I am a book person. Before I was a mom, greenie, blogger, or whatever else I can be labeled with, I was a bookworm. Last week, I was browsing my local giganto-chain bookstore (can someone PLEASE fund an indie in Boca, PLEASE) and found a beautiful book simply called People, written and illustrated by Peter Spier. Published in 1980, I had ever seen or heard of this book before now. As much as I wish this was one of my all time favories, I’m so glad I found it for my kids.

People is not a narrative. However, the book’s descriptions of how, where, and why we live the way we do flow easily and simply. “We all know that there are lots and lots of people in the world - and many more millions each year,” the book starts off. Oversized for little hands, People is chock full of detailed illustrations of, you guessed it, people from all corners of the globe. It’s a true globetrotting guide to the best of what makes each of us wonderfully different - warts and all.

What’s most amazing about People, aside from the illustrations, is the sense that you can open the book up to any page and start an important conversation with your children. I’ve seen my older daughter flipping through the book on a few occasions, and ask me questions later about something she found that intruiged her. Now more than ever, opening up a dialogue with our kids about the differences in citizens of the world, their beliefs, what they eat and how they look, is a vital step in growing up global. I hope you have a chance to find People, either at your library or local bookstore!

Theodor Seuss Geisel - most affectionately known as Dr. Seuss - would have been 105 years old today. As one of the most popular children’s book authors of all time, Dr. Seuss continues to influence generations of children all over the world.

Not surprisingly, the National Education Association has declared March 2nd to also be  Read Across America Day! As we all know, reading to your kids is one of the most important aspects of early learning. It encourages socialization, imagination-building, a love for education, and simple, carefree bonding time. On this day, whether you read to your own children, a friend’s child or an entire classroom, the NEA wishes to ”call for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult.” And on this snowy day in many parts of the country, what better time to cozy up with a good book?

Dr. Seuss has left behind a legacy of silliness children of every age can appreciate. As an adult, I understand the meanings behind his rhyming and wordsmithing. Whether reading to my kids about Horton, feet, made-up animals, or the ever-important Lorax with his message of conservation, Dr. Seuss is a writer to be celebrate every day. Today, take some time to pore over the great Dr. Seuss library. You can also find all things Seuss at Suessville.com, a colorful and entertaining guide to Dr. Seuss and his legacy!

What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Hi there! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. We’ve had nasty colds floating around our house, but thankfully everyone is (almost) back to normal. I thought I’d theme this weekend’s reading selections around the beginning of Lent. This was inspired by my good friend Katherine, who unfortunately can’t read this because she gave up the internet for Lent. I used to think Lent was about giving up cookies or other vices (at least, that’s what my friends made it seem to me), but in this day and age, I can definitely think of more global ways to “give up to gain” aspects of our day. Here’s a selection of inspiring articles to help your Lent be more fruitful.

The Daily Green gives us nine eco-based ways to make Lent more meaningful while helping the planet at the same time. Some of the suggestions, such as giving up bottled water (by using tap/filtered water with reusable bottles) or bringing resuable bags to the supermarket, are definitely doable any time of year. Being conscious about it for Easter season is a great starting point for the rest of the year!

Bishops in London have urged Brits to go on a “carbon fast” this Lent season. By removing one light bulb or turning your computer off every night (instead of leaving it on standby), you can be more aware of your energy efficiency and the impact it can have overall.

Have you read about the “eco-nuns” of New York City? The nuns of St. Hilda’s House are preparing their new eco-convent in West Harlem. Rooftop gardens, an abundance of skylights and recycled materials for the buildings are all a part of this wonderfully sustainable church and convent that will make a great impact on their community as well.

For more suggestions about how to go green for Lent, check out Green Lent!

What will you be giving up for Lent?

Happy weekend everyone! I don’t know about you, but I’m making this weekend extra lazy and relaxing (if that’s possible with two kids, but we’ll try it!). Here are a few of my favorite links from this past week. If you’ve seen something you think fellow readers would like to click through to, please feel free to share!

My final installment about composting was posted this week at Brita’s Filter For Good blog! My plants are thanking us - it’s amazing what composting can acheive, beyond reduce food waste!

Speaking of food, if you haven’t found Smitten Kitchen yet, you’ve probably been too hungry. Even if you’re not a foodie, the brilliant photos and recipes will make you run to your nearest farmer’s market. Run, don’t walk!

Wondering how you and your kids can get the most out of food? The Daily Green has a slideshow of the Top 10 Food Sources of Vitamin C.

Green writers make talk the talk, but we can’t always walk the walk. Beth at 5 Minutes for Going Green talk about how’s she can be a great green hypocrite. Don’t be afraid to admit it!

*photo courtesy of Smitten Kitchen.

