On Our Nature Walk: Our First Talk about Our Impact on the Environment

The World Around Us

by Jillian Roberts, Jane Heinrichs (Illustrations)

This illustrated nonfiction picture book by child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts introduces children to the important topic of the environment. Crafted around a conversation between a grade-school-aged child and an adult, this inquiry-focused book using age-appropriate language and tone will help children shape their understanding of the natural world and how they participate in protecting it. Dr. Roberts starts the discussion with the types of pollution and trash that children might notice on a nature walk or a trip to the beach, how they are caused and how to work to improve things in their own lives and communities. The World Around Us series introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues they may encounter outside their homes, in an accessible way. Sidebars offer further reading for older children or care providers who have bigger questions. For younger children just starting to make these observations, the simple question-and-answer format of the main text will provide a foundation of knowledge on the subject matter. This is the newest title in The World Around Us series, following books that address poverty, tragedy, prejudice, online awareness and body safety and body image.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Childrens, Environment, Science, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but this was such a disappointment. I was so happy to review it as nature is a huge part of our family's life and our homeschooling (and I've written books about nature studies and foraging myself). This isn't really a book about a nature walk at all, as much as it's an incredibly depressing book about pollution and climate change for young children who are likely to feel depressed and overwhelmed by it.

Honestly, we don't need to worry young kids any more about the mess we've made of the world. They know. The author says she was inspired by some Google quote about not to ask kids what they want to be when they grow up but what problems they want to solve, but let's not make it kids' problems to solve the mess we've made of the world. Even the illustrations have the kids looking depressed. For goodness sake, this is part of why our young people have so much anxiety, depression and hopelessness.

I wholeheartedly support the idea of teaching children environmental stewardship and to love nature -- and I agree with the message that we've got to turn things around and starting taking care of our world. But kids deserve the message to come with optimism and encouragement, and we don't really have time to wait for them to grow up and care enough to change things.

A book with a title about a nature walk shouldn't just show pollution and sad images of traffic jams and forests strewn with litter. Teach kids to love nature and how to help it in a positive, uplifting way. We all need a little more of that right now.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in grandma reads chapter book sessions.

On Our Nature Walk, the author taking the reader on a nature walk find opportunities to discuss existing problems with our current living systems - waste management, water maintenance, energy sources - both renewable and nonrenewable, and just what actions can a growing human do to exacerbate or remediate the situations we've gotten ourselves into. Just a walk on the beach or through a wood reveals issues we have.

My group was enthralled with this book, the way it was written and what it introduced to them. As we closed the book, already my olders were thinking of ways to improve upon systems in place, or new thoughts they were having to make the world cleaner and our impact on nature less felt. All around, a satisfying read that we are all going to continue pondering.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Our Nature Walk: Our First Talk About Our Impact on the Environment by Dr. Jillian Roberts, illustrated by Jane Heinrichs. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Orca Books, 2020. $20. 9781459821002

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Dr. Roberts bends her non-fiction skills to talking about the environment in her new book. She keeps her discussion simple enough for 1st or 2nd graders to understand, but with enough detail that it covers ground that will interest 4th to 6th graders too. From cleaning up after yourself, through cleaning up after others, to young people who are trying to help the world, she covers a lot of ground and does it well.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book like always with this collection. This time it focus on environment, pollution and how we can change things. Not over dramatic and with simple solution that we can all use in our daily lives. Perfect to make kids aware of the environment and might help some old folks to realize that there is an issue here!!

[Christina L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for providing this book for our review. This book was great to start a conversation with my 4 year old about littering, pollution, and helping the environment. It’s perfect for early elementary aged kids and would be good to pick up before doing a cleanup of litter at a park or beach.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction for kids to get in on the topic of the environment and what problems have come up and some solutions that are happening. Nice visuals and explanations.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street]

Note that this book is not really about a "nature walk" with children, but instead is a book about the harmful impacts on the Earth humans have and continue to make. It introduces children to terminology and concepts of pollution and climate change and then spends time empowering young children to take action in various ways to remedy the problem. I think in the right context this book can help children navigate issues they are learning about in regards to Earth care. For an already-interested child I think this does a great job using narrative and inquisitiveness to shed light on real issues. For some, though, this might feel like an unnecessary burden to place on small children to "fix" the climate crisis when most adults are not doing any thing about it. I also think many times kids simply here the message "pick up trash and plant trees" and that's all they need to do. It's more complex than that and for older children I think we need to not shy away from the complexity.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Orca Book Publishers. Opinions are my own.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction to kids of the benefits of nature and need to take care of the planet, examples of kids who are helping work to make the environment better, and simple ways that even they can help themselves.

