Early Elementary
Let’s Go to the Garden! with the Lorax
By: Todd Tarpley
Join the Lorax and learn all about gardens in this board book for Dr. Seuss’s youngest fans–perfect for encouraging a love of nature!
The Lorax shares his love of animals and plants and need to “speak for the trees” in this sturdy board book about the role gardens play in helping the Earth. Written in rhymed verse and with flaps to lift that uncover simple facts about the creatures and plants found in gardens, it’s both a fun read and an educational tool for toddlers and preschoolers. Released on 2/9/21
Int Lvl: K-3
The Bears Garden
By: Marcie Colleen
Inspired by the true story of a community garden in Brooklyn, New York, picture book The Bear’s Garden by writer Marcie Colleen and illustrator Alison Oliver is a testament to how imagination and dedication can transform communities and create beauty for everyone in unexpected places. A little girl sees an empty lot in a city and imagines what it can be. She sees a place to grow, a place to play, and a place to love. With the help of her stuffed bear, the girl brings her community together to create a beautiful garden.
Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.1
Upper Elementary
Watch out world, Rosy Cole is going green!
By: Sheila Greenwald
Rosy’s class is involved in a school fair utilizing the “Keep It Green” theme to raise money to plant trees and buy energy-saving light bulbs, and Rosy suggests “Nature’s Gifts” as a team topic. However, her project, which involves 2000 worms, does not go over well with her family, particularly her older sisters. The story incorporates science into an entertaining early chapter book that has a lively writing style. Spot art on most pages enhances the humor and shows the class dynamics as the project progresses. Rosie retains her charm and spirit, and kids will relate to her dilemmas.
Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.7; Lexile 760L
School Warrior –Going Green (Be a Waste Warrior!)
By: Claudia Martin
Trees are chopped down to supply classrooms with paper, disposable pens pile high in landfills, and pollution from transporting ingredients for school lunches hangs in our air. What a waste. But there’s a way to help. Be a waste warrior to put a stop to school waste and join the battle to save Earth. Honest text introduces some of Earth’s biggest waste problems, while helpful solutions provide a way for readers to combat the issues. A final eco-activity pairs simple steps with illustrations to give waste warriors a hands-on activity to fight school waste.
Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.7 Lexile 950L
Middle School
The talking earth
By: Jean Craighead George
A young woman of the Seminole tribe begins to question the validity of old customs over the more pressing problems of nuclear war and pollution, in a tale by the Newbery Medalist. (review courtesy of Publisher’s Weekly).
Ages 10-up. Lexile 770
Be smart about investing, planning, saving, and the stock market
By: Kathiann M. Kowalski
With 100 dollars in your pocket, you could buy new jeans, a pair of shoes, and a couple movie tickets. You might still have some left over, but what if you took that 100 dollars and invested it instead? In ten years, that 100 might turn into 1,000, even 10,000 dollars. Saving, planning, and smart investments can make your money grow. It might not be as much fun as spending it, but you’ll be much better off in the future. This book will help readers get started on the best ways to save money, learn about the stock market, and plan their financial future.
Int Lvl: YA; Lexile 950L
Young Adult
Dead Zones: Why Earth’s Waters Are Losing Oxygen
By: Carol Hand
Times are tough for shrimpers and fishers in the Gulf of Mexico. The animals they rely on for their livelihood are harder to find. Every summer a dead zone–a region of low oxygen–emerges in the waters along the Gulf Coast. Where oxygen is low, fish and other animals cannot survive.
Currently the world has more than 400 identified dead zones, up dramatically from the 49 dead zones identified in the 1960s. The good news is that people can eliminate dead zones by changing agricultural practices and reducing pollution. Using real-world examples, this book looks at the impact of pollution on global water resources, and discusses the interconnectedness of ecosystems and organisms.
Int Lvl: YA; Lexile 1230
The complete guide to personal finance for teenagers and college students
By: Tamsen Butlet
In this completely revised edition, young people learn how to get and manage credit, how to make and stick to a budget, how to pay for college, how to determine needs versus wants, how to pay for a car, how to open a bank account, how to balance a checkbook, how to manage finances online, and how to avoid financial mistakes. You will also learn about investments, taxes, checks, debit cards, credit cards, and budget tips. This book is filled with helpful suggestions from financial counselors, and you will discover ways to jumpstart your financial future and use money responsibly.
Int Lvl: YA; Lexile 1190
