An Interview with Saci Lloyd, the author of the Carbon Diary books

A few months ago I read The Carbon Diaries: 2015 by Saci Loyd. The book blew me away, and I was delighted when a second book, The Carbon Diaries: 2017, came out earlier this year. Both books are about what could happen should we continue to ignore the threat of global warming. The books are powerful, often humorous, and they will certainly give readers a great deal to think about.

I was so intrigued by the books that I contacted the author and asked her for an interview.

Marya: How did you first get the idea for this book?

Saci: I'm not sure... I think that ideas are quite mysterious. They kind of furple about in the ether and suddenly hook you up.  I remember thinking I wanted to create a gripping story about climate change that was funny too. I had Adrian Mole and Bridget Jones roaming about in my mind. Wondering how they'd cope with a rationing card.

Marya: When you were a child, you spent a lot of time “wandering around the lanes and fields with dogs and horses like some kind of mythical bog child.” Did this immersion in nature make you sensitive to environmental causes when you were young, or was this something that came later?

Saci: Yes, very much so. When I was young I would literally spend every waking hour fishing down on the rocks about a mile or two away from my house. And so there I was, sitting, not catching very much, and all around me is the sea, the sky, birds, rockpools. It sinks in, you know, so that later when you realise the damage that's being done, you feel very protective. But having said that, I would never describe myself as an environmentalist. The damage done to the natural world is a symptom of the lack of global justice in the world. I believe we need to find a better, fairer and more stylish way to live ... and we need to do it fast. 

Marya: Your lead character, Laura, is pretty flawed, which makes her easy to identify with. How did you decide what her flaws would be, or did she decide those for you?

Saci: No conscious decision really. Characters tend to have strong ideas about their own development. Laura pretty much appeared fully formed once the first sentence was written. She just wasn't taking any guidance off anyone, least of all me. 

Marya: So many people are ignoring all the warning sighs that global warming is a reality. What do you have to say to these people?

Saci: Sort your heads out. 

Marya: In your book the chaos and upset in Laura’s home is mirrored by the chaos going all around her because of global warming. Was this something you planned?

Saci: Er, well ... these people are going through a huge transition. Of course they're going to be all over the place. Climate action has become a reality, not something on a march or in a newspaper or on a website.  

Marya: Though it may seem an obvious thing to ask, what was your intention when you decided to write this book?

Saci: I wanted to be part of a movement for change and I wanted to make people laugh.  The characters aren't speaking some pre-ordained preachy dialogue, they are truly facing up to what i believe will be a near future reality. 

Marya: In the second book, The Carbon Diaries 2017, the global warming crisis is escalating. Not only are the world’s sources of fresh water drying up, but social unrest is rife. Laura comes face to face with anger and violence on the streets. This is pretty dark stuff. How did this darkness find its way into your story?

Saci: Well, I didn't intend for it to be dark ... it was a natural extension from what had gone before. As in the first book, everything in this book is meticulously researched and has mostly already happened. If the book is dark it's because reality is dark. Laura herself remains undimmed, though, I hope. She is living through big times, but she is facing it all with fire and scathing wit. 

Marya: At first, the reaction of the British government to the crisis seems unrealistic, but after a while one can see how the authorities, or “feds” as they are called in the books, might indeed take a draconian approach to the situation. Why did you decide to explore this more political aspect? Do you feel that it is important for young people to take part in the political process?

Saci:  It's funny, because I think the first book is just as political as the second, but because it's set in a family and is more domestic in theme, it seems to escape the dreaded 'political' name tag. Many countries in the world already have controlling regimes as described in the book and it's kind of funny to think people consider it shocking that this could happen in the democratic west also. In terms of my research I was very interested in the time around the First and Second World Wars, when Europe became highly polarised.... in essence the battle of whether to work together, internationally and share - or to protect what's yours at all costs. We're seeing this battle writ large in American domestic politics right now. In my experience young people are extremely interested in issues, they are just not interested in a corrupt political system. Yes, it's vital that they get involved. 

Marya: I imagine that many readers are going to want to know what happens to Laura and her friends. They will also want to know what happens to the world. Are humans able to undo some of the damage that the planet has sustained at our hands? What will you say to these readers?

Saci: Ah! Well I think I've left them in a good place... riding off into the smoke of battle! They are young, passionate and their lives are before them. Of course we can undo the damage, but we need a lot of Laura Browns to do it. 

Marya: Is there going to be a third book in the series?

Saci: Not for now. I've left Laura in a GOOD place, off to face a new life. I wouldn't mind coming back to her when she's fifty. See how fiery she still is, heh.

