Celebrate Earth Day with the Story of Knut
by education.com
It's the week of Earth Day, and at school your child is learning all about endangered species, global warming, and the importance of recycling. A great way to complement this study is with a family reading of Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World by father-daughters writing team Craig, Juliana (age 12) and Isabella (age 9) Hatkoff.
Knut is a polar bear born at the Berlin Zoo whose mother abandoned him. Unable to care for himself, zookeeper Thomas Dorflein stepped in to become his foster father. Knut became a star when people around the world heard about his survival against the odds. And then a funny thing happenned. The more people thought about Knut, the more they thought about other polar bears in the wild also facing difficult odds. The polar bear habitat is, literally, melting due to the effects of global warming. Scientists predict that we may witness polar bear extinction in our lifetime.
The true story of this underdog turned symbol of environmental responsibility is told by kids and for kids--in language that is understandable. While photos of Knut's adorable face and funny habits make the book a pleasure, the authors don't shy away from the important message which lies in those black button eyes: respect habitats. In addition to detailing his cute characteristics, the book explains global warming, how it's changing the Arctic habitat and, perhaps most important, what kids can do about it. The reading level is appropriate for ages 9 through 12, though younger children may enjoy having the story read to them. You and your child are sure to fall in love with polar bears, and be inspired to protect their habitat. And that's what Earth Day is all about.
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