Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News - Posts Tagged "climate-change"

Tune in to U.K Talk Radio around 11.40 a.m G.M.T this Friday, 20th January, 2017, when Jonathan Hines, Radio Presenter and Television Personality chats to me about "Snugs The Snow Bear," Book One of my exciting Children's/Young Adult Series! Times are estimated, so may not be exact.

27th February is a very special day for "Snugs The Snow Bear," and, in fact, polar bears everywhere in the world, since it is a day we celebrate these majestic snow bears, and draw attention to the fact that these snow bears face extinction, unless we do something about Climate Change.
"Snugs The Snow Bear," Book One of my Children's Fiction Series, aims to entertain kids, but at the same time to inspire them, and teach them about our carbon footprint, energy conservation, and green issues, that is essential knowledge in our efforts to address man-made global warming.
As Polar Bears International states:
"Using less energy produced by carbon-based fuels reduces our carbon emissions and can slow and even stop global warming, in turn saving our sea ice. Polar bears require sea ice for efficient hunting. Without sea ice, polar bears will decline in range and numbers, making them vulnerable to extinction in the future."
I hope you and your children will have fun reading "Snugs The Snow Bear," and that my book will stimulate children's curiosity about the natural world, and endangered species, providing them with a springboard for their own discussions and projects.
When children are engaged, it makes learning fun!

International Polar Bear Day on 27th February is fast approaching - and Snugs, the Snow Bear Hero of my Children's Series, has a message on Climate Change and Green Issues for all my readers!
But Snugs is more than just a global voice for The Environment - he is a bear of his time, unique, and magical.
Those of you who read my posts will know the story of my inspiration for the bear, but I would not have written Snugs' story in quite the same way, were it not for the great writers who inspired me, and to whom I am most grateful!
For, although Snugs is a modern bear, he also borrows from the nostalgia of the past!
From Paddington Bear, who hailed from Peru, Snugs takes on his exotic quality - he comes from Greenland, a place also associated with Santa Claus!
Raymond Briggs', "The Snowman," touched me as an allegory about death, dying and bereavement, and Snugs borrows the idea that this glorious planet we live in may also be dying, too, unless we take steps to address Global Warming.
We should remember that many beautiful wild creatures will face extinction, and there is a sense in which the majestic, magical bear, Snugs, represents a call to action to avert this potential disaster.
Elisabeth Beresford, of "The Wombles" fame, made an enormous impact on us all, when her tales of these delightful creatures put Green Issues at the forefront of our agenda!
I would also like to acknowledge that the humor and vision in Dr Seuss, and the notion of "going places" in a book, resonated with me, and is echoed in the theme of travel being a great educator in "The Snugs Series."
Finally, Snugs is also about a philosophy for life, and some of Snugs' insights, when he is quiet, and alone with his thoughts, reflect the old-fashioned whimsy of Pooh Bear!
So, what makes Snugs unique? Well, not only is he the most lovable, snuggable bear, but he also has magical qualities. Indigenous people believe that snow bears have supernatural powers!
Let's celebrate Snugs, this Snow Bear of our time, on International Polar Bear Day, as a symbol of all that is magical and mystical about this beautiful planet, our children's heritage!

When I decided to write "Snugs The Snow Bear," I wanted to show that Children's Authors write on matters of importance, and the fact that they write Children's Books does not mean that their material is somehow more trivial than books aimed at adults.

In fact, it is my belief, as C.S Lewis famously suggested, that any Children's Book of merit, will appeal to an adult audience as well, and certainly stand the test of time.

So what makes a Children's Book a classic?

Philip Nel, Director of The Program in Children's Literature at Kansas State University, suggests that Children's Classics "speak to those basic concerns that define human beings as a species - love, fear, hope, anger, family, power and the need for acceptance."

"Snugs The Snow Bear" is indeed about human emotion, and Snugs is a polar bear with endearing "human" strengths and weaknesses. His journey illustrates his quest for a sense of home, family, and belonging, and this little bear is a sentient being, who has a need to give, earn his place in the world, and be recognised and accepted for who he is : just a bear, but a bear on a mission to make the world a better place.

