This dog sings for the environment
While Nielsen's latest book focuses on the environment, others have helped revive tales from cultures whose story may soon draw to a closeNew childrens book places emphasis on helping kids of all ages understand environmental issues
by Erik Andersen
There are few examples of fiction for children that introduce environmental issues in an approachable and entertaining way. Dr Seuss’ story of the Lorax (1971), which became an environmental classic, is one that stands out.
But now, a Copenhagen-based author is ready to publish a book that represents one of the good examples of environmental fiction for children.
‘The Singing Dog and Other Stories’ by Sofia Nielsen is a collection of five stories that deal with different environmental topics, such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss, rain forest destruction and air pollution.
‘The Singing Dog and Other Stories’ is not just about animals suffering from global warming or threatened by extinction, they go beyond the environmental problems. The stories tell also about responsibility and respect for each life, friendship across borders and in spite of differences.
For example, the story about the little polar bear, carried out to sea on an ice floe, is not only about consequences of the climate change in the Arctic, it is about trust and hope. By the same token, ‘The Sworn Friends’ tells about habitat loss, but the main idea is again about friendship.
In spite of their educational messages, the stories are not didactic. First of all, thanks to their humour and spirit of play. Like the stories of the past, the book stirs children’s imaginations, bringing up a world full of adventures. And the most important, the stories touch children’s hearts, appealing to their feeling of affinity with the natural world. As someone said, ‘We cannot fight for something that we do not love.’
Other books for children bythe same author do not deal with the environment directly; they are about old indigenous cultures (that are also under threat of extinction). ‘Ten Tales from the Top of the World’ is based on the folklore of the indigenous people of the Arctic, Siberia and Far East.
And ‘Tales from a Land of a Thousand Spring’, is inspired by the legends from Central Asian territories once a part of the Silk Route. The area was known for its refined culture that absorbed different influences: the European/Greek-Roman, Chinese and Arab. These two books are beautifully illustrated by the local artists and can be considered art books, both for children and adults. They will be published in 2010.
