Environmental Books for Children: Reviews

Lore of the Wild: Folklore and Wisdom from Nature    Written by Claire Cock-Starkey Illustrated by Aitch Published by Wide Eyed Editions, 2021   In a time when the role of narrative, storytelling and folklore in shaping our relationship with nature is gathering increasing interest, my November recommended environmental read for children   takes us on a well-travelled journey through the nature lore of many different places and cultures. Nature lore, or traditional nature folklore, gives us insight into how our ancestors interacted with the world around them and allows us to view nature from a new perspective, and in some circumstances helps us nurture empathy and a love of the natural world. In terms of lore, this fascinating book offers a mixture of the familiar, such as the bad luck associated with seeing a single magpie, and the lesser known, for example how in Japanese folklore the giant dragon-headed beetle known as Jinshin-mushi is said to burrow under the eart...

Harklights Written and illustrated by Tim Tilley Published by Usborne, 2021   The October book in my series of recommended environmental reads for children is  Harklights . Winner of the Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize, this debut middle grade novel will appeal to fans of Piers Torday’s  Wild  books as well as Melissa Harrison’s BB-inspired  By Ash, Oak and Thorn  and it’s follow up  By Rowan and Yew . A teacher of children’s book illustration at City Lit in London, Tilley’s accompanying pictures beautifully compliment this magical story celebrating family, friendship and the natural world; a story that reminds us of the power of nature and our role in maintaining and preserving the environment around us.     Protagonist Wick is a resident of the ghastly Harklights Match Factory and Orphanage, where he works tirelessly for menacing Old Ma Bogey. He spends his time dreaming of escape until one day a bird drops something incredible at his...

City of Rust Written by Gemma Fowler Illustrated by Karl James Mountford Published by Chicken House, 2021   Whereas the previous two books I reviewed in my series of recommended environmental reads for children are rooted in nature lore, the September offering is definitely one for the science fiction enthusiasts among us. Gemma Fowler’s  City of Rust  follows on from  Moondust  and is her first middle-grade story for children aged 9+. This dystopian novel will appeal to fans of  Star Wars  as well as stories such as Peter Bunzl’s  Cogheart  series and Pádraig Kenny’s  Tin . Readers will be immediately drawn to the eye-catching cover design by Karl James Mountford that features the main character’s bio-robotic pet gecko, hinting at a junkyard world where waste is harnessed.   An understanding of the setting is key and a diagram of the various Spheres and the Soup at the start of the book is a helpful addition. The author describes a...

The Wild Before Written by Piers Torday Illustrated by Thomas Flintham Published by Quercus Children's Books, 2021 The second book to be reviewed in my series of recommended environmental reads for children is Piers Torday’s The Wild Before . If like me you were enthralled by his Last Wild series, this latest addition to the saga is essential reading. A prequel to the initial trilogy, the book narrates the arrival of the pandemic that’s set to ravage the world. The arrival of the legendary Mooncalf has been foretold, and according to a prophecy that's been passed down in a dream from animal to animal, if the calf dies, the Terribleness will come in the form of rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, and ultimately the end of everything. It falls on the slight, furry shoulders of Little-Hare to persuade the animals to protect Mooncalf at all costs.   It’s a story that weaves folklore, suspense and fine descriptions of nature into a narrative that has at its heart some o...

  By Ash, Oak and Thorn  Written by Melissa Harrison Illustrated by Lauren O'Hara Published by Chicken House, 2021   This is a story about three tiny, ancient beings: Moss, Burnet and Cumulus. Known as the Hidden Folk and once celebrated as guardians of the Wild World, they wake from winter hibernation in their cherished ash tree home in a world where Mortals now have authority over the creatures and places that the Hidden Folk once cared for. When a terrible storm topples the ash tree, they set off on an adventure to try and find more of their kind. It’s a journey which takes them both deep into the countryside and into the heart of a city, known as the Mortal Hive. There is great concern along the way. Both Cumulus and Burnet experience disappearing limbs in response to the changing world, a world where Mortals are no longer aware of the secret world of wild creatures and don’t speak their language, Wild Argot. It’s from this that a central message of the book springs: ...