Environmentalism In Children Literature Essay

2805 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on environmental issues for kids

Molly Gutelius
ENG 218
Professor Peterson
4/29/2014
Annotated Bibliography Final Project
Environmentalism in Children’s Literature
My subject for the final project is environmentalism in children’s literature. I was very interested in researching this topic because I am an environmental science major, and have never really thought about it as a topic in children’s books. Going into this project I did not know what to expect, whether I would find a lot of options, or if it would be somewhat difficult to find. The environment, as it turns out, is a fairly popular topic found in children’s literature. I was able to find a wide range of books that discussed the environment in several different contexts. There was a picture book, the fictional whimsical Dr. Seuss book, the non-fiction historically accurate book, and the typical fiction young adult/juvenile novel. I decided on this wide range of books to give a better synopsis of what can be found in children’s literature.
I think that learning about the environment starting at a young age gives children the chance to discover and critically evaluate the world they live in. This is an important thing to teach children early on, which I believe is becoming a more prevalent topic at younger ages. I know I did not read most of the books I found for this project until now. I did not really have a strong environmental introduction until I reached high school which is another reason I picked this topic. Imagine if these books have an impact on children, and that these children want to start making small changes in their own homes and neighborhoods. I realize that this can be a hard thing for children to do, which is why I think it is so important for children to learn about from their pare...

... middle of paper ...

...article is relatable to my topic as well, especially because one of my books I picked was a picture/wordless book. The goal of this article was discuss two different picture books and their usefulness even without words. These types of books can be very powerful; they represent a lot of different environmental impacts all simply seen from a picture. The authors state “the absence of text may often imply a lower quality, lack of interest or, in some cases, a lack of a coherent narrative.” The authors go on to discuss how this is not the case in their two picture books chosen for the article. I think this also goes for the book I picked entitled Window (Baker). A lot of the power in a picture book deals with the quality of illustrations and imagery which I think is very well done in Baker’s book. Eco-literacy as well as other subjects can be taught even without words.

Show More
Related

  • Expectations Vs. Environment In The Other Wes Moore

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    Environment says a lot about identity, past, and future. Primary environment has the most effect on shaping a child. According to a US National Library of Medicine research study, ”The physical environment and child development: An international review” it says, “What we do know suggests that the physical environment experienced by children impacts their cognitive and socioemotional development across the lifespan, from the prenatal period through adulthood.” In children this is especially important because a child develops most between the ages of two and five. There are three key elements that contribute to a healthy physical for young children, an adequate standard of living (mainly sufficient food, clothing, and housing), healthcare, and safety from injury, violence, and environmental hazards. In The Other Wes Moore, Wes(a) had

    Read More

  • What Exactly Can Picture Books Teach Our Children?

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    I chose to read and comment on Barbara Kiefer’s “Envisioning Experience: The Potential of Picture Books.” Kiefer’s main point in writing this essay was to get the message across that children enjoy picture books that allow them to identify and make connections with the characters or the plots, and that while reading and analyzing the pictures, they gain a better sense of aesthetics and how to interpret them.

    Read More

  • The Dangers Of Threats In Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book is often cited as an environmental classic - of which there can be little doubt - but it is also said by some to have largely triggered the modern environmental movement. Its warning about the dangers of

    Read More

  • Dr. Seuss' “The Lorax”

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    Theodore Geisel, commonly known as Dr Seuss, published “The Lorax” in 1971. “The Lorax” is a popular children's book that focuses on human ecology and the environmental movement. The book tells the story of the Once-ler, and how his business led to him cutting down all the Truffula trees, which destroyed the ecosystem, habitat, and polluted the water and the air in the meantime. “The Lorax”, while it is a very substantial tool for the environmental movement, presents several wrong ideas about the ecological movement. Even though Seuss' book is successful, people who wish to use this book to teach about the environment should be careful about how they utilize it as a text. While raising important questions, “The Lorax” offers answers that can be precarious, despite Seuss' good intentions. The main point of “The Lorax” is that no society can benefit from exhausting their renewable resources. However, there are contradictions within the story and the solutions steer the attention of the audience away from alternatives that can accomplish the goals stated in the book; the second point is shown in the story because the idea that people must change instead of their motivations is obvious in the interaction between the Lorax and the Once-ler. Before going examining these statements, this paper will summarize “The Lorax” and will challenge the story's solidity.

    Read More

  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Voices in the Park

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is very easy to agree with Moebius statement that ‘good’ picture books contain some form of invisible and intangible concepts that keeps the reader returning. In Voices in the Park it is very easy to see Moebius idea due to the ability of technology to create detailed and complex books. In contrast, Potter has produced a book that more subtle in showing this relying not on technology like Voices in the Park but working within severe limitations. Blending page turns, text, colour to create understandable concepts. Goodman comments that some would argue that these elements in pictures interfere with and detract from the text, and thus undermine the confidence of the reader. An extrapolation of this idea is that preconceived ideas and pictures of another spoil the reader’s entrance to literacy.