You can find out more about Saci on her website. Make sure you also visit the Carbon Diaries website. 

April is Save the Environment Month on TTLG - A revview

Here is another book for TTLG's Save the Environment Month. 

I can save the Ocean

Allison Inches

Illustrated by Viviana Garofoli

Picture Book

Ages 4 to 6

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 9781416995142

   One day Max, the Little Green Monster, goes to the beach to have a picnic. Max loves the ocean, but he does not like having to clean up his picnic things. Then Max goes snorkeling, and instead of seeing fish and other ocean creatures, all he sees are pieces of trash. How can anyone enjoy the ocean if it is full of plastic bottles, old tires, and broken toys?

   There and then Max decides to clean up the trash from his picnic so that it does not end up in the ocean. However he doesn’t stop there. Soon he is picking up other people’s trash as well, and he decides that he needs to do more to make sure that the ocean stays clean.

   This amusing little book will introduce children to the idea that we all need to do our part to keep our environment trash-free. With the funny green monster as their guide, children will discover that many of their actions can impact the environment in unexpected ways, but at the same time there are things that they can do to make the world a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful place.

   A glossary at the back of the book provides young readers with more information about the topics discussed in the book.


Don't forget that there are many other titles about Saving the Environment on the TTLG website. 

April 25th is World Penguin Day!

April 25th is world penguin day, and in honor of this day I have a review for you about a very special penguin who had a rather extraordinary adventure.

Pierre the Penguin: A True Story

Jean Marzollo

Illustrated by Laura Regan

Nonfiction picture book

Ages 3 to 7

Sleeping Bear Press, 2010, 978-1-58536-485-5

   In a big museum, at the end of the Africa Hall, there is a display of live penguins. Unlike their cousins who live in cold regions, these African penguins like warm temperatures. One day Pam, an aquatic biologist, notices that one of the penguins who is called Pierre is “in a jam.” He has lost most of his feathers and he looks very unhappy and very cold. To make matters worse, Pierre’s odd appearance frightens the other penguins who bray at him.

   Wanting to help Pierre, Pam comes up with an idea which she discusses with the vet. Would it be possible for Pierre to wear a wetsuit so that he isn’t so cold and odd looking?

   This delightful tale tells the true story of Pierre, a penguin who lost his feathers and who was in dire straits until a scientist came up with a unique solution for his problem. With amusing rhymes and delightful illustrations, the hope-filled story in this book will warm readers hearts.


You can find more reviews of books about penguins here on the TTLG website. 

Poetry Friday

All over the Internet children's literature bloggers celebrate books of poetry on Fridays, and today I thought I would join the club and offer you a review of a delightful book of poems.

Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the other side of nature

Heidi Mordhorst

Illustrated by Jenny Reynish

Poetry

For ages 6 and up

Wordsong, 2009, 978-1-59078-620-8

Many of us spend our lives running from one thing to another. We don’t take the time to stop, to look, and to listen. This meaningful collection of poems reminds readers (of all ages) that our world is full of simple and wonderful things to enjoy.

  Sunflowers “trumpeting all that color and sun” offer up their golden faces to the sun. An egg, with its “pin-thin and brittle” shell can break open to reveal a fluffy little chick “that is nothing like” an egg. In winter, after the holiday glitter has been put away, dying Christmas trees stand out in the cold looking sad. Then snow begins to fall and the trees turn into a beautiful “frosted” forest.

    With wonderful language and using many poetic forms, the author of this poetry collection gives her readers a colorful collection of poems to read, to share, and to savor.

Don't Forget! Voting for the Children's Choice Book Award is still open

I just want to remind those of you who have children that voting for the Children's Choice Book Award is still open and will end on May 3rd. The complete lists of finalists can be viewed here, and you can cast your vote here. Give the children in your life the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful bookish event.

Here is a little information about the award:

The Children's Choice Book Awards initiative is the only national child-chosen book awards program. The Awards are administered by the Children's Book Council.

Voting will be open from March 15 to May 3, 2010. The winners will be announced live at the Children's Choice Book Awards gala on May 11 in New York City. The results will be online the following morning, so be sure to come see if your favorites won!

The finalists for Book of the Year in the Kindergarten to Second Grade, Third Grade to Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade categories are the books that received the highest number of votes in the IRA-CBC Children’s Choices program. This joint project of the International Reading Association (IRA) and the CBC began in 1975. Publishers submit hundreds of titles, all published in the previous calendar year, to be evaluated and voted on by 12,500 children.

