

I would link Carl and the Meaning of Life with Leaf, Stone, Beetle by Ursula Dubosarsky. I would also compare this book with The Tin Forest by Helen Ward, Joseph's Yard by Charles Keeping and Cat on the Island by Gary Crew. If you want to extend your study of worms take a look at The Worm by Elise Gravel.

I was interested to read an interview with Deborah Freedman by The Children's Book Review. In this interview Deborah was asked about her own favourite illustrators and so I went off to explore her list. There are so many international names here. I read a review by Betsy Bird (Mr Noggibody gets a hammer by David Shannon) just today where she said US parents are not keen to buy books with different illustration styles. Looking at the list of illustrators mentioned by Deborah Freedman, who comes from Connecticut, I have some hope that books from around the world are reaching the US. In addition to the illustrators I have put here (one book cover from each) Deborah also mentioned John Burningham and Lizbeth Zwerger whose books you may already know.

 Anne Herbauts from Belguim

 Ayano Imai from Japan

 Beatrice Alemagna from Italy now lives in Paris

On my blog: What is a child?

 Byran Collier from USA

 Kveta Pacovska Czech Artist

 Maira Kalman born in Israel lives in USA

Marije Tolman Dutch illustrator

On my blog: Wolf and Dog

Nasrin Khosravi from Iran

On my blog another book by Uma Krishnaswami The Book Uncle and Me

You can listen to an with Deborah interview at The Yarn with Colby Sharp. Huge thanks to the library staff who alerted me to this wonderful book. Carl and the Meaning of Life was published in April 2019.

Here are two review comments about Carl and the Meaning of Life:

Freedman wraps up her story with a light touch, leaving it to readers to deduce the role of an earthworm in maintaining ecological balance. Horn Book

Freedman takes one worm’s curiosity about why he does things and cleverly transforms it into a look at the interconnected roles of animals and worms on the habitat they live in. Waking Brain Cells

Life by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

A splendid tribute to the world and its splendors, with something to offer 

audiences of a broad range of ages. Kirkus

Cynthia Rylant is one of my writing heroes. Every book - from the simplest little beginning chapter book to magnificent books like this one and her heart wrenching novels - all have a special kind of magic. Today I discovered Life - short listed for the Bull Bransom Award - more about click the quote at the end of this post.  Yesterday I talked about special non fiction. Click this Pinterest collection to see more titles in this 'genre'.

If ever you needed proof that the best picture book text is pure poetry read this text extract slowly:

Life begins small

Even for the elephants.

Then it grows.

Beneath the sun.

And the moon.

Life grows.

Ask any animal on earth,

what do you love about life?

The hawk will say the sky.

The camel will say the sand.

The snake will say the grassssssss.

The turtle may remain quiet.

It has seen much in its hundred years.

But the turtle loves life. How could it not,

with so much rain on its back?

Add to this exquisite text glorious illustrations and you have a truly special book to treasure and share.  I would pair Life with Mayfly Day.  You can see more art by Brendan Wenzel.

I am not a huge advocate of ebooks especially as a way to explore picture books but if you cannot locate Life there is an ebook edition.

The Bull-Bransom Award is given annually to recognize excellence in the field of children’s book illustration with a focus on nature and wildlife. The award is named after Charles Livingston Bull and Paul Bransom, who were among the first and finest American artist-illustrators to specialize in wildlife subjects.

The beginning chapter books I mentioned by Cynthia Ryland include The Lighhouse Family series, Mr Putter books, Henry and Mudge titles and High-Rise Private Eye.  You might also like to read Missing May a perfect book for sensitive, mature Primary readers.  I am now keen to read a new Cynthia Rylant chapter book I spied on a recent visit to Beachside Bookshop.

How big is the world by Britta Teckentrup

"How big is the world?"  asked Little Mole.

"Why don't you go and find out?" replied dad.

You might remember my review of Bee also by Britta Teckentrup.  She is such a talented artist.  How Big is the World? is not a new book it was published in 2007 but I think it would be a perfect addition to the home library of a young child.

Little Mole wakes up one morning with the big question - how big is the world?  He dad suggests he go and find out. So Little Mole steps bravely out into the world and begins exploring.  He meets a spider who measures the world by the size of his web.  He meets a mouse who knows the world is as big as her field. A friendly seagull gives Little Mole a ride over the ocean where they meet a whale. The whale explains the world is MASSIVE and takes Little Mole from the poles to the tropics before turning for home.  Little Mole now has a perfect answer to his own question and dad is waiting to hear it.

In a time when we should be encouraging intellectual curiosity in our youngest children this book would be the perfect jumping off point.  After reading How big is the World you could explore your own neighborhood, pull out an atlas, open Google maps and images.  I would follow this book with One Small Rhinoceros and The real boat.

Here is the Kirkus review.  Click here to see all of the books by Britta Teckentrup.