35. Energy Island

As a side note, this is one of the books I received from Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith...but I'll tell you more about that later...

So, in case you don't know me...one of the things I love most is nature. I can be a little militant about recycling (don't just throw a bottle away!) and try to do my part to keep us green. So when I saw this book on the shelf, I had to have it. 


This is the first book in a series by Allan Drummond (2011) that explores innovative green projects in communities around the world. One thing that is great about it is that even with all of the information that is in there, it is still quite kid friendly. That is because the bulk of the text is written in narrative format, telling the story of how Samso (a little island in Denmark) went from being dependent for energy to almost completely off the grid. It is a story that even the littlest of kids can understand-- one man tries to convince others but fails because they don't want to change. Little by little, people start making the shift to renewable energy, and voila, there becomes big change.

If you have older readers, you can also read them the green columns that are featured every so often on the side. Those are written in an informative, non-fiction style and give some background information on non-renewable and renewable energy, as well as global warming and tips to save energy. I'm glad that Drummond set that apart from the main text and didn't try to squeeze it into the story. Though it is important information, the book is now more accessible to kids of all ages. And this is a story I want every little boy and girl to hear...

Oh, and the illustrations are great, too. The cover art shows both a huge turbine and some small pinwheels harnessing the power of the wind. Drummond's ink and watercolor illustrations are dynamic throughout the entire book. His lines convey the movement of the wind (a very powerful force in Samso) and his washes of blue show how connected they are to nature with the waves of the ocean and the blue of the sky. Even the endpages and title page show us people outside, playing at the beach, and all that wind! You can see the wind in the trees, in the pinwheels, in the way the girl holds on to her hat. Why so much emphasis on the wind...well, that's where they end up getting most of their energy from! Drummond tells the rest of the story with panels (usually 3 to a page) that move the story along and show us life in Samso. The pastel colors show us a thriving community. At times the palette becomes a little darker to show us winter or a storm blowing through. They are simple, cartoon-like sketches but they fit the text well. His pictures keep the story moving with the force of the wind, making us turn the page to read on.


One of the big things kids can take from this book (besides renewable= good) is that creating change can be tough. Many people told the young teacher trying to make a difference, "What difference can we make?" or "No way! I love my truck." or "Why bother?" This is common resistance to any big change in a community, whether you are talking about energy independence or fighting for civil rights. By reading this book to my students, I would not only help support science concepts of energy, but would also help them learn what it takes to create change, because I want them to feel that they can change the world. Oh, and if it can get them to at least recycle, then that is awesome, too.