Children's author Tim Magner pictured at his booth for the 2009
Chicago Green Festival with a copy of his children's book, Earl the
Earthworm Digs for his Life. All three Green Sugar Press books
released on Earth Day 2009. (credit: Renée Carver)
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Chicago parents and kids visiting the 2009 Chicago Green Festival could meet Tim Magner, a native Chicagoan and environmental educator who has authored three children's books meant to inspire kids to become interested in nature and exploring things outdoors.
Why Tim Magner writes
Local Chicago children's author Tim Magner cites two motivations for writing the three children's books published by Green Sugar Press so far. First, he notes that grown-ups are often complaisant about the status quo and uninterested in learning about nature and why the way people interact with the environment might need to change. Second, he describes a moment when he noticed how excited his nephew was to be learning about nature and the world, and how this helped Tim to see how important it is to get children truly interested in and engaged with nature before starting to drill into them why it is important to save the Earth.
Instead of teaching children rote facts about why it is important to take care of the planet or allowing them to grow into adults that do not have a connection with nature, Tim is trying to use his books to reach kids while they are young and instill a true love of the world and its wonders in them then. He sees this as laying the groundwork for helping them understand how and why it is important to change things once they are older.
Children's books from Green Sugar Press
The three eco-friendly children's picture books Green Sugar Press has released for 2009 are each written by Tim Magner for the purpose of inspiring kids to go outside and connect with nature.
The Green Sugar Press booth at
the 2009 Chicago Green Festival
supplied young visitors with the
materials needed to create their own
natural books from materials like paper,
string, sticks, and crayons.
(credit: Renée Carver)
N is for Nature: An Environmental Alphabet Book teaches kids ages 3 to 8 both the letters of the alphabet and items from nature that begin with each letter. In fact, each letter is formed from a natural object, with (for example) M being shaped by birds flying across the sky in a migration pattern.
Earl the Earthworm Digs for His Life teaches kids ages 5 to 9 about the important job an earthworm plays in nature by focusing on the actions the main character, Earl, takes while trying to figure out just what it is that he does. Footnote facts deepen children's knowledge of earthworms.
An Environmental Guide from A to Z is an eco-alphabet that introduces kids ages 8 to 13 to topics in environmental science, from important figures like Jacques Cousteau to animal habitats and cycles of nature. Questions accompany each section to promote further in-depth thinking from the reader.
How to buy Green Sugar Press books
Parents interested in purchasing these green-themed children's books can visit the Green Sugar Press Web site to place an order for any or all three titles, including copies autographed and personally dedicated by Tim Magner. The experience of reading two of the books can be enhanced by the use of special Parent and Teacher guides.
Check out a promotional video from Green Sugar Press, in which author Tim Magner explains the inspiration for writing his nature-themed children's books.
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