Scan barcode
A review by lucyturnsthepage
Greta and the Giants: inspired by Greta Thunberg's stand to save the world by Zoe Persico, Zoë Tucker
5.0
Let me start this review by saying I may well be biased towards it. While the strikes for climate are not something I have participated in as a Geography graduate I spent years studying climate change and the impacts it is having across the world, in this time when some in power are still refusing to acknowledge the threat that climate change has I believe any book that develops awareness of the issue has some merit. Now onto the book itself.
I have seen some reviews complaining that this book offers no solutions to the situation but rather just encourages children to blame ‘the giants’ for the problems. That is not how I read it. Yes the story itself is about taking a stand but the giants aren’t vilified, it is made clear that they merely weren’t thinking of the forest but rather the growth of their cities. I don’t think this is an unfair characterisation. And at the back of the book their are suggestions written for what children can do themselves to help. Perhaps because I read it as a primary school teacher I pay more attention to this as it’s something that could be part of a scheme of work and I can see myself planning lessons using this book as the starting point.
My other notes are just on the aesthetic of the book. I think it is gorgeous, the illustrations are beautiful and have a soft warmth to them that just makes me want to dive in. There is diversity shown without it being made out to be a big deal and the language used makes it a good candidate for being read aloud. I can definitely see myself reading this book to my class in the future.
I have seen some reviews complaining that this book offers no solutions to the situation but rather just encourages children to blame ‘the giants’ for the problems. That is not how I read it. Yes the story itself is about taking a stand but the giants aren’t vilified, it is made clear that they merely weren’t thinking of the forest but rather the growth of their cities. I don’t think this is an unfair characterisation. And at the back of the book their are suggestions written for what children can do themselves to help. Perhaps because I read it as a primary school teacher I pay more attention to this as it’s something that could be part of a scheme of work and I can see myself planning lessons using this book as the starting point.
My other notes are just on the aesthetic of the book. I think it is gorgeous, the illustrations are beautiful and have a soft warmth to them that just makes me want to dive in. There is diversity shown without it being made out to be a big deal and the language used makes it a good candidate for being read aloud. I can definitely see myself reading this book to my class in the future.