Parents may want to introduce the fragility of our endangered earth to young children to begin their sensitivity at an early age. I caution parents to use gentle words and books and avoid complicated or sad messages which are not developmentally appropriate and may cause fear. In My River by Shari Halpern the message is delivered in the perfect developmental context of a young child who is mastering concepts of sharing. A book of few words and rich painted collages, animals and vegetation, one by one, claim the river as their own. An occasional chorus reminds the reader that the calming turquise waters belong to all.
Young children understand best a world that relates to themselves.
In Dick Gackenbach's Mighty Tree, he turns his attention to early ecological education, steeping his story in a frame of reference that can be understood by young children. He tells of three trees that grow from seeds and then considers their fates. He judges the last tree to be most important. Playful illustrations are filled with bright colors, festive settings, and excited, involved kids. Judgement is missing and Gackenbach, always respectful of children, leaves room for them to make their own determinations.