TAKE CARE

An invitation to young children to “take care” of their world.

A poetic request to be good stewards of the Earth, its flora and fauna, and other humans, this has no religious content but is almost prayerlike. Its softly hued, full-bleed, double-page spreads are peopled by red-cheeked, smiling children and adults, with varying skin tones but similar features. Happy animals and insects cavort through the pages. Simple rhythmic text accompanies pictures of diverse groups engaging in helpful activities such as planting trees and vegetables, cleaning up a park and recycling plastic bottles, visiting a nursing home, and giving first aid to a crying friend. In other spreads, an olive-skinned family goes on safari and spots giraffes, zebras, and leopards as the text reads, “Travel the world / All the up and down miles,” and a brown-skinned father and daughter in a boat see dolphins, a whale’s tail, and sea gulls: “Sail through the world / Let the wind steer you right.” The positive values of friendship, cooperation, volunteering, and environmental activism are a bit sentimentalized here, but small trim size (which may work best for small groups), happy colors, and amusing animals are just right for the intended audience.

Use this for Earth Day or other environmental celebrations in nursery schools, libraries, or at home.