Barefoot Books- LadyD: Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey

Flowers drink up spring! Yes, this is the month for celebrating Earth Day that is soon approaching and it's also Poetry month. In my front yard, all my Spring bulbs are up! You can see Freesias, Iris', and Tulips. How about you... do you have a favorite Spring blooming bulb?
Children can actually see flowers change into bright spring colors!
This colorful and educational activity is appropriate for:
pre-k - 1st grade / 4 - 6 years

You will need:

White carnations - 3 for each child (Note: They should be unopened flowers that have not soaked in any water yet)
See-through water bottles
Red, blue and green food coloring
Safety Scissors

Directions

Cut the carnation stems down and at an angle.
Ask children to guess what will happen when the carnations are put in the colored solution.
Squeeze the colors into the bottles to make one bottle of red, one of blue and one of green.
Put one carnation into each bottle. Make sure that the bottom of the stem is in the solution.
After about 30 minutes, the white carnation in the green solution should begin to change into a pale green carnation. The other two carnations should also change into their respective red and blue colors. Tell children that stems are like drinking straws and the petals of the flower get liquid from the stems.
Write observations on chart paper.

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales

Learn how different cultures around the world set out to live in harmony with the natural world. The seven folk tales are each followed by a hands-on activity that promotes green living and reinforces the eco-messages of the stories.

Ages 5 to 11 years
Compiled By: Dawn Casey
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson

~ AllisonM

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-6–This enchanting collection of folk tales and creation myths from different cultures encourages readers to live a more harmonious life with nature. A story from Aboriginal Australia describes how the Sun Mother created each part of the Earth from grass to trees to animals to human beings, instructing the first people to look after the land for your children. A Nigerian tale illustrates how one woman's greed and carelessness concerning natural resources led to her disgrace. Five other selections warn readers of selfishness, exemplify nature's balance, and praise individuals who have given of themselves nobly in order to protect the environment. Well chosen and crafted with broad appeal, the tales are woven with subtle morals and wisdom. Each story is introduced by a brief overview about the featured locale and culture (source notes are appended) and followed by a related, easy-to-replicate activity or craft. Full-page and spot illustrations and colorful decorative borders reflect the spirit and origins of each offering. Done with collaged papers with acrylic and printed backgrounds, the stylized images depict colorfully clothed people, delightful animals, and delicately rendered flora. Add this handsome book to folk-tale sections and thematic collections intended to encourage children to be good stewards of our Earth.–C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

This attractive book marries ancient wisdom with modern environmentalism, collecting seven tales from around the world and telling us how to take care of the earth. A Nigerian folk tale about people who ate the sky teaches us not to consume more than we need. A native American story of a lonely girl's prized possession suggests we may have to make sacrifices for the general good. A Welsh fable about an elderly couple, their slop bucket and the fairies in their garden encourages us not to dump rubbish. The stories are interspersed with environmentally friendly crafts and activities, such as how to make a corn dolly. The book's greatest charm is in the bright, decorative illustrations that borrow from primitive art, and in the flashes of imagination in the stories: that bats and stick insects, for instance, came about because envious and dissatisfied mice and insects chose to resemble birds and twigs. The Sunday Times --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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