Lots of ways to teach kids how to save the Earth

On a perfect Earth, every day would be Earth Day.

As we celebrate on April 22, (no Styrofoam, please) we acknowledge significant progress. Raising awareness is essential to more progress.

I was living in England during a drought and learned many simple ways to save water. (Turn off the tap while brushing teeth.) I wanted to be helpful, but I needed some specific prodding.

Politicians endlessly debate every aspect of energy and the environment.

Children just want to help. And children will help when we give them specific strategies.

"The New 50 Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth" by Sophie Javna is my gold standard.

National Geographic publishes "True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet" by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin. It is overflowing with fun and easy ways for kids to become agents of change.

Another full-of-compelling-information book is "Human Footprint: Everything You Will Eat, Use, Wear, Buy, and Throw Out in Your Lifetime," by Ellen Kirk as part of the National Geographic Kids series.

Each year, more picture books are based on the green theme. "Eco People on the Go" is a love-the-Earth board book for children to age 4.

"Arthur Turns Green" by Marc Brown is the first new "Arthur" book in almost a decade. The beloved aardvark goes from room to room in his house listing ways to save energy. ("Unplug cell phone chargers when not in use.") For children ages 4-7.

"Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth" by Mary McKenna Siddals is my favorite save-the-earth picture book from last year. "Grass clippings, Hair snippings … Just add to the pot and let it all rot into Compost Stew."

Children are perplexed and fascinated by the concept of compost. How can it be that worthless garbage transforms into a "dark and crumbly" treat for the Earth? For children ages 4-7.

"We Planted a Tree" by Diane Muldrow is a simple story that illustrates how "We planted a tree, And that one tree Made the world better. And that one tree Helped heal the earth." For children 3-6.

"Circles of Hope" by Karen Lynn Williams is another picture book about the importance of trees and the tremendous difference trees make.

"Recyclo-gami" by Laurie Goldrich Wolf presents "40 Crafts to Make Your Friends Green With Envy!" There are creative ideas for kids from preschool to high school, all illustrated with step-by-step color photographs. Race-car ramps, juggling balls, Earth-friendly gardens and more. My favorite is one-of-a-kind bowls made by melting old CDs.

"World Without Fish" by Mark Kurlansky is a very lively, alarming account of how we're depleting our oceans. This book is also a call to action, from little steps to big steps, for any young person who reads it. Excellent!

"Gaia Warriors" by Nicola Davies is a succinct but comprehensive book about global warming for kids from middle school and up. It explains climate change. It includes stories from all over the world documenting the strategies that "Gaia Warriors" are using to combat climate change. The book is full of ideas for things kids can do, and where they can get more information.

In case you're wondering (as I was) about "Gaia," this explanation is written in the "Afterword" by James Lovelock: "... Some people see Gaia as the mother of everything alive ... others as the name of a scientific theory about the Earth system."

Mother Earth. Seriously, we gotta love her!

Contact Fran Hawk at franbooks@yahoo.com.