TOO MUCH QUIET!

A schoolgirl inspires her class to be one with nature in this upbeat story about climate change.

When Patsy Beth’s class goes on a walk in the school garden, she thinks it’s too quiet. Her teacher explains that climate change has caused some bees and birds to move to different regions, following the plants they use for food. Patsy Beth becomes sad, in an expression of glumness captured with just the right emphasis in Dresen’s mixed-media illustrations. But Patsy Beth isn’t about to settle for quiet nature; she comes up with a plan, first to plant the kinds of plants that the bees, butterflies, and birds will love. Next, she starts tackling a movement to get her friends and family to use less electricity. (Her brother Jay explains to his class, “There’s too much carboddy doxiddy gas in the air. It’s a big problem! We need help!”) Christie-Blick focuses Patsy Beth’s story on activities that kids can feasibly do, providing notes for teachers and parents on the data that shows climate change and its impacts, along with core ideas to tie into educational standards. Patsy Beth and Jay are characters readers will easily empathize with, and Patsy Beth’s enthusiasm and unwillingness to give up may inspire readers as much as those same qualities inspire her classmates. Dresen makes clever use of black-and-white photography to show the affected “quiet” landscape on which her illustrated characters interact. The photos are replaced with full-color illustrations once Patsy Beth’s garden is built.

An uplifting tale with can-do tasks for kids to help fight climate change.