Hannah Boyd says that Children's Books are Classics when the author writes about "topics that matter."

As an author, I wholeheartedly agree! This is why "Snugs The Snow Bear" is a Children's Book with a message about Green Issues, Climate Change, and Global Warming, a message that is important to us all, and one which world leaders such as Al Gore and Obama have put at the forefront of Global Politics.

The world our children inherit, and generations after them, will depend on our action to avert man-made Global Warming now.

For me, you can never start to educate your children too early; the younger they are the better, and the more opportunity they will have to make a difference!

Children's Classics speak to the Zeitgeist, or spirit of the age, when a matter of great import captures the collective conscience, and gains a momentum of its own.This is what is happening now worldwide with regard to climate change - women, scientists, and mothers are rallying to make their opinion - one which is rightfully supported across the globe - count.

Children's Classics are indeed, timeless. Who can ever forget the whimsical wisdom of Pooh, the clever humour of "The Cat in The Hat" or Paddington's critical "hard stare." We take what we read in our childhood through to our adulthood; Children's Literature is something which we draw on for comfort, entertainment, and inspiration, as we did when we were young, for the rest of our lives.

I believe that Children's Classics should have uplifting endings, and give kids something to aspire to. The hero or heroine should be a good kind of role model, but three dimensional, with strengths and weaknesses, and appeal to adults and children.

For me, a Children's Classic draws on the traditions of oral storytelling, and upholds them. Children's Classics are written to be shared - at home, in the park, on the beach, and anytime of day, not just before bedtime. Children's Classics teach a love of language, and they are written to be heard.

I am delighted to announce that Book One of my Children's Fiction Series, "Snugs The Snow Bear," is featured on The Author's Show, when I chat to Radio Host, Linda Thompson, about my inspiration for the book, the colorful animal characters, and the green message in my book about climate change and global warming.

I wish to thank Linda for welcoming me as a guest on her radio show, which will be broadcast worldwide. Just visit the radio website theauthorsshow.com, nearer to the time, for details of the schedule.

I would like to begin by thanking my audience for supporting my debut Children's Series, "Snugs The Snow Bear"

Several customers are requesting autographed copies of my book.

Customers may now purchase autographed books! Simply get in touch via a message here, on Goodreads, or a DM on Twitter @birdwriter7.

Alternatively, for orders of 3 paperbacks or more, or one hardback copy, I am delighted to forward signed bookplates, free of charge, which may be stuck in the front of the book.

Thanks, so much!

Suzy Davies, Children's Author.

I would never have dreamed up the idea of "Snugs The Snow Bear," my first Children's Book, without the image of "The Polar Bear on The Isle of Wight" which first inspired me to put pen to paper.
And, once the character of "Snugs" was born, my thoughts turned to something very serious, which has been preoccupying me in recent years.
People in certain areas of the world struggle to survive. They struggle for food. They struggle for water. Every day is a battle.
It seems likely that, in the future, more and more places on earth will become, at best, inhospitable places to live. At worst, they will be places where no human being can survive. I am talking about the phenomenon of Global Warming, a phenomenon that destroys life; it makes the survival of endangered species fragile, and survival of humans in certain areas almost impossible. This is a war - the war against Global Warming. And every day, we ignore the dangers at our peril.
How much more evidence, from the top scientists on this planet, do we need? How many more World Summits will we hold, before we listen, and take action?
The world is hot - too hot. And we need to take measures before it is too late.
We have seen record temperatures across The States, and this is taking its toll on people far and wide across the country.
The idea behind my Snugs Children's Series is to drive home this message in a way that is compelling, engaging, entertaining and inspirational. Colorful illustrations by Peter Hall capture the landscape of The British Coastline and Iceland. It is important that we preserve these landscapes for our children's children to enjoy.
My second Children's Book, "Luna The Moon Pig," illustrated by Sheila Graber of Paddington Bear fame, echoes the environmental concerns in my first book.
Behind a cute story of a little pig, is a message about caring for all animals and about the beauty within us. It speaks of the natural world, of which we, and animals, are a part. Remembering our roots is a metaphorical theme. The story is based on the stunning woodland areas in The Lakes Area of Florida. Captured to perfection in Sheila Graber's stunning illustrations, the book shows Florida animals, flora and fauna.
By showing our children fabulous natural world landscapes in picture books and middle-grade readers, we are bringing into focus one of the most important things in
life; the knowledge that the world is wonderful!