This book takes concepts that are potentially complex and breaks it down into ways even young children can understand. I like the suggestions of ways they can help from turning off lights to picking up litter to dreaming up new inventions that will help in the future. There are different levels of text you can read. The basic text is a large font and accompanied by great photographs. On the side or below are often text boxes with further information you can also read if the child is attentive enough. Those are often accompanied with illustrations. Definitely recommended if you have a kid you know asking why we should turn off lights or pick up litter or recycle.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from this series, and I think they would all be good additions to larger elementary school libraries. A good introduction for kids to get them thining about the impact that everything humans do, whether large or small, has on our environment and the health of our planet. It's well organized and visually appealing, with a combination of photos and art.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good job of showing the negative things we're doing to the environment as well as the positive actions we can take to counteract those negatives. I enjoyed the different layers of storytelling and discussion, as well as a mix of photographs and illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction of environmental issues explained simply for kids, combined with a call to action to get kids thinking about solving some problems before us.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uses questions and answers to give a solid introduction to sustainability and making an impact

[Mrs. Ruigrok · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks about how young readers can protect the world around you. This includes picking up garbage, cut down on pollution and try to think of innovative ways to clean up our world.

[Connie Ehrnschwender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful explanation of the things that threaten the earth and what we can do about them. Beautifully illustrated and written so children can understand.

[Jason Muckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"On Our Nature Walk," written by Child Psychologist, Dr. Jillian Roberts is an important book for kids to learn about the world around them. It teaches them about littering and pollution. It teaches kids to be good stewards of this unique place we call earth that is unlike any other planet in our solar system and any other planet we have ever found in the entire universe.

Dr. Roberts also provides short biographies from super kids such as Greta Thunberg and Ann Makosinski who are making a difference in their world despite their age. There are short blurbs on each page that take a concept deeper for kids to learn about what is going on and how they can make a difference.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Dr. Roberts encourages kids to use their imaginations to come up with creative solutions to solve the problem. That instead of only coming up with reasons for why we should give up or it won't make a difference, young people today are working towards solutions that exist only in their imaginations.

I received this eBook free of charge from Orca Book Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

[Jennifer Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our impact on the environment and how to make changes...

This book helps young readers explore some of the difficult questions related to the impact humans have had on the environment. Age-appropriate language introduces elementary children to the topics of littering and pollution. The author includes an honest viewpoint about the impact that humans, and their trash, have had on the environment. At the same time, the author introduces readers to their idea of using their imaginations for innovation. I appreciate the way that the author empowers young readers to utilize problem-solving skills in order to innovate and discover a solution for the harm humans have caused our planet.

This book would be a good addition to a school or classroom library. Teachers could use this book to introduce the concepts of pollution and innovation and then challenge students to problem-solve in order to identify ways they could have a more positive impact on the environment.

I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#OnOurNatureWalk #NetGalley

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginning book of exploring the environment for 2nd to 4th graders. I liked that is talked about picking up trash, conservation, and the outdoors. It's also inspiring to read a book that encourages children to use their imaginations to maybe someday develope ways to improve life on earth. The illustrations were nice and I thought the photos were nice, but sort of unnecessary I mean the photos of useful things, for example, the solar panels and wind turbines, were great! But where were the captions explaining what they were?? Photos of overflowing trash cans was not quite the same as a photo of trash along a highway or street. It would have been far more meaningful and had a greater impact.

I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should not be surprised that this book is well done. The entire series has been. This one looks at the environment in a way that a child can understand, and that can create discussions between children and adults. It does not talk down to kids, which I really like. I do wish they would have shown real pictures of the people or the inventions that were mentioned in the pages.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is an excellent first look at the environment and what role we play in it and is written for kids.