Kids Bookmark We’ve rounded up some of the best reads to spark the imagination and entertain little eco warriors

The Beany Jet Adventure Darcy Simpson & Simon Panrucker £7 (10% from each sale goes to Climate Care) Funkydoodledoo.com When five little bean friends decide to go for a trip in their beany jet they find out to their dismay that they have run out of oil. A chance emission from Bored Bean inspires them to seek an alternative form of power for their jet, and they’re off. But their problems are not over yet and they must get their beany brains together and start finding inventive ways to get home... This great introduction to saving the planet is full of hilarious and inventive photography and is printed on chlorine free recycled paper with vegetable inks.

Before Green Gables Budge Wilson £9.99 Puffin Before Green Gables is a wonderful prequel to that well loved classic, Anne of Green Gables, first written by L.M.Montgomery and published 100 years ago. Orphan Anne Shirley is all alone in the world and no-one knows what to do with her. Her indomitable spirit and ability to use the world of make believe to make her sometimes hard reality easier to bear allow her to rise above the trouble she often finds herself in and realise her dreams.

Make your own rainforest By Clare Beaton £4.99 B Small Build your very own rainforest with this tropical activity book. Colour in and cut out the figures to complete

the scene with animals, insects, snakes and even explorers! Plenty of facts and information about rainforest animals and endangered species. Suitable for wildlife-mad boys and girls aged five and up.

Coll the Storyteller’s Tales of Enchantment By Lucy Coats, illustrated by Anthony Lewis £8.99 Orion These are the stories of Coll Hazel, a young druid bard who sets out on a dangerous quest with his raven companion, Branwen, to find where King Arthur lies hidden. As they travel, they encounter giants, demons, fairies, merfolk, and more, telling each other stories from Celtic literature. The author herself walked the length and

DIY Kids By Ellen and Julia Lupton Princeton Architectural Press A cool book of things to do and make from binding books to making stickers, clothes peg dolls and graffiti furniture. Each project is explained with step-by-step photography and best of all, each of the creations has been made by children. Activities are rated by difficulty, time and mess and are intended for children aged seven to 12, but they can easily be adapted to suit all ages.

breadth of Britain to find these richly told stories, talking to people and looking through guidebooks and local histories to find tales including the Arthurian legends and the Irish stories of Finn MacCool.

Science around you: Shadows in the bedroom By Susan Martineau £4.99 B Small You know those things that go bump in the night? Well, it’s nothing scary; it’s just science, not looking where it’s going. But, if you look closely, you’ll see science everywhere. Especially in the bedroom! This fun science activity book is suitable for ages four to seven.

24 The Green Parent
Green Bookmark A selection of informative and inspirational reads for those interested in a greener way of being

The Royal Horticultural Society Allotment Notebook Lia Leendertz £12.99 Francis Lincoln This sturdy book is the perfect companion to help you to make the most of your allotment plot. Avoid exhausting over-used soil by keeping a record of your growing, plan ahead to make the most of plantings, maximise space and conditions, and record what works within your space to make planting easier next time. The beautifully illustrated notebook also contains charts for crop rotation and harvest yields, an undated journal section, a wipe clean to do list and pockets to store receipts, seed packets etc.

Fighting the Banana Wars and Other Fairtrade Battles Harriet Lamb £10.99 Rider Just 14 years ago there were no Fairtrade products available to buy in Britain. Today over £300m worth of Fairtrade goods are sold every year. Executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK, Harriet Lamb, tells the story of the campaigns and successes of the Foundation, which has changed the way in which corporations treat suppliers, how consumers shop and has created a better deal for workers and farmers in the developing world. Harriet also outlines the hurdles still to be overcome and what we can all do to ensure that global fair trade grows and develops.

The Healing Power of Water Masaru Emoto £9.99 Hay House This remarkable book looks at the power of water, and how its very structure can be changed by positive and negative words and influences. Masaru Emoto has investigated and photographed the changes that take place in the crystallization patterns of frozen water, producing some stunningly beautiful images. The idea is that water is influenced positively by influences such as beautiful words or music. As we ourselves are over 70% water, the same principle must apply. Emoto has included the thoughts and theories of people from the scientific, health and spiritual worlds to add weight to his theories.

Celebrating Families Helen Sanderson and Maye Taylor £14.95 HSA Press Celebrating Families is a practical guide to help parents to step back and look at their family - how each member fits into it, and what can be strengthened within the family unit. It’s about appreciating each individual, finding out what is important to each member, and meeting those unique needs. Using case studies and practical tried and tested techniques, this book will help you to create ways to show your children appreciation, improve communication, connect with your past family history, build future hopes and dreams and above all, celebrate and enjoy family life.

The Children of Now Meg Blackburn Losey £11.99 Careerpress.com The Children of Now tells the stories of children who have come into the world with special gifts and abilities. The book focuses on children who are younger and further evolved than Indigo Children – Crystalline Children, Star Kids, Earth Angels and Transitional Children. Here the fascinating stories of these children, who don’t fit into “normal nice, neat boxes” as Blackburn Losey puts it, are told. This book is offered as support for parents, teachers, care givers and educators who may encounter these special young people.

The Abel & Cole Cookbook £12.99 Collins A self confessed “failure” in the kitchen, here Keith Abel lets the real experts – the farmers from whom he sources his organic produce, his customers and the chefs he provides for – take over, collecting together their finest serving suggestions to produce page after page of mouthwatering delights. He has created a book that will inspire even the least adventurous cook to make the most of the wonderful organic food on offer in the UK. This invaluable resource is interspersed with Abel & Cole’s trademark quirky turns of phrase, and equally bonkers photography, including a cat enjoying a fresh runner bean. There are also some great photos of the food!

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