For the Teen Choice Book Award, the CBC and the CBC Foundation enlist the help of TeenReads.com (part of The Book Report Network) to select the finalists. The five books that receive the highest number of online votes are finalists for the Teen Choice Book Award.

The Author and Illustrator of the Year finalists are selected by the CBC from a review of bestseller lists. Only authors and illustrators associated with books published in the previous calendar year are considered.

The Children’s Choice Book Awards program was launched in 2008; the Teen Choice Book Award was added in 2009. The Children’s Choice Book Awards program was created to provide young readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions about the books being written for them and to help develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and cultivate a love of reading.

Earth Friendly toys

A few weeks ago I was thumbing through a magazine when I saw an article about a line of toys that are being made by Mary Meyer, a company in Vermont. The line is called Earthmates and there are three collections: Fuzz that Wuzz, Bamboo, and Organics. I contacted the people at Mary Meyer and asked them so send me some information about the toys, which they did. In fact they were kind enough to send me a sample animal from the Fuzz that Wuzz collection, and he is sitting on my desk as I write this blog post. Here is some information about the Earthmates toys.

Fuzz that Wuzz is a collection of cuddly companions made from plastic bottles. The outer fabric and the stuffing are both high-quality polyester fiber made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. These toys feel as good as they look while helping to reduce waste. Each toy keeps 10 bottles out of landfills. The companions include an assortment of beloved friends: puppies, dogs, hounds, bunnies, bears, cats, moose, elephants, lions, penguins, turtles and more. All are designed to be loveable, pleasing toys that minimize waste as they are made from recycled products.

 According to Kevin Meyer, president of Mary Meyer, “Our intention is to do our part to set a course for a more sustainable future that minimizes waste, recycles and maximizes the uses of recycled materials. There is a long way to go but we are proud of what we have done with the Fuzz that Wuzz and all the EarthMates collection.” The Fuzz that Wuzz toys include dogs, a cat, a cow, teddy bears, a turtle, a horse, a rabbit, a monkey (which is what I have), an elephant, and a lion. There is also a six piece collection of Fuzz that Wuzz minis.

Landfill Facts: Two million plastic bottles are used in the United States every ten minutes and 51 billion go into landfills annually. It will take 700 years before plastic bottles in landfills start to decompose. Less than 30percent of the plastic bottles in the United States are actually recycled. 

Bamboo is a collection of soft, easy-to-clean, sophisticated baby toys. These toys feature a gentle color pallet, and baby friendly designs. The toys are made of 80% bamboo and 20% polyester creating a soft, natural toy with all the durability and washability needed to survive as a child’s companion. In this collection there are three blanket animals, rattles and "Squeakums," and a variety of stuffed animals that include birds, a mouse, a horse, and a rabbit.

Organics use only 100% certified organic cotton fabrics and stuffing to produce the softest, safest, most huggable toys. They are all made without the use of toxins, harmful pesticides, chemicals or dyes.  All colorants are tested to meet and exceed the most stringent global safety standards. Held to the highest standards and made from the highest quality, all natural, earth-friendly materials, these toys will delight children while helping to protect and preserve our environment. This line also includes rattles, blanket toys, and stuffed animals. 

You can find out more about these toys and purchase them at www.marymeyer.com. I promise you that the child (or children) in your life will love to receive any of these toys. 

Earth Day is on April 22nd

We are just two days away from Earth Day and I wanted to give you some information that you might useful as you plan your Earth Day celebration. Here are some websites that you might like to check out.

Information about Earth Day on Wikipedia

The Earth Day Network

Earth Day at the Environmental Protection Agency

Steve Spangler Science - Earth Day Activities for children

Lesson Planet - Earth Day classroom activities and lesson plans

The Wilderness Society Earth Day Activities

Free Earth Day E-cards from the World Wildlife Fund

The Planetpals Earth Day page

The Globio Earth Day page

The Treehugger Earth Day page 

Earth Day Canada 

Earth Day games on Funschool 

Time for Kids Earth Day page

Earth Day TV

These are just a few of the many resources out there about Earth Day. Enjoy, and do let me know if you have found sites that you think are interesting.

If you are looking for books about Earth Day and saving the environment take a look at the  Earth Day feature and the Save the Environment Feature on TTLG.

April is Save the Environment Month on TTLG - A review

For Save the Environment Month I have found several delightful board books for little children. Here is my review of one of them.

This is our world: A Story about taking care of the Earth

Emily Sollinger

Illustrated by Jo Brown

Board/Novelty Book

Ages 2 to 5

Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-7821-3

   Many children are natural environmentalists. Without being told a great deal about why we should preserve and protect the environment, they are eager to do their part because it makes sense to them. This charming little board book will giving budding young environmentalists all kinds of information about what they can do to make the planet happier. Not only that, but every double page spread contains a puzzle piece that children can remove and then use to create a puzzle in the back of the book.

