5 Epic Earth Day Books for Kids!

The return of spring and natural beauty blossoming all around us marks the perfect time to instill in children an appreciation of Earth’s bountiful resources and an awareness of our role in preserving the delicate ecological balance required to sustain the very planet that sustains us. Earth Day, occurring on April 22nd annually since 1970, honors the achievements and goals of the environmental movement, including long-term ecological sustainability, conservation efforts, and expanded use of clean renewable energy sources. The following five picture books emphasize the significance of protecting our planet in entertaining ways that children simply love!

1. The Water Hole by Graeme Base

From Graeme Base, renowned illustrator and author of the international bestseller Animalia, The Water Hole transports readers to the majestic beauty of unique ecosystems around the world, from the African savanna to the Galapagos Islands. As local wildlife from each habitat come to drink from a metaphorical water hole with levels that rise and fall in response to environmental cues, children learn about not only geography and zoology but also the water cycle and the value of natural resources. Breathtaking illustrations on each page contain hidden pictures, foreshadowed by clues in artistic borders, that children can’t wait to discover. The book also teaches basic counting as visitors to the water hole grow from one rhino to ten kangaroos. Added fun comes from searching for the friendly frog happily sporting a Hawaiian shirt at every destination!

2. Listen to the Language of the Trees by Tera Kelley

A beautiful educational book sharing what science now shows about how trees communicate with one another, Listen to the Language of the Trees is eye-opening for young readers. Through aesthetic and easy-to-understand illustrations, this story demonstrates how trees develop a secret “wood wide web” through underground root systems with the help of mycorrhizal fungi. How do “mother trees” help seedlings thrive? How do changes to one part of a forest affect the ecosystem as a whole? The interconnectedness of all forest inhabitants highlighted throughout the book answers these questions and more as children learn vital lessons about cause and effect and compassion toward others. This lovely portrayal of ecological community dynamics makes a wonderful addition to any home or classroom!

3. The Lorax by Dr. Suess

A timeless classic, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is a must-read for any Earth Day celebration. The tale of a tree guardian (“the Lorax”) who confronts a greedy entrepreneur (“the Once-ler”) about chopping down native truffula trees in order to make a profit, The Lorax warns readers of the perils of environmental exploitation. With all the hallmarks of any beloved Dr. Seuss story, including lovable characters, rhyming verse, imaginative words, and creative imagery, The Lorax keeps children engaged from beginning to end as the Once-ler outlives his success only to regret his selfish actions. Full of remorse, he looks to a young boy for help replanting the forgotten forest and spreading the lesson he learned the hard way: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." The essential storybook for eco-conscious readers, children will take away messages of kindness, conservation, and serving the greater good all while being expertly entertained!

4. Angela’s Glacier by Jordan Scott

Angela’s Glacier is the tale of a girl growing up in Iceland who forms a deep connection to a pristine glacier near her home. After spending much of her childhood hiking the magical landscape of Snæfellsjökull, Angela grows busy with life’s responsibilities and becomes distanced from her “happy place” until a friendly reminder prompts her to return there and get grounded. Diana Sudyka’s illustrations highlight the picturesque beauty of the tundra while Scott’s descriptive language creatively appeals to all of the reader’s senses. From “listening” to the colors of the glacier that sparkle in every shade of blue imaginable to crossing snowfields “thick like pancakes” to chasing “milky Arctic sunlight” and “fairy lichen,” readers get a special glimpse of this unique setting through Angela’s eyes. This wondrous tale also shares bits of Icelandic language and an afterword about climate change. Anyone who treasures the healing power of nature will cherish this book!

5. Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman

“In the shade of the woods is a hill with a hole. Beaconing black. Goosebump chills. Excitement and fear battle. What will win? You want to go in...do you dare?” From the very first page, the author of Caves sparks children’s curiosity in one of nature’s most mysterious ecosystems. As the book describes a variety of remarkable cave systems around the world, readers learn about their most intriguing features, from unusual inhabitants to otherworldly geological composition to the fascinating natural processes that led to their formation. With suspense-building illustrations and eye-catching text elements that mirror the meaning behind Beckerman’s poetic prose, Caves will captivate young minds!

For more great ways to honor Earth Day, try these fun activities recommended by PBS https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/15-ways-to-celebrate-earth-day-with-kids and these clever crafts from Crayola https://www.crayola.com/crafts/earth-day/.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Happy reading, and Happy Earth Day!