It may be hard to believe, but I don’t usually like to toot my own horn. This week, I just so happened to have three articles circulating the green blogosphere this weekend! All are totally different, but I hope thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

My monthly post for 5 Minutes for Going Green (called “Filtering for Change“) about the pros and cons of my new writing gig for Brita, as well as the benefits of choosing to filter water instead of using bottled sources. My goal was to present a balanced look at both Brita’s issues with their filters, as well as how writing for change isn’t always easy.

On that note, my new post for Brita’s Filter For Good blog is Part III of my four-part series about our composting adventures. This week I chronicle how we almost ditched our efforts to make compost because of a major setback - a nasty, all-consuming smell that we couldn’t get rid of!

Finally, Beth over at Petite Planet is going greener by moving to the greenest city in the US - Portland, Oregon. While her family is getting settled, she asked me to guest post for her wonderful site. I had so much fun writing for her, and my post, called “Sugar, Sugar“, discusses the new “natural” sugar alternatives on the market today. Are they really better, safer, and overall, sweeter, than what’s out there already?

Just as I expressed to my family today it’s about time the weather cools down, I heard on the news tonight there may be a “cool front” coming through South Florida (whatever that means). I hope everyone gets some outside time this weekend, but also has a chance to check out these green reads from around the blogosphere!

If you haven’t been clicking over to Brita’s Filter For Good blog, now’s a good time! Check out my post this week about the best and worst green US cities, and discover other great eco-writers!

One of my favorite posts last month from 5 Minutes for Going Green - Can A Green Mom Get a Tattoo?

Submit your favorite Fall photos to The Daily Green, and it could end up on the homepage! My girls love looking at all the Fall leaves (we do a virtual Autumn at our house).

The Atlanta Zoo has welcomed three African lion cubs and a newborn panda to its family! Their website has updated blogs and amazing pictures of all the animals - spend some time with your kids peeking in on these adorable babies!

Finally, who can ignore the financial turmoil many people, business, and oh yeah, the entire financial system is going through. Cutting costs, cutting back and cutting off is unfortunate and riddled with anxiety, but is there a flip side to all the madness? Coochicoos wants you to think about why financial regret may be beneficial for everyone. Discuss.

Hi all! I hope everyone had a great week! While we were so happy to spend Rosh Hashana with family out of town, it’s great to be home and back on track with teensygreen.

On to some exciting news! I’m so thrilled to be a part of a new - the Mommy Go Green Blog Tour! The wonderful-ness that is Green & Clean Mom has organized this ingenious method of getting the word out about new eco-products we think you’ll all love! The best part is, there’s a great giveaway included.

The first MGG Blog Tour and giveaway is hosted by ecoBrain, a wonderful e-book library that provides “Green Books for Green Living”. ecoBrain has brought hundreds of green titles in one place, saving thousands of trees by simply reading books on your computer instead of purchasing them. ecoBrain features the latest green titles as well as classic books, including titles on the environment, sustainability, health and wellness, local green, virtually everything and anything that involves green living. Your first reaction may have been the same as mine - it’s tough for me to read books on my computer, so how can ebooks benefit me? But after checking out the site, I can honestly say I’m hooked on ecoBrain. There’s so much to I’ve already downloaded - cookbooks, gardening and nature guides, activities for my kids - and many more on my “to read” list. Many of the titles offer samples pages to preview, and if you sign up from now through November 1st (it’s free to sign up), you’ll receive a $5 credit towards your first ebook!

Onto the giveaway! ecoBrain and publisher New Society want you to win the ebook Radical Simplicity. Great title, right? Think about it - you may be recycling, composting, growing your own veggies and buying natural products. But, are you ready to take a step further? Is it possible, even “radical,” to truly live “simply” in this crazy day and age? Written by John Merkel, a former military engineer who quit his job after the Exxon Valdez disaster to pursue a balanced, more sustainable life, Radical Simplicity is part workbook, part memoir, and part pure inspiration. It provides practical tools to guide you through seemingly impossible changes, to not only help you reduce your ecological footprint, but help you truly get in touch with Mother Earth.

This giveaway will run for one week, through Sunday, October 12th at midnight, PST. Please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what ecoBrain ebook peaks your interest the most? Good luck and happy reading!

I love love love the Fall season for books. When I worked in publishing, the push for big books after the lazy summer season brought energy and excitement to our office, and my reading queue! This Fall, there’s definitely no shortage for eco-based books for kids. Here’s what I’ve found to bring green reading to your child’s library:

Planet Earth Gets Well by Madeline Kaplan (BookSurge Publishing) - First time author Kaplan takes on global warming in a unique and sensitive way - through the eyes of mother and child. This time, however, Earth is the child, suffering from a runny nose (ice caps) and a fever (global warming). How are we going to help Earth feel better? Mother Nature encourages people to nurture the Earth instead of taking advantage of it, and being more conscious about their actions.

