Hope: 50 Ways to Help Our Planet Every Day
Published by Puffin Books
Date: 4 August 2020
R.R.P. $14.99
Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world
Matilda, Roald Dahl
Hope, is something that is on our minds at the moment for more than one reason. We have hope that the world will be safer soon, that life, as we knew it six months ago, won’t be gone forever. In this book, Hope is about children learning about ways they can help the planet every day so that they can have Hope for their future.
The book opens with a poem from the very talented Solli Raphael that is powerful and moving. If you haven’t read any of his work before, check out his book Limelight.
Hope is a perfect family read because anyone can action everything in the book, working together towards a better future is worth it, right. Children are encouraged to talk to their family and schools about making a change, so why not just make it a nightly read together.
The book is filled with exceptional case studies about schools across Australia about making differences by their actions, such as Albert Park Kindergarten in Victoria that is the first certified carbon neutral school in Australia. The case studies are perhaps one of my favourite aspects of the book because we are seeing children being part of actioning change towards their future. When children see their peers being able, without a doubt makes them feel they can achieve change too.
The book covers the use of plastics, composting, swapping rather than throwing things out, alternatives to riding in cars and the list continues to 50 ideas and actions. The quotes throughout are inspiring and come from other books, human rights activists, physicists, authors and activists.
I like that this book gets children to think, in ways they may not have thought of before. There are facts throughout and the what’s next sections give the reader tangible and actionable ideas.
This book is also easily readable. Even the struggling reader could manage this book because there is a variety of small pieces of writing and a good balance of text and illustrations. Your child could easily read one idea each day, take the time to talk about it and action them before reading on further. There are many possibilities.
This is not only a book of Hope but is also a celebration of ideas and options to work towards a greener future.
The book ends with perhaps one of the most important parts of the book, and I leave the quote with you to think about.
The future of the world is in our hands, and speaking up about your fears and hopes for our planet is one of the most POWERFUL things you can do…
Thank you Puffin/Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
Little Big Reads 