Two New Conservation-Themed Books + A Giveaway

In the spirit of “Every day is Earth Day,” every day is also a great day to read a conservation-themed book! Here are two new picture books to inspire readers of all ages to help protect our planet.

MAYA MAKES WAVES, written by Maya Gabeira and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, is inspired by the author’s own experiences growing up by the ocean and becoming a professional surfer.

The soft color palette evokes emotion and shows what’s happening both above and under the waves. Here, readers see that Maya is a great observer and learns from various sea creatures, such as surfing tips from the dolphins.

When Maya needs some help, the sea turtle’s calm disposition and efficient paddling shows her the way.

Maya spends so much time in the water that she notices when parts of the coral reef become whiter, and begins to wonder why. She discovers that the ocean habitat is being affected by pollution, plastic waste, and other factors.

Her love for the ocean and its inhabitants inspires Maya to become both a pro surfer and an activist, as UNESCO Champion of the Ocean and Youth. In an Author’s Note, Maya discusses the necessity of conserving our oceans and calls readers to action.

UP, UP, EVER UP! is about legendary woman mountain climber, Junko Tabei. Written by Anita Yasuda and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Yuko Shimizu, it’s a gorgeous biography that spans Junko’s life.

The text is just as lush and lyrical as the art. The spread above, showing how young Junko’s mind is filled with thoughts of the mountains, is my favorite.

While Maya wanted to explore underwater, Junko wanted to explore the mountaintops. She was filled with a desire to climb, to go “ever up.”

At a time when many women were discouraged and excluded from mountain climbing, Junko persisted. I love how the doorway is positioned in the book gutter, a portal from one page to the next, from one part of Junko’s life to another.

Junko created a family, and then, a community of women climbers. They sought to climb the highest mountain of all, Everest. Something no woman had accomplished before. Overcoming a series of obstacles including an avalanche (!), Junko became the first woman to summit Everest.

Afterwards, Junko continued to climb mountains and became aware of the issue of waste being left behind by other climbers. Tents, oxygen tanks, and more were polluting the landscapes she loved. She, too, became an activist, speaking up, leading teams to collect the waste, and teaching others to help protect the mountains.

There are a number of dates throughout the year that are devoted to raising awareness about habitat and wildlife conservation, including Earth Day (April 22), World Environment Day (June 5), Nature Conservation Day (July 28), National Wildlife Day (September 4), and World Wildlife Conservation Day (December 4). Both of these books would be a great way to introduce the idea of conservation to young readers and inspire them to act!

The publisher of MAYA MAKES WAVES is giving away one copy to a PBB reader. Post a comment below by September 17th to enter. U.S. addresses only.