Comma Drama: That, Which, and Who—It’s All Relative

“The maple tree that Kate planted,” or “The maple tree, which Kate planted”? The use of that versus which and how to pair (or not pair) each with a comma is a common point of confusion in everyday writing. Since that and which are both relative pronouns used to join a relative clause (modifying a noun that precedes it) to an independent clause, they are often used interchangeably in error. The key to remembering the correct word choice is the following question: Is the relative clause you are working with essential or nonessential? That is used to introduce an essential clause, while which is exclusively for introducing clauses that are nonessential.

Let’s take a closer look at essential versus nonessential clauses. A clause is essential when removing it from a sentence would change its overall meaning. 

Example: The bicycle that has training wheels is in the garage.

In this sentence, the relative clause that has training wheels (modifying the noun bicycle) is essential because removing it would change the overall meaning of the sentence, leaving the reader without clarification that the bicycle being referenced is the one with training wheels. Commas are not used to separate an essential clause because the writer needs that clause to formulate the core meaning of their sentence.

By contrast, a nonessential clause includes added detail about the noun (or noun phrase) being modified that is informative but not crucial to the sentence’s meaning. Let’s see how switching that to which in the sentence above changes the writer’s overall message.

Example: The bicycle, which has training wheels, is in the garage.

Whereas the use of that in the first version of the sentence emphasizes the importance of the training wheels, the second version—using which to introduce a relative clause separated by commas—indicates that the training wheels on the bicycle are a dispensable detail; therefore, there must only be one bicycle in the garage. As demonstrated here, using which is the proper way to introduce a nonessential clause. 

Example: Emperor penguins, which live in Antarctica, have orange and yellow patches

on their heads.

Emperor penguins that live in Antarctica have orange and yellow patches 

on their heads.

In the above example, changing which to that makes the second sentence inaccurate altogether. Since Emperor penguins only live in Antarctica, the first sentence properly separates this information in the form of a nonessential clause introduced by which and separated by commas. If this clause is removed, the meaning of the sentence remains intact, seeing as the habitat of these penguins is indisputable and needs no clarification. However, when that is used to create an essential clause, the writer indicates that only Emperor penguins living in Antarctica have orange and yellow markings, misleading the reader to believe there are Emperor penguins without this feature living elsewhere. 

Example: The café in Midtown that is my favorite serves cocktails and tapas.

The café in Midtown, which is my favorite, serves cocktails and tapas.

Here, changing that to which alters the meaning of the sentence, once again. In the first sentence, the writer is comparing the café mentioned solely to other cafés in Midtown, whereas the second sentence compares the café in Midtown to all cafés in a broader category. Also, note that removing the nonessential clause which is my favorite still retains the writer’s core message about what is served at the café—whether or not the café is the writer’s favorite is irrelevant to their primary message. 

What about who? Clauses beginning with who can be essential or nonessential, depending on the intent of the writer. Using commas properly here will provide your reader with the necessary clues to understand your message clearly. 

Example: The professor who offers that course is currently on sabbatical.

The professor, who offers that course, is currently on sabbatical.

In this example, the first sentence aims to distinguish the professor mentioned from other professors by referring to the course they offer while using an essential clause without commas. Alternatively, the second sentence would be used in a context where the reader already knows the identity of the professor. The notice of the professor being on sabbatical is the main focus of this sentence, while the course they offer is a side detail separated by commas as a nonessential clause.

A common pitfall to avoid with the use of who to introduce a relative clause is substitution of that. When the noun being modified is a person rather than an object, the relative pronoun who is preferable to that.

Example: ✅ The professor who offers that course is currently on sabbatical.

⌧ The professor that offers that course is currently on sabbatical.

Additionally, make sure to check for proper use of who versus whom. Whom should be used specifically in contexts where the person being referenced is the object of the verb.

Example: ✅ The caterer who you met over the weekend just returned your call.

✅ The caterer whom you contacted just returned your call.

⌧ The caterer who you contacted just returned your call.

In summary, using a handy cheat sheet like the one below can help you make error-proof decisions about when to use commas with relative pronouns. 

Relative Clause Type	Relative Pronoun to Use	Separate with Commas?
essential	that	no
nonessential	which	yes
noun being modified is a person (may be essential or nonessential)	who	no for essential clauses yes for nonessential clauses

Thanks for reading! Continue to follow my blog for more advice on quelling comma drama!

8 Grammar Tips for Picture-Perfect Holiday Cards

The end-of-year holiday season is upon us, bringing perpetual to-do lists and frantic hustle and bustle. Many of us who intend to thoughtfully craft messages of good will for our nearest and dearest in the form of polished holiday cards simply can't find the time! While creating a picture-perfect holiday card always requires effort, following these eight grammar tips will make the process much faster and help your message shine flawlessly!

