Climate Books & Art Activities

Let's Read December

Everybody Eats written by Jasmine Crowe – illustrated by Nadia Fisher

Recommended for children ages 4-8

Everybody Eats tells the story of a young girl named Carter and her desire to fight against childhood hunger. When she volunteers at a local food bank with her family, she discovers that hunger does not discriminate and even her classmates can be faced with food insecurities. Carter is determined to help fight against hunger and teach others in her community about how to help too. Author Jasmine Crowe is also the founder of “Goodr,” a company that collects surplus food waste from organizations, redirects the food to nonprofits, who then distribute the food to people experiencing food insecurity. Jill Ferguson

Want to learn more…

PBS – Kids Go Green: reducing food waste - https://witf.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ee18-sci-foodwst/kids-go-green-reducingfood-waste/

Try making a blended "Scrappy Soup" to help reduce food waste in your home and create a delicious budget-friendly kitchen staple.

- Save the ends and peels from onions, garlic, carrots, ginger root and celery for flavor. Other good additions include mushroom stems, leek ends, potato skins, tomato skins, fennel and herb stems.

- Store these scraps in a large, sealed bag or container in the freezer, adding to it until you have a full bag (around 4-6 cups).

- Sauté an onion and garlic in a pot, then add the frozen "scrappy" vegetables and water.

- Simmer until the vegetables are very tender (about 30-40 minutes). Strain out any pieces you might not want to blend, due to their texture and place these items in a compost.

- Use any blender to combine everything into a creamy, smooth soup, seasoning to taste.

- Alternatively, you can make a thicker blended the soup by adding potatoes and thicker vegetable stalks, like broccoli or kale stalks.

- After blending add leftovers too, like pasta and rice!

Everybody Eats can be ordered or purchased locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books stores, or on Amazon.

Let's Read November

If I Were A Tree written by Andrea Zimmerman and Illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong

This rhyming storybook follows a family’s camping trip into forest. Along their journey the children pretend to become a live tree and experience how it would feel to hear, taste, smell and see the natural world around them. The children in the story use all their senses to explore the forest and in doing so, become comfortable and familiar with the outdoors.

Jill Ferguson

Here are a few creative ways to extend and explore more!

Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt for textures, colors, shapes.
Play an I Spy game to find different types of leaves and flowers.
Collect fragrant items and put them in individual paper lunch bags – close your eyes and guess what your smell- pine needles, grass, dirt…
Listen for the different sounds of birds chirping. Which direction is the sound coming from?
Feel the different textures of tree bark: smooth, rough, sticky.
Press playdough on the bark too make texture prints of the surface.
Choose your favorite tree and dance around its trunk. Ask your friends to join! Make up a fun song to depict the tree’s characteristics as you circle the trunk.

Let's Create Art -November

If I Were A Tree was read out loud by Lancaster’s Mayor Sorace during the opening celebration of Buchanan Park’s OUTDOOR COMMUNITY CLASSROOM. The outdoor classroom offers a wonderful place to learn and explore our environment! Take a stroll though Buchanan Park’s Street Tree Arboretum and observe the variety of trees using your senses.

If I Were A Tree storybook can be borrowed through the Lancaster County Public Libraries children’s department. You can also order and purchase this book locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books stores, or on Amazon.

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ART CLUB with CHRISTINA: Christina Lukac is an artist and educator who has worked with a wide range of adults and children in the non-profit and general education settings. She is a graduate of Tyler School of Art with a BFA in Fibers as well as a certified K-12 art educator. She also holds a Master’s in Art Education with an Emphasis in Exclusive Practices from Moore College of Art and Design. Her art practice focuses on experimenting with textiles and transforming them through various techniques, including shibori and natural dye processes. She enjoys teaching a wide variety of art techniques and having children learn through play! She stays busy with her two kids, two dogs, and partner in Lancaster, PA.

Let's Read October

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and Illustrations by Nicola Slater

Fall season offers so many natural learning experiences for children. Taking a nature walk through your neighborhood to collect leaves is a lesson in observation, science, sensory through touch and smell, language in describing the objects you find, sharing what you collect and have learned, and using gross body movements to throw, pile and run through the leaves, all while having fun!

Autumn is in the air and the storybook, the LEAF THIEF is a perfect read to celebrate

the seasonal change. The story’s main character, Squirrel, is relaxing on a branch,

counting leaves when he discovers something is wrong with the color pattern... red,

gold, orange...red, gold, orange...red, gold...! This humorous story shares Squirrels’

adventure, as friends help each other and learn about the seasons, plus adapt to

changes that are often out of their control.

The LEAF THIEF storybook can be borrowed through the Lancaster County Public

Libraries children’s department. You can also order and purchase this book locally at

Pocket Books, Nook Books stores, or on Amazon.

Jill Ferguson

Let's Read September

Thank A Farmer by Maria Gianferrari and Illustrated by Monca Mikai

Recommended for children ages 4-8

Our story book recommendation will help prepare young readers to celebrate National Farmers’ Month in October! This lyrical picture book is filled with vibrant and diverse illustrations depicting farm life; while also celebrating the environment and people involved in growing and producing our foods.

