Almost three-quarters of South Africa’s emergent literacy learners cannot read for meaning in their home language by the end of Grade 3. The main reason being that these young learners have weak language skills and lack sufficient vocabulary and grammar knowledge to...
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First African languages bilingual dictionaries for young learners
Almost three-quarters of South Africa’s emergent literacy learners cannot read for meaning in their home language by the end of Grade 3. The main reason being that these young learners have weak language skills and lack sufficient vocabulary and grammar knowledge to...
Book Club: Best Earth Day Books for kids
22 April 2021 is world Earth Day. A day aimed to raising awareness about climate change and global warming. A day to celebrate our beautiful planet and also an opportunity to educate ourselves on ways we can protect the environment. An easy way to start this journey with our kids, is by adding a few environmental reads to our home library. And that’s why we’re sharing our “Best Earth Day Books for kids 2021”.
9 Best Earth Day Books for kids that we are reading this month
A story that needs no introduction and a Dr. Seuss classic deserving of a spot in every child’s library. The Lorax tells the tale of the Once-ler, who causes environmental destruction when he destroys the Truffula forest forcing all of its inhabitants to flee. The Lorax comes to warn him about the dangers of his actions but will he listen?
It’s a wonderful first introduction to conservation told and illustrated in a way only Dr. Seuss can.
Where to buy:
- Available at most leading bookstores such as Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and also online via Reader Warehouse and Takealot.com
Meet Rocket! A passionate little girl with a big heart… When Rocket goes for a holiday to visit her grandparents in the Caribbean, she is shocked to see how pollution is spoiling their beautiful island home and putting the local sea life at risk. Rocket sets off on a mission to save a Caribbean island from plastic pollution!
Where to buy:
- We bought our copy from Exclusive Books.
A lovely addition to this already popular Busy Book series. Perfect for toddlers. This book introduces little ones to the world of recycling. Push, pull and slide the tabs to help clean up the earth. Watch the recycling truck do its work, reuse materials to make a rocket and help the planet by learning how to recycle your own waste. Every child is sure to enjoy playing with this bright and colourful board book while listening to the short and easy-to-understand (and remember) rhyming text.
Where to buy:
- Available at most leading bookstores such as Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and also online via Reader Warehouse and Takealot.com
Die Babalela Storieboek – Martie Preller
An Afrikaans favourite introducing the world to the story of the Babalela. A strange, little purple creature that lives in the deep, dark forest. The Babelela series consists of 4 imaginative stories:
- Babalela
- Diep, diep in ’n donker bos
- Ons kan
- Los ons uit!
Each story differs but at the heart lies a message about conservation and the dangers of deforestation. Humans are taking over. Our destructive nature and disregard for life beyond our own needs to be stopped. Babalela and friends remind us how important it is to protect the spaces of the animals we share this planet with. Tolerance, respect, empathy, caring for others, activism and standing together are important themes communicated throughout these adventures.
This edition contains all 4 stories available in the series and is well worth the investment.
Where to buy:
- We bought ours from a small, boutique bookstore but I’ve also seen this book available from Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and also online via Takealot.com
50 Vrae oor… Hoe om my Planeet te red – Caramel
A book filled with short questions and answers aimed at helping kids learn quickly and easily about how to save our planet.
You’ll find the answers to questions such as:
- Why is the atmosphere important?
- Have certain animals stopped migrating?
- What is “green’ energy?
And loads more!
It even includes a pull-out game board based on the information found in the book and two pages of stickers. These can be stuck onto the corresponding pictures on various pages. And as an additional extra for even more learning fun – the authors added a memory game that can be accessed through our smartphones by scanning a QR code.
Where to buy:
- Available at most leading bookstores such as Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and also online via Reader Warehouse and Takealot.com
You can save the planet: 101 Ways you can make a difference – J.A. Wines
Something for the 9+ years readers… This book is a call to action for children everywhere. The effects of pollution, global warming, and the destruction of our planet have never been more visible or measurable. The book introduces and explains the massive global problems that need to be addressed NOW!
It’s a fun and easy read filled with 101 smart, practical things kids can do to make their homes, schools, and neighbourhoods more environmentally friendly. You Can Save The Planet empowers kids to take small but important steps that can make a real difference in the future of our amazing world.
Where to buy:
- I found our copy at Bargain Books.
Jy kan die wêreld verander – Lucy Bell
This book has to be our current favourite. Not because the kids love it so much, Not because it tells a beautiful story or features amazing illustrations… That’s not what this book is. This book is a practical guide to living “green” and covers every aspect of our daily lives. From reducing our daily plastic-use, to reconsidering the clothes we buy, how we manage the waste we create, saving water, energy, animals and more.
It’s filled with easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your own compost heap, ideas on attracting butterflies to your garden, information about the importance of bees and why we need to say NO to palm oil. DIY home cleaner recipes, facts and practical tips on how to be better to our planet, ourselves and each other.
I know it sounds like an overwhelming amount of information but everything has been put together using clever infographics, pretty illustrations, lists and short summaries. This book is a MUST READ for the entire family.
Where to buy:
- Available at most leading bookstores such as Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and also online via Reader Warehouse and Takealot.com
Some books are simply too pretty not to explore… This illustrated tour of our planet’s ecosystems both large and small, from reefs, deserts and rainforests to a single drop of water completely captivates us. The girls love learning about the “worlds” hidden inside our planet and we all get lost in the exquisite illustrations, maps and infographics.
This book explains how our planet works, from its incredible ecosystems and the plants and animals that live there to the importance of biodiversity, weather cycles and more. It also including information on the dangers of climate change and ideas for how to protect planet earth.
It’s a guide for all nature-loving readers.
Where to buy:
- Not the easiest find but Bargain Books helped us track down our copy.
Die Maanling – T. Lehmacher & P. Oelofsen (Vertaal deur Antjie Krog)
A heartfelt tale about a “Moonling” and little boy. The Moonling travels to earth – a destination it has admired from afar from many years, only to realise that its beauty may actually be far more enchanting from a distance…
It takes this little rock friend to open Karel’s eyes (the 10-year-old boy Moonling lives with), to the ways humans are destroying the earth. Together Karel and Moonling learn to appreciate the vastly different worlds they call home, as Karel helps Moonling find his way home.
This story will touch your heart in the best way possible, becoming a family favourite for many generations to follow.
Where to buy:
- Another jewel to find. We bought our copy at a book expo years ago but you can purchase your own copy online via the Joe online store. Simply CLICK HERE.
Do you have any books to add?
We want to keep growing our collection of environmental reads because…
“Once we know better, we do better.”
Maya Angelou
Add your “Best Earth Day Books for kids” in a comment below. It will be much appreciated.
For more of our top reads, CLICK HERE and visit our READING SECTION.
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