By: Rahal K.
Image from BBC Radio
Literature is a fundamental concept of life as what we read can shape our thoughts, ideologies, and beliefs. As Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.” From the first picture book we read to the graphic novel we can't seem to put down, literature allows us to experience more than what meets the eye. With increasing concern and awareness about Earth’s environment, perhaps literature is the key to encouraging sustainability among our society. It is scientifically proven that multiple media platforms ranging from television to literature shapes the beliefs of audiences. For instance, if one were to watch a program on healthy recipes, they may begin to incorporate those recipes into their daily lives. Likewise, incorporating elements of environmentalism into English curriculums can propel students to engage in sustainable practices while simultaneously learning about the natural world.
One particular aspect of literature is able to meld both aforementioned aspects. Ecoliterature is the study of literature through an environmental lens. It includes genres such as, “fiction, poetry and criticism, which lay stress on ecological issues” (Subramanian 2017). Expressing environmental issues through such genres can generate many perspectives for students to recognize and comprehend the severity of climate change with ways to minimize its impact. Currently, ecoliterature is mainly dealt with higher academic institutions - formally known as ecocriticism - and not the general k-8th grade. Ecocriticism is an intricate study of ecological issues that concern the environment today through scholarly essays and literary text. One example is Walden by Thoreau which explores the significance of living in a natural setting instead of urban areas. Such a text would introduce sustainable practices to limit one's carbon footprint while also highlighting the newfound environmental issues brought upon man made industries.. And while ecocriticism is tackled by scholarly writers and professors, the concept can still be applied to children’s books. Both forms of literary consumption can prove to benefit future generations in their exposure to environmental issues that increase the risks/speed of climate change.
Image from Huffpost via Bologna
To effectively showcase the significance of environmental issues, literary works in classrooms should be made appealing to children of younger ages. Tamrin, Professor of English Literature, claims that picture books are beneficial in showcasing environmental crises at a level that young children can comprehend (2018). Colors, textures, and patterns can exemplify mood and tone, both literary elements children can critically analyze. Illustrations aid in building the setting that is tied to the plot, and themes that highlight an environmental issue and its significance. Picture books provide thoughtful descriptions without being overly flooded with text and can intrigue children for long periods of time. With this in mind, it is only advantageous for environmental concepts to be incorporated within English curriculums. Children can learn about how poaching can negatively affect biodiversity through illustrations of sad elephants who lost their ivory tusks or illustrations of deforestation depicting tree families being cut down to their stumps. The emotional appeal depicted in literary artwork allows children to create a mental concept of ecological conservation in their environment. Phillips, a writer from The Environmental Magazine, amplifies how children can develop “good habits” that instill “environmental values” through reinforcement from their environment (home, school, hobbies) (2019). When a child reads about composting in a book, it’s likely they’d apply those habits into the real world. By establishing environmentalist morals through literature, younger generations will have more sustainable ambitions because they had exposure to these issues at an early age.
A limitation to note is that not all children will grow up to be avid readers, so it is inefficient to only rely on their literary interests. Children constantly develop their passions as they age, so alternative ways of implementing ecoliterature are necessary such as summer reading lists or extracurriculars garnered around this literary frame. With grade levels such as preschool or kindergarten, a portion of time can be spent on reading environmental literature and instilling sustainable actions within the classroom such as putting objects in recycling bins or watering class plants. Creating an entirely new environmental unit is a significant endeavor, but can ensure a better demand for ecological awareness and action.
Here are some recommendations for children (provided by the HuffPost):
The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with Chimps by Jeanette Winter
Don’t Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe by Chelsea Clinton and Gianna Marino
Bee and Me by Alison Jay
10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh
The Water Princess by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals and Ashley Wolff
The Lonely Polar Bear by Khoa Le
Discussion Questions:
What is an environmental issue that isn’t widely talked about that you think should be in a storybook?
How can we incorporate ecoliterature in and outside of the classroom?
Works Cited:
Bologna, C. (2020, January 07). 25 Children's Books That Teach Kids To Care About The Environment. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/childrens-books-environment_l_5d66f45de4b063c341fa
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“Free Thinking, Eco-Criticism.” BBC Radio 3, BBC, 2 Feb. 2021, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rw8t.
Medress, Amanda. "Storybooks: A teaching tool for sustainability." (2008).
op de Beeck, Nathalie. "Children’s Eco Literature and the New Nature Study." Children's Literature in Education 49.1 (2018): 73-85.
Phillips, Avery. “Children And The Environment: Why It's Important To Teach Them Young.” Emagazine.com, The Environmental Magazine, 31 Jan. 2019, emagazine.com/children-and-the-environment/.
Subramanian, Rajesh. “Could Eco-Literature Be the Next Major Literary Wave?” The Wire, The Wire , 2017, thewire.in/books/eco-literature-next-major-literary-wave.
Tamrin, Andi F. “Children’s Literature: As a Way of Raising Environmental Consciousness – A Study.” INA-Rxiv, 28 May 2018. Web.
Wagner-Lawlor, Jennifer A. "Advocating environmentalism: The voice of nature in
contemporary children's literature." Children's Literature in Education 27.3 (1996):
143-152.