Thank A Farmer educates the reader about how foods are grown and harvested to become the delicious foods we enjoy.

Monica Mikai, the illustrator, grew up in the Harrisburg, PA area surrounded by farmland which helped inspired her illustrations. And Maria Gianferrari, the author, has a personal attachment to farmers as her ancestors were Italian dairy farmers.

Thank A Farmer storybook can be borrowed through the Lancaster County Public

Libraries children’s department. You can also order and purchase this book locally at

Pocket Books, Nook Books stores, or on Amazon.

Jill Ferguson

Let's Read August

The Whale Who Ate Plastic by Stephanie O'Connor

This month’s children’s book recommendation tells the story of a whale who

encounters and eats plastic floating in the ocean. The whale quickly discovers that

plastic is not food, and their experience brings the reader an awareness of the danger

of environmental pollution. This heartwarming and beautifully illustrated story will

inspire children of all ages to help protect our ocean inhabitants from the perils of

plastic pollution. The last few pages of the book offer ways individuals can help protect

the ocean’s environment, and spread the whale’s message, “Keep the ocean plastic

free!”

The Whale Who Ate Plastic can be ordered locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books or on Amazon.

Jill Ferguson

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Recommended children's song!

Turtle Ate a Jelly by the Banana Slug String Band

A picture book with a similar message...

The Mess That We Made written by Michelle Lord and illustrated by Julia Blattman, also teaches children about the problem of ocean plastic pollutants and is available through Lancaster County Public Library’s children’s department.

Let's Create Art - August

Created by Christina Lukac - Hungry Whales!

SUPPLIES:

- Paper, recycled papers, or Colored Construction Paper - Crayons, Markers, or your favorite drawing material - Glue - Scissors

Instructions:

After reading The Whale Who Ate Plastic talk to your kiddo about where they can find plastic in their home or neighborhood. Unfortunately it’s hard to escape but you can also talk about different ways we do not have to use plastic and how you can do that (or how you already are doing that!) at home. (Reusable water bottles, cloth bags for the grocery store, reusable food wraps, etc.) Then talk about what food whales can eat like small fish, krill, and plankton. Using white paper, colored construction paper, or recycled magazines or newspapers, make a hungry whale that you can feed good foods.

I also recommend listening to this children's song about the dangers of plastic in the ocean. My daughter and I were singing along by the end of our project! Turtle Ate a Jelly by the Banana Slug String Band

1: Draw an oval shape for the whale's face. Cut out the shape or have your kiddo cut out the shape with assistance. Draw the whale's tail and fins. Cut out the shapes and glue them together to create the body of the whale.

2: Draw on the whale's eyes, mouth, and underbelly. Make sure to make the mouth wide so fish can fit inside!

3: Fold the whale in half and cut a slit at the mouth. Draw and cut out little paper fish to feed your whale the yummy food it needs to stay happy and healthy in the ocean!

Let's Read July!

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth - by Mary McKenna Siddals and Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Compost Stew is a beautifully illustrated storybook, written in alphabetical order, with a rhyming verse that guides the reader to collect the best ingredients for a successful compost recipe. Children everywhere are seeking information about environmental issues related to climate change and how they can help – one way is through composting. Composting offers numerous benefits including reducing landfill waste and greenhouse gasses. This storybook helps teach families about child-friendly composting ingredients and will encourage the reader to start a compost of their own!

Jill Ferguson

Compost Stew storybook can be borrowed through Lancaster County Public Libraries children’s department. You can also order these books locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books or on Amazon.

LANCASTER CITY COMPOST BINS

Lancaster City has community composting bins located in several parks, including Buchanan. The Lancaster Compost Co-Op is a volunteer organization whose initiative is to reduce greenhouse gasses and divert food waste from landfills by offering free composting for city residents. Many individual households in our community also maintain compost bins on their property. Both collaborative and home compositing helps our planet stay healthy and provides nutritional garden soil!

Let's Create Art-July!

Created by Christina Lukac

Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff - Compost Collage Stew! For children of all ages

SUPPLIES:

Paper
Crayons, Markers, or your favorite drawing material
Various natural materials such as grass clippings, flowers, clover, and other flat found objects from nature
Old magazines and recycled papers or cardboard
Glue
Scissors

Instruction:

After reading Compost Stew, talk to your child about all of the different things you can use to compost and where you can find those things in your home and neighborhood. Go on a nature walk collection or create a “Compost Scavenger Hunt” to make composting more accessible and engaging for your little one. Take some of your findings and create your own compost collage stew! Discuss with your child how a collage is artwork that is made by piecing different paper, photos, and other materials together. Look through old magazines or newspapers to find different items you can compost or that were mentioned in the book. Work alongside your child to make your own compost stew collage and discuss what your stew is made of when you are finished. Encourage your child to use various materials and to fill their pot with lots of stew!

Let's Read May!

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

This beautifully illustrated story allows the reader into the hidden world of a garden. Not only do humans care for gardens; but insects and animals help maintain a perfectly balanced, healthy environment for the garden to thrive. Human gardeners can help support a clean growing environment for plants and insects by keeping gardens free of litter and pollutants, like pestcides and synthetic fertlizers.