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Symbolic Interactionism On The Environment

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    As with most group projects, I started out with a basic understanding of the issue; essentially pollution and environmental changes humans make impact the environment in very bad ways. I grew up with a family who believes in intelligent design, young earth theory, and they all vehemently deny that anything humans do cause damage to the planet- everything reported in the news or by scientists are part of a larger “Liberal Democrat conspiracy.” Thus, my views had become largely hazy and even though I pride myself on being a Liberal, educated, intelligent young person, sometimes I was unsure what was actually true or what had been dramatized or exaggerated by scientists or the media to actually get people to pay attention. In addition, I also

    Read More

  • Environmental Text: Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl

    1807 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nature writing can be found in numerous genres and each can portray different opinions, thoughts, examples, solutions, etc. Therefore, setting up a general set of guidelines allows people the opportunity to define what is meant by nature writing. Defining genre can be highly influential when readers are trying to capture the essence of what they are reading. Lawrence Buell’s four criteria for what constitutes an “environmental text,” provide a basic set of understandable guidelines. However, as the criteria stand they are too directed at the factual context and overlook the “experience” or emotional resonance of reading such works.

    Read More

  • A Modest Proposal Protecting The Environment Essay

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Modest Proposal Concerning the Environment * Based on Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” (1729). It is a melancholy object to those who travel through this great country to see isolated corners of this fair realm still devoted to protecting the environment. The wretched advocators of these ideals are frequently seen doling out petitions and begging at their neighbours’ doors to feed their obsession, which keeps them in the contemptible poverty that they so richly deserve.

    Read More

  • Silver Bay By Jojo Moyes: A Literary Analysis

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eco-literature, or eco-fiction, is such a recent genre that it has an exceptionally unclear background. To trace the origin of this genre, one could go back to the first use of the term eco-lit, first work published under the subgenre of cli-fi, or any of the century-old works that fit the loose set of guidelines, and the list continues on and on. Already there are too many variables to determine one answer, however people have managed to clump all of it together in one vague definition: “Eco-fiction is ecologically oriented fiction, which may be nature-oriented (non-human oriented) or environmental-oriented (human impacts on nature)” (“What is

    Read More

  • Does the Environment of a Child Impact Their Development?

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many different aspects of environment that can affect the development of children. One major environmental impact that influences the development of a child is the neighborhood they are raised in. Within the neighborhood there are several other aspect of influence. Where a child is raised can affect their behavior, attitudes, emotions, personality, values, health, and so much more. This can be seen in their personal lives at home to their social lives around others in classrooms. The affects of a child’s development due to their environment can be seen in both a positive and negative aspect. The neighborhood that a child is raised in can be very critical in their development. It may have a significant effect on what he or she becomes in the future.

    Read More

  • Literacy Rich Environment Essay

    437 Words  | 1 Pages

    The assessment is to inform a beginning teacher of the most important philosophical and developmental factors which should be considered when planning a literacy rich environment for an early years setting. As children in the early years from aged three to five require a literacy rich environment to learn and develop sound language and literacy skills. A high quality literacy environment is one that includes well designed with literacy materials and resourced, and provides effective teaching and learning practices for children to experience (McLachlan, Nicholson, Fielding-Barnsley, Mercer & Ohi, 2013, p. 102). In addition, the importance of intentional teaching, reading, writing, engaging in multi literacies and teaching approaches that would be suitable to phonological awareness would be considered to design a literacy rich environment. The role of the teacher Educators play important roles in children’s lives in

    Read More

  • Challenges of Developing a Sustainable Future

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    Withgott, J., & Laposata, M. (2014). Environment: the science behind the stories (5th Ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.

    Read More

  • Environmental Essay: How To Save The Environment

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    The environment around us gives us the habitat to live, is a condition for our existence and development so that protecting environment which is one of today’s most serious issues means protecting our lives. But almost every day we hear a new problem badly affecting the environment. The list of the new difficulties seems to be endless. We are all aware of these concerns and can admit that we caused them. Now, environmental protection is not the work of a single individual as it is the responsibility of the whole community, of every single person exists on this planet. The measures range from each citizen to the government.

    Read More

  • Environmental Studies

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Also, when I was a counselor at the Ecotarium in Worcester Massachusetts, my fellow counselors and I tried to show the campers why preserving the environment is so important. We did this by showing them that the vast majority of our resources, including medicine, wood for houses, and food, come from nature. We showed them how fragile many animals are to changes in the environment. Part of Ecotarium is dedicated to rehabilitating and caring for animals that have been injured in the wild. The campers enjoyed working with the animals and began to realize that many of the causes for the displacement of these animals stemmed from the loss of their habitat due to human intrusion. I feel that incorporating the importance of environmental preservation at a young age is crucial because it well help to establish environmentally-friendly habits.

    Read More

  • Environmental Problems Essay

    1065 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are lots of environmental issues going on globally. The earth faces problems such as pollution, global warming, waste disposal, and loss of biodiversity. These are just a small amount of issues out of the so many. These environmental problems pose an abundant amount of risk to the health of humans and animals. There needs to be a solution to all these problems and that is by informing others, so that way everyone can make the environment a better place.

    Read More

More about Environmentalism In Children Literature Essay

Open Document