   On every double page spread one aspect of environmental action is explored. Children will learn about planting trees, cleaning up a beach, how to make something useful out of recycled items, and why planting a family garden helps everyone. With warm and bright illustrations and an easy to follow text, this is a perfect book to share with little children.

  

Let's Get our Children outdoors again

Here in Ashland, Oregon, I live in a town where people are very active, where wild places are just a short ride away, and where children have plenty of outdoor spaces to play. Because of this, most of the children in this town are fit and healthy and they are environmentally aware because they have nature all around them.


Unfortunately many children don't live in places where they can easily splash in a stream or hike up a trail. I was recently in New York City, and though there are many parks in the city ( including lovely Central Park) these spaces are often far away from a child's home. Many children in big cities simply don't have easy access to big school grounds and parks, grass to roll on, bike paths to ride on. If they want to play outdoors parents and caregivers have to plan an outing. For the week of April 19 through 25 (National TV Turnoff Week) consider turning off your T.V and make plans to got to a park, to ride a bike, or to plant some flowers in flower pots for a window sill or a patio. National TV Turnoff Week ties in beautifully with Earth Day, which is on April 22nd. Celebrate this day by helping your children get back in touch with the natural world all week long. 

Worried that "childhood play [has] officially moved indoors," the people at American Girl have decided to address the problem in their own way. They have released a new doll, Lanie, who is "a thoughtful, energetic girl who discovers the world in her own backyard." There is "convincing research [that] shows that today’s children spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, leading to inactivity and increases in childhood obesity, attention deficit disorders, and even depression." The hope is that playing with Lanie and reading her stories in the Lanie books will encourage youngsters to see that there is a whole world of fun to be found outside.  "Written by acclaimed author Jane Kurtz, the Lanie books—Lanie and Lanie’s Real Adventures—introduce readers to ten-year-old Lanie Holland. Lanie loves wildlife and the outdoors, but her family prefers to do things at home—and inside. When Lanie’s adventurous and outdoorsy aunt comes to stay with them, Lanie finds a kindred spirit and learns to connect with the natural world around her. Through everyday experiences—growing a garden, bird-watching, camping in her backyard, and creating a butterfly habitat—Lanie discovers how everything in nature is connected and learns there’s a wide, wonderful world right outside her door. To further engage readers, a section at the back of each book includes letters from real girls who, like Lanie, are looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors."


In addition to bringing out the Lanie doll, American Girl is supporting the National Wildlife Foundation Be Out There program. This program encourages children to get outdoors, to get active, and to connect with nature on a meaningful level.


If National TV Turnoff Week is rainy or cold in your area, you can always turn to books. Sylvan Dell Publishing has a gift for you for this special week. They are inviting readers to read some free e-books on their website. Take a look here to see what they are offering.

April is Save the Environment Month on TTLG - A review - April 14th

Welcome to another review for Save the Environment Month on TTLG. This title is a little different, and it will appeal to gardeners and environmentalists alike. Children will love the idea that there is a way to turn household garbage into something that is useful. It might not be glamorous to compost, but it certainly can be fun!


Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth

Mary McKenna Siddals

Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Picture Book

Ages 5 to 8

Tricycle Press, 2010, 978-1-58246-316-2

   You may not know this, but there are many ways to recycle. Of course you can take bottles, cans, newspapers, and boxes to the recycling center, but you can also recycle other things – you can compost items from your home and turn them into good rich soil that you can use in your garden.

   So what is composting anyway? Composting is when you take biodegradable items and put them in a bin of some sort. Over time what you put into this bin will break down and turn into soil that you can give back to Mother Earth.

   This book gives you a “recipe” for “environmental chefs” who want to know how to make compost. The ingredients are easy to find and include “Apple cores/Bananas, bruised/Coffee grounds with filters, used.” In fact, all your ingredients for your compost stew are things that you would normally put into a trash can. Add “Kitchen scraps/Laundry lint from dryer traps” to your compost mix, then water it, mix it, and let it sit, and very soon you will have a “dark and crumbly, rich and sweet” gift for Mother Earth.

   This wonderful rhyming picture book will show children how easy, and how fun, composting can be. Children will come to see that composting is yet another way that we can do our part for the environment. With delightful multimedia pictures on ever page (created in part by using recycled and found materials) and a catchy text, this is a perfect book to share with children who are eager to “be green.”