It's not very often that I choose to comment on political matters, but I am heartened by Obama's erudite speech today in which he mentioned the importance of taking action on Global Warming.
Two years ago, I launched my debut Children's Book, "Snugs The Snow Bear," which tells a snowy seaside tale of a polar bear who has had to leave his native Greenland on a floating iceberg. He misses dancing with the friendly fires of The Northern Lights and feels very homesick.
Rescued by Captain Lightowler and a menagerie of animals, he journeys on a cruise ship to Iceland, where he bathes in the hot springs, and on to England, where he stays at an old lighthouse with Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather and their grandchildren, Carla and James.
My book addresses Green Issues such as recycling and teaches children about endangered species. Einstein famously commented about the benefits of being curious, and I hope my book will encourage children to find out more about Global Warming and this beautiful but fragile world in which we live.

Sometimes, people overlook the value of reading fantasy to children because of our obsession with a hierarchy of knowledge that places “realism” above “fantasy” and “science” above “art.”

We want to cram our children’s heads full of facts, such is our banking system of education. But this is not what education is about.

Although my brain is more artistic than scientific, I value science and hope that my books will help to develop the imaginations of scientists in the making as well as budding artists. And I think they will! For nothing that has ever been invented by a scientist has been invented without an imaginative brain. And nothing created by an artist is created without the capacity to envision something out of the ordinary.

Although both my children’s books are based in reality, they are full of modern parables, tales within tales. This kind of fantasy is created at metaphorical level in the text and allows for a multiplicity of meanings and scope for children’s imaginations. It is through exploring the many threads that combining of metaphors can create, that children learn to innovate for themselves.

Learning to put unusual things together at metaphorical level helps "out of the box" thinking.

Older children will also learn to reason. Not all possible meanings in a text are equally valid. They will use logic and reason to uncover what is the most likely interpretation of the book or what the author intended the meaning to be. And they will have opinions of their own.

Some time ago a reviewer of “Snugs The Snow Bear” seemed to misunderstand why I had mentioned The Northern Lights in my snow bear tale, and gone into some detail describing them. They, of course, were a metaphor for the supernatural magic of the snow bear, and were meant to indicate that he should be free to show up like them, as part of nature, part of the environment and natural beauty of the world.

At another level, an older child might interpret these lights as triggers to fantastic memories of home, a kind of analogy to the way in which memory operates like cinema - a series of flashing images before one’s eyes, that can be fleeting and transitory. Of course, at a more literal level, The Northern Lights immediately conjure up the snow bear in his natural environment.

A quirky metaphor in Snugs The Snow Bear is an egg-timer. I will not reveal the literal meaning in the text here. But at metaphorical level, it may be interpreted to represent the “sands of time” running out on climate change.

Children’s books that are written clearly and simply mean very young kids can read them and enjoy them. Those that also have rich layers of meaning allow older children and adults to enjoy them, too.

It is my belief that imagination is like a muscle. Use it often enough, and you will develop it.

If we are to see future generations of artists, scientists, great thought leaders and innovative business people in the making, they will need imagination in bucketloads.

Children’s books are a rehearsal for life. Through fantasy, children can learn to problem solve, put themselves in the position of the characters and develop an imaginative empathy for others, including animals.

Rather than dumbing down and short-changing our kids, we should be posing questions about the world around them for which they can seek answers and solutions.

This does not mean our books have to be dry and boring. On the contrary, through being entertained, children will surprise us with the discoveries their imaginative minds make.

Climate Change is now the top political issue in The United States of America.

We are concerned about our planet. Perhaps we should raise awareness of Climate Change and Global Warming when children are at their most receptive.

"Snugs The Snow Bear" is a fun fiction story which introduces kids to endangered species and Global Warming shows children what they can do to help protect the planet by recycling.