By personifying the Earth, children can relate much better to its concerns and solutions. The friendly illustrations speak volumes to kids, and they’ll take a lot away from this whimsical yet grounding book.

Little Green Books (Simon and Shuster) -  S&S is making a wonderful commitment to green education through their Little Green Books series. These easy to read, well-priced books focus on very specific aspects of the environment, which is great for not overwhelming kids when teaching them about sensitive subjects. Titles such as The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story about Global Warming is geared towards kids ages four and up, and are paperbacks made from recycled paper with soy ink. The adorable Little Panda and “Little Monkey” books for younger kids are cloth books made from 50% recycled materials, and are machine washable! There will be more Little Green Books published about recycling, gardening and endangered animals from now until next Spring, so keep checking back with your bookseller!

Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (Worthwhile Books) - My husband saw this book and had to get it, probably because we’re big recyclers. My girls, however, love Michael for his silly colander-hat and ability to fly through the clouds. This is a fun book about a lazy town whose garbage is about to reach the moon! Michael swoops in and teaches them how to separate trash and reuse materials so they won’t be buried under their trash. There’s also a great resource guide to recycling, reminders about how easy it is to help save the planet, superhero or not!

10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh (Candlewick Press) - My girls love this book for it’s simplicity and interactivity. Walsh takes ten very doable tasks that kids can take on to become very responsible earthkeepers, such as turning the water off when brushing their teeth, or using both sides of a piece of doodling paper. The modern illustrating and kid-centric writing makes this a wonderful library addition for kids ages 4-8.

This week, I have THREE copies of Planet Earth Gets Well for three lucky readers! In addition to the book, Eco-Libris will plant a tree to balance out the books printed (and yes, all the books are printed on post-consumer recycled paper). Leave a comment here with answer to this - how do you help Planet Earth get well? This contest will be open until next Tuesday, September 23rd at midnight. Good luck, and happy reading!

I don’t subscribe to many magazines (I’m pretty reformed, but our magazine bin is always full to capacity). But as much as I read on-line, green or otherwise, I do like to keep things on hand for browsing or reference that I don’t need to turn on my computer for. KIWI is one of them. KIWI Magazine is a bi-monthly, family-centered publication with a focus on natural and organic lifestyles, but like the fruit, is sweet and many shades of green. KIWI focuses on every aspect of eco-wellness, from health to food to clothing and the fun stuff. KIWI shares the desire held by all parents to create a safe, happy environment for our children that promotes growth and well-being.

The on-line KIWI experience is just as rewarding and brings the magazine even more to life. There’s an awesome recipes page, articles on everything from safe pregnancy to endangered species, a great blog and podcast and KIWI kids funpages to print out and keep your little ones busy all summer. There are also a bunch of newsletters for KIWI in your inbox, with coupons, green tips, and the new cooking club for kids newsletter (there’s no link, but a neat little box where you can enter your email address).

This week, one lucky winner will get a year subscription to KIWI! The rules are the same, as always. Please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what’s your favorite aspect of KIWI Magazine? You have until next Monday, July 28th at midnight, PST to enter! Good luck!

This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering! 

I hope everyone had an amazing Mother’s Day! We were lucky enough to spend most of the day outside, enjoying the beach and family. As my older daughter told me when I kissed her goodnight, “Every day should be Mother’s Day” (no really, she did!), I remind myself how my healthy, curious, enlightening children have become the best reason to help the planet, even through this little blog.

As many of my days wind down, I end up thinking about parenting, which eventually leads to thinking about writing and being green and on and on and on (insert smiley face here). I guess since I advocate for nature above all else, I talk to my kids a lot about planting trees, which leads me every time back to Eco-Libris, the green business that works with publishers, bookstores, even readers, to help the book industry balance out its paper use.

In April, Eco-Libris teamed up with Kedzie Press, an independent, “green” publisher that prints all books on post-consumer, chlorine-free paper, for Kedzie’s Million Tree-A-Thon! Kedzie Press is aiming to plant one million trees by December 2009. All you do is purchase any Kedzie Press title from their website, and Eco-Libris will match each purchase with a tree, and a pre-printed sticker on each title. Use the code “milliontrees” for 10% off any book!

This week, I’m thrilled that Kedzie Press is so generously giving away 10 copies of their latest release, The Green Parent. The Green Parent is a comprehensive guide to help ease your family into being cleaner and greener. It tackles topics such as money-saving, practical efforts for eco-ing your home; educating your kids and how to teach them to spread the eco-word; and green products you can use (and afford!) For each copy of The Green Parent sponsored for the giveaway, Eco-Libris will double the trees planted. This means a total of 20 new trees from this giveaway alone are going into the ground! So, get those thinking caps on, and enter - this contest will be open until midnight, PST on Friday, May 16th. Please leave a comment with an answer to this question - what do you think is the most important eco-tip to share with your children (or grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc.)? Good luck, and I hope the winners enjoy the book!