1. Properly Pluralize Family Names

   Unless a last name ends in s, sh, ch, x, or z, all one needs to do is add s to perfectly pluralize any surname on holiday cards and invitations. For example, the surname Johnson becomes "The Johnsons" while the surname Dodd becomes "The Dodds." If your family name does end in one of the exceptional letters mentioned above, you will need to add es instead—think Williams→The Williamses, Diaz→The Diazes, and Hatch→The Hatches. Don't like the result? It's always safe and fashionable to use this alternative: "The (insert surname here) Family."

   
   

   

   
   

2. Use a Comma After Your Complimentary Close

   A complimentary close is that lovely farewell sentiment included right before your signature. Popular phrases in this category for holiday cards include "With love," "Sincerely," and "Happy holidays." Whichever closing you choose, make sure to add a comma afterward to visually separate it from your signature.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Use Commas to Separate Individual Names in a Series

   If you, like many people, choose to include the individual names of all your family/party members in your holiday card signature, make sure to separate these names with a comma in between. The spot where a comma is most commonly forgotten is just before the and joining the final name in the series to the names listed beforehand. This "Oxford comma" is used consistently in academic writing but is often dropped in journalistic contexts, causing confusion about when it's necessary. Why keep the Oxford comma here? Using this serial comma is standard practice in formal correspondence like holiday cards.

   
   

4. Know How to Use Ampersands

   Did you know the ampersand was considered the twenty-seventh letter in the English alphabet prior to the mid-1800s? In informal writing, the ampersand icon is used in place of the word and as a space-saving measure as well as between common word pairings, such as peanut butter & jelly. If space on your card is ample, you may still consider using an ampersand for stylistic purposes or to highlight the joint status of individuals who are coupled up, such as spouses (e.g., "Josh & Molly"), twin siblings (e.g., "Liam & Chloe"), or even pets (e.g., "Milo & Bear"). Just make sure not to use a comma directly before an ampersand (even if the name that follows it is the last in the series) since it appears awkward and out of place.

   
   

5. Always Capitalize Names of Holidays

   This rule is as simple as it sounds—the name of a holiday itself, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, is always capitalized. Modifiers, however, are another story. Read on to learn more!

   
   

6. Only Capitalize Holiday Modifiers at the Start of a Sentence

   Modifiers, in this case, are adjectives describing the type of holiday you are having or wish for yourself or another to have. What type of Christmas might you wish for? A merry Christmas. What type of Hanukkah may you be hoping for? A happy Hanukkah. In these examples, the modifiers merry and happy are not capitalized (even though the holiday names that follow them are) because each occurs in the middle of a sentence and is not part of the formal holiday name itself. At the beginning of a sentence, however, both words should be capitalized. We commonly see this in greetings like the following: "Merry Christmas to you!"

   
   
   
   

   

   
   

7. Check Capitalization of Nonspecific Holiday Greetings

   "Happy holidays" and "Season's greetings" are popular sentiments used to express all-inclusive good will toward others one may not know well or at all. Since a proper name for a specific holiday is not being referenced in these instances, there is no need for capitalization unless the initial word happens to begin a sentence. Therefore, both of the following are correct:

   "Happy holidays to you and yours!"

   "Wishing you and yours happy holidays!"

   
   

8. Know Where Apostrophes Belong (and Where They Don't)

Greetings in holiday cards are notorious for flaunting misplaced apostrophes. The following list covers the most common errors to avoid.

In summary:

• Season in "Season's greetings" is written in singular possessive form since it refers to the comprehensive holiday season in general.

• While "Happy New Year's" is commonly heard near the stroke of midnight on December 31st, this sentiment when written should reflect the more accurate "Happy New Year," "Happy New Year's Eve," or "Happy New Year's Day."

• Don't forget that the seasonal terms ’tis and ’twas need apostrophes too! Serving as contractions, ’tis is short for it is while ’twas stands for it was.

• Finally, when referring to a home, location, or other element belonging to more than one person—remember the possessive 's is only required in the name of the last person listed (e.g., "Josh & Molly's house" rather than "Josh's & Molly's house"). This trick will come in handy when writing holiday invitations, simplifying both text and space. Plus, it just sounds better!

Need more grammar tips? Follow my blog for more tricks of the trade and style guidelines in my "Technical Tips" feed!

Season's greetings to you,