By Christine McFaul
I Have the Right to Save My Planet is a picture book written by Alain Serres, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty, and translated by Shelley Tanaka. This book is part of a series that also includes the award winning I Have the Right to Be a Child and I Have the Right to Culture.
I Have the Right to Save My Planet begins by introducing the world as a gift. Given to each of us when we are born, the air, the grass, the sun, the shade, and even cow dung (a gift especially appreciated by the flies in the skies!), is for all of us, and best of all, it is free. Because of that, nature connects us. The great chain of life goes all the way around the planet linking the world together as we work to share and preserve this intricate and essential resource. But what happens when we don’t take care of our precious gift? Like when we dump plastic water bottles (that never go away) into the oceans, destroy rainforests to plant palm trees (for a cheap resource used in some cookies, margarines, and shower gels) or when we do not share or care equally about who has access to our increasingly limited natural resources (like fresh drinking water)? It is by answering this question that the book delivers its most powerful message: When the planet is threatened by human activity then we all have the right to take action. We can plant a bee-friendly garden, preserve habitats for bugs and birds, use our voice to demonstrate, or even write to world leaders. We can dare to dream of a future where the world is protected and shared, treated like the gift it is meant to be.
Originally written by Serres in French and beautifully translated by Shelley Tanaka (an award-winning Canadian author, translator, and editor) the narrative unfolds using simple, child-focused language. Complex concepts are made accessible for the picture book age range using well-chosen analogies, fun and engaging facts, and even some well-timed humour. Fronty’s illustrations are integral to this process and create gorgeous visual explanations and interpretations of the text. Each page is extremely child-friendly, boasting eye-catching combinations of whimsy, emotion, and information all drenched in vibrant colours.
I Have the Right to Save My Planet manages to balance urgency and hope. It is a child-focused, informative, and stunning picture book for anyone looking to introduce the concept of environmental activism to young readers. A fantastic choice for personal reading or for classroom use.
Note: This is a book I would consider flipping through yourself before reading with a child. This will allow some time to anticipate questions and emotions that are likely to come up during reading.
Thank you to Groundwood