So often, children’s literature depicts to the young reader a pleasant and happy picture of the world around them.  In this scenario, seemingly complex problems are often fixed easily, usually by some kind of magical intervention.  Although it can be difficult to explain and expose young children to the harsh reality of our current environmental problems, it seems prudent to acknowledge that as we try to navigate our way through this unprecedented time in history, surely it makes more sense to educate children about the reality of the environment and the world around them.  If we fail to do this, then we miss the opportunity to educate them and as a result are unable to implement changes to their attitudes and habits.

Being eco literate means seeing the world as an interconnected whole , where we understand that all living systems support each other.  ” The ecosystems of the natural world are sustainable  communities of plants, animals and microorganisms.  There is no waste in these ecological communities, one species’ waste being another species’ food.  Thus matter cycles continually through the web of life.  The energy driving these ecological cycles flows from the sun, and the diversity and cooperation among its members is the source of the community’s resilience.  Being ecologically literate means understanding the basic principles of organization of ecological communities and being able to embody them in the daily life of human communities” (Capra, 2014).

Capra states that ‘ ..environmental concerns have become of paramount importance. We are faced with a whole series of global problems which are harming the biosphere and human life in alarming ways that may soon be irreversible.’  Capra goes on to say that ‘ our problems must be seen as different facets of one single crisis, which is largely a crisis of perception.  It derives from the fact that most of us, and especially our large social institutions, subscribe to the concepts of an outdated world view, a perception of reality inadequate for dealing with our overpopulated, globally interconnected world.’