Happy Earth Day! Susie’s Book Nook: “Follow the Moon Home”

Earth Day is today, Hooray! And though every month we should focus on caring for our Earth Home, this month it will get more attention around the globe and from me, too. The first six months of this Book Nook blog my focus was on finding books exclusively about caring for creation, our earth home. This year and moving forward I will be focusing on this theme every other month. There are so many more wonderful books in store for you.

Just take a look at “Follow the Moon Home’’ by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Meilo So. Does Cousteau ring a bell for you? Are you familiar with Jacques Cousteau? Yes, this is his son. Philippe provides a wonderful letter “to young activists” at the end of his book sharing how he was inspired to write this story and how young people can get involved in caring for our earth home.

 This picture book written with your 8- to 11-year-old in mind, teaches us all much about the Loggerhead Sea turtles and their nesting habits along the Atlantic coastline from North Carolina to Florida. Vivienne, a fifth grader, has just moved into a new neighborhood and is wondering how she will find her way in this new place. It’s tough to be the “new kid on the block.” Her teacher seems excited she has just joined the class when they are about to embark on a “community action project.” Find a problem to solve, gather information and figure out what to do, and put your ideas into action.

This challenge leads Vivienne to get to know her community and establish friendships with her classmates and learn much about Loggerheads. Did you know that when loggerhead mother turtles come on shore to lay their eggs, they may lay 120 on the average in their nests. When they hatch the sands seem to boil as the babies try to make their way to the ocean. Here you can learn what keeps them going in the right direction to the sea and what might cause them to go in the wrong direction.

Your young readers can learn how kids like themselves are able to start a campaign in their city to be sure the loggerhead babies are protected so to survive their first major trek. This book sets up an excellent plan for researching a problem, brainstorming to find the best solutions, how to get others on board to help, and how to generate positive publicity.

This book has creative illustrations by Meilo So, which are fun and colorful to keep all of our attentions. Even younger children will love this story and its pictures. Meilo has an enduring love of the sea and this shows forth in her illustrations for this book.

If you are fortunate enough to live near beaches from North Carolina to Florida you may be able to have a first-hand experience with these turtles. Just follow some guidelines for walking on the beaches during nesting seasons.

Here’s a great website to learn more: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/loggerhead-turtle