Greta and the Giants

January 24, 2020

Gr 1-4-Climate change is a very real, very scary situation taking place around the world. Human behavior has rapidly increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing the global temperature to rise by a full degree Celsius. Greta lives in the heart of a beautiful forest and observes this destruction firsthand. She and her animal friends are suffering at the hands of the giants who are cutting down the forest to build their homes and cities. Finally, Greta has had enough. She begins a movement that ripples through her community, affecting great change along the way. Though the climate change crisis is significant in the world at present, this book offers a hopeful resolution as inspired by the actions of a young girl named Greta Thunberg. A robust cover and beautifully detailed illustrations capture the attention of readers of all ages. Each page is saturated with color and emotion, the images reminiscent of a fairy tale. The faces of the giants are generic until the final moments of the book as they become less scary and more "human." At the end of the book, a description of Thunberg's brave actions and a list of ways even young children can make a difference are shared to provide context for the story and its message. VERDICT Children and adults alike will be inspired to make changes in their own lives to combat climate change after reading this poignant tale.-Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver Public Library

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In allegorical tribute to teen eco-activist Greta Thunberg, a child saves a forest from heedless pillagers. When forest animals humbly come to Greta, a very small white child sporting braids and a yellow slicker, for help against the giants--"huge, lumbering oafs" who have destroyed nearly all the trees to build dark, smoky cities--she plants herself in front of the remaining greenery with a sign that says "STOP!" and waits for the giants to notice her. Soon she is joined by a brown-skinned little boy, then animals and other, diverse children, all bearing more signs...until in time the giants hunker down in embarrassment and promise to mend their ways. And soon "the forest became more beautiful than they ever could have imagined." Using mostly warm hues, Persico places the towering giants and the crowds of sign-wielding, ankle-high protesters in mistily atmospheric settings that culminate in a double-page -spread "peaceable kingdom" scene. This Greta has a forthright look in accord with the polite tone of the colloquy ("We need to take care of our forest and live together. Will you please try?"), but she lacks the living one's challenging, world-class stare. Moreover, the author's closing observation that her tale's happy ending hasn't actually (or, optimistically, yet) come about in the real world is buried in an appended account of Thunberg's campaign (to about mid-2019) and so may go unnoticed by younger readers. Bland and tidy--but a good starter for discussions with budding activists. (websites, suggested activities) (Picture book. 6-9)

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