2012 Green Earth Book Awards

Since 2005, the Newton Marasco Foundation has been recognizing and honoring books that “inspire a child to grow a deeper appreciation, respect and responsibility for his or her natural environment,” making the Green Earth Book Awards the first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult literature.

In a public statement released last month, the Newton Marasco Foundation announced this year’s winners, complete with a short summary of each winning title.  The four titles (no winners were selected in the Young Adult Fiction category) to win the Green Earth Book Award in 2012 are:

Picture Book

Arthur Turns Green written and illustrated by Marc Brown

Arthur comes home from school and begins sneaking around the house, taking notes and talking about a Big Green Machine. D.W. is suspicious of her brother's weird behavior, but when Arthur shows up late for dinner with green hands, she really gets the creeps! But it turns out Arthur is working on a class project all about going green!

Children's Fiction

Wild Wings written by Gill Lewis; illustrated by Yuta Onoda

The majestic osprey is an endangered bird that hasn’t been seen in Scotland for years, so when Iona McNair locates an osprey nest, she’s desperate to keep the bird safe from poachers. 

Children's Non-Fiction

The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families written by Susan L. Roth & Cindy Trumbore; illustrated by Susan L. Roth

For a long time, the people of Hargigo, a village in the tiny African country of Eritrea were living without enough food until Dr. Gordon Sato changed their lives for the better with his mangrove tree-planting project.

Young Adult Non-Fiction

Gaia Warriors written by Nicola Davies; with an afterword by James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia theory

This book takes a clear look at how and why Earth’s climate is changing and the ways we can deal with it. At once comprehensive and accessible, this galvanizing call to arms includes web links and resources that make it easy to join the cause.

In addition to the award winners, you can see a complete list of books, receiving honor awards on Newton Marasco Foundation's website, as well as prize criteria. 

--  Anna, Hopewell Branch

(c)Newton Marasco Foundation