Jill Ferguson

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt storybook can be borrowed through Lancaster County Public Libraries children’s department. You can also order these books locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books or on Amazon.

INSECT IDENTIFYING APPS -

Seek by iNaturalist

Picture Insect: Bug Identifier

After reading the story and/or simply discovering insects in your own garden, see if you can identify and/or count the insects listed below. Some are common and familiar, others are unusual and unexpected. If you discover an insect that is not on the list, please let us know!

COMMON/FAMILIAR INSECTS

Earthworms Ants

Roly Poly – Pill Bugs Honey Bees

Wasps Orb-Weaver

Spiders Aphids

Ladybugs Mosquitoes

Grubs Cut Worms

Butterflies Beetles

UNUSUAL/UNEXPECTED INSECTS

Tomato Hornworms Slugs

Grasshoppers Praying Mantis

Cicadas Dragonflies

Let's Create Art - May

Created by Christina Lukac

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal

Garden Observers: An Observation Drawing Session

For children of all ages!

SUPPLIES

Paper
Crayons, paint sticks, pencils, paints or any drawing tool of your choice!
Magnifying glass (Optional)
Bug Box (Optional)

Instructions:

After reading Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, talk to your child about the different places where we can find plants and creatures like we saw in the book. (Under rocks, in the dirt, on plants, on tree trunks, etc.) Go on a nature walk with some paper or a sketchbook and your favorite drawing tool. Explore your garden or your favorite park and see if you can find plants, bugs, or other things in nature that interest you! Once you have found a specimen to observe, talk to your child about what you see or notice about the object or creature. For example, we observed worms with my kids so we talked about the color of the worm, how it moved, and its shape. The child can practice drawing the worm on their paper or sketchbook. Doing this along with your child is highly encouraged! No matter your skill level your child will feel more confident in observational drawing when everyone gets involved. You can continue to find different insects, plants, seeds, or other objects in nature to observe and draw. Create a book with your final drawings by stapling the pages together or using a sketchbook. Send in pictures to be featured on next month's newsletter by emailing collegeparkcan@gmail.com. Happy observing!

Observing and drawing worms!

Obeserving worms.

Observing and drawing a red seed found in the garden.

Our family’s observational drawings. (my one year old did her own thing but it is great practice to have them be a part of the activity!)

Let's Read April!

The Curious Garden

by Peter Brown

Young Liam discovers a garden struggling to live on an abandoned railway in the polluted city

where he lives. Through his care and curiosity, the garden transforms into a vibrant

environment, full of color and life for the entire community to enjoy for many generations.

Liam teaches us that everyone has the power to make a positive impact in their environment,

the world becomes a healthier and more beautiful place, for all living things.

Jill Ferguson

The Curious Garden book can be borrowed from Lancaster County Public Libraries children’s

department, You can also order these books locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books or on Amazon.

AUTHOR INSPIRATION -

Note: The author, Peter Brown’s inspiration for The Curious Garden was the High Line, an elevated park built on a former railway in NYC. Lush gardens and pathways wind their way along the abandoned railway amid industrial buildings, turning the landscape into a vibrant green space.

What INSPIRES YOU?

Let's Create Art - April

Created by Christina Lukac

Hang your garland in an unexpected place and take a picture! Send it in to be featured on next month's newsletter! collegeparkcan!gmail.com

Garden Garland

For children of all ages

SUPPLIES

Paper
Crayons, paint sticks, pencils, paints or any drawing tool of your choice!
Gluestick
String
Hole Punch

Instructions:

After reading the Curious Garden talk to your child about the different places where we see flowers and plants. (Nature center, garden, playground, sidewalks, between bricks, etc.) Go on a nature walk and see if you can find plants in unlikely places like in the book! Then, gather your materials and draw a flower petal stencil for your child to decorate. Depending on your child's age and skill level they may want to draw the petals themselves! After the petals you can cut out leaves, and centers for your flowers. Your child may decorate those as well. You can also add vines, bugs, birds, different types of flowers, whatever your imagination comes up with! Assemble the pieces together with glue and use a hole punch to string your garden garland together. (Tip: A piece of tape on the back of where your hole punch is will keep your pieces from sliding.)

You can order these books locally at Pocket Books, Nook Books or on Amazon.

Let's Read March!

DON'T THROW THAT AWAY By Lara Bergen

A superhero introduces young readers to the concept of recycling found objects and reusing them to create something new and totally different. Each page has an interactive flap showing that ordinary trash can turn into something wonderful.

Jill Ferguson

Additional picture books about reusing paper boxes.

Not A Box and Not-A-Box City By Antoinette Portis

Both storybooks celebrate the use of creative thinking skills and imagination to create a representation of your idea. Using recyclable cardboard boxes offers a foundation for collaborative, open ended art activities. Children of all ages will be inspired to work together on creating an object, realistic or abstract!

Challenge – Paper, plastic, glass, metal…how can you creatively reuse these materials?

Take a photo of something you have made from a reusable material and email it to CollegeParkCAJ@gmail.com. We will post the photos in April’s newsletter. Please add what recyclable/reusable material you used, the tile of your creation and your first name.