Think Green! Win this wonderful children’s book. See details below.
We have made such a mess of this Planet with our overconsumption, wasteful habits, and lack of respect for the environment. In rectifying this situation, we must teach our young to be good stewards of the Earth so they don’t make the same mistakes we’ve made.
Think Green!, a new children’s book created by Jeanine Behr Getz, is a wonderful tool to teach our children how simple actions can ensure that the Planet remains safe for all creations that inhabit it. Throughout the book Millicent and her friends illustrate greener choices that reduces their impact on our world.
Many of the choices are easy “no brainer” concepts that if instilled young enough, they will become routine in our children’s lives. For example, in the book Freddy turns off the TV and lights when he leaves his room. How many of you constantly heard from your parents growing up, “we don’t own the electric company” to urge us to turn off the lights? I still say this today to my own children since it was instilled in me as a young child.
To make the book appealing to children and adults alike, she teamed up with Jenny Nightingale to illustrate this book to engage her young readers with bright, vivid pictures. Take a glimpse of some of the colorful pages.
Although the book is geared to children ages 3 through 7, the lessons learned from the book are not limited to children. Thinking greener is ageless and adults are never too old to learn new tricks. Teaching by example is the easiest way for our children to learn.
In writing this book, Getz realized that it too would have impact on the Earth. Just think how much paper, water and chemicals are used to publish books. Everything we do has impact even for a positive cause. To limit the book’s impact, it was published from paper made out of 100% recycled fiber and 50% post consumer waste, and was processed without chlorine. Soy-based ink was used to print the book. In addition, the electricity used to manufacture the books was offset by Green-e certified renewal energy certificates. The back cover of the book illustrates how the methods used to print the book saved a specific amount of natural resources.
So, for a child’s next birthday present, holiday gift, or “just because” gift, treat that special child in your life to this terrific book. You can buy it here.
For a special treat, take a child to one of Getz’s reading events.
Think Green! is the first venture of Getz and Nightingale through their company, Kids Think Big. They plan to produce additional books and electronic media to help “Kids understand big ideas at every age.”
The contest:
Getz has been kind enough to send me a book (in a recycled content Jiffy mailer, no less) for one of Green Talk’s lucky readers. This contest will run until Friday, May 16 at 6PM eastern time. Tell me one lesson you would like to teach a child (green or otherwise.) Good Luck everyone.
Update: I have extended the contest to Tuesday due to the site having problems.
Photos by permission of Kids Think Big LLC.
matt says
May 10, 2008 at 2:19 amHey, this looks really cute. And a good way for little ones to learn about thinking and being green. Thanks so much for the tip – I think I’ll pick one up for our boys.
matt’s last blog post..Hybrid Cadillac Escalade: Some Updates
Jason says
May 10, 2008 at 2:42 pmI think it’s imperative to teach our children early that they are responsible for their planet. The best way to teach them is monkey see, monkey do. If you’re green and responsible, your children will grow up with those values.
The other one I would teach them is to watch out for quiet hybrids – they sneak up on you 🙂
-Jason
http://www.screamtobegreen.com
Jason’s last blog post..Minnesota Boy Rides Bike Into Prius
kathy says
May 15, 2008 at 6:31 pmour son is not yet 3, but we have taught him how to throw things in the recyle bins, to turn off the water while he is brushing his teeth and to only flush the toilet when it has been used. He has also been instrumental in helping us plant our own small garden, but he doesnt understand why Mommy eats leaves (basil)! The one thing I want to instill upon him is that the planet can be a better place if we all pitch in and respect it!
Green Talk says
May 15, 2008 at 10:54 pmIt’s great you are starting your son so young. By the time, he gets older it will be second nature to him. Anna
Keith Farnish says
May 16, 2008 at 6:23 amOne lesson for children: Never let yourself be disconnected from the real world. If we stop seeing ourselves as part of nature then we stop being able to genuinely care.
My children, of their own volition (we let them think whatever they like) are vegetarian, atheist, deeply connected with the Earth, and never stop nagging others to do the same. Children are naturally connected to nature — industrial civilization, starting right from school, disconnects people so they cannot see the harm civilization is doing — we are turned into parts of a giant, economic machine, and that is why the Earth is being killed.
Lynn from Organicmania.com says
May 16, 2008 at 10:55 pmOne lesson to teach a child: that each person’s actions matter. That he (or she) can truly make a difference in this fragile Earth, our island home.
Lynn from Organicmania.com’s last blog post..Green and Organic Savings Friday: CVS “Organic” Make-up, Late Night Specials at Whole Foods, Organic Baby Food and More!
Gloria says
May 18, 2008 at 1:56 pmI think it all comes down to respect. Respect yourself, respect your family, friends, your home, life, nature, the earth, etc. That is what I want to teach my children. I want to teach them to have respect for themselves, people and their home which isn’t just the house they live in but the entire earth and what grows and lives around it. I think if more people had some respect (not to be confused with fear) we wouldn’t have made such a mess in the first place of ourselves and the planet. Too teach respect we have to practice it too. That’s my plan to start the lesson. I wont be perfect, but I’m going to give it a good try for my kids, my family, myself and out home. Hopefully my kids will learn from my practices.
Kim says
May 19, 2008 at 9:31 pmI would love to win the book! I have three young boys and try to teach them about recycling and reusing. I have instituted a plastic bag recycling program at his school and in the past month have recycled over 1800 bags!
Kim’s last blog post..Serenity
Green Talk says
May 19, 2008 at 10:41 pmKim, you are a woman after my own heart! Nice recycling program. Anna
Green Talk says
May 20, 2008 at 11:36 pmCongradulations, Kathy! You won the book. So every one knows, I put the names in a hat and pick one to be fair.
pauline says
May 24, 2008 at 7:16 ami like your site.
hello from the mom blogs, by the way.
i have an 11 th old and want to teach her that every little step counts. i am not the greenest mom ever, but i try, and i feel good about what i do. i want her to feel the same way.
nicolas morris says
December 12, 2010 at 2:28 pmI have a way to re-cycle MYLAR
Chip bags, balloons, tea bag holders etc..
that is going to be huge in the Natural building ,green building
world, better and easier and more applicable than eco-bricks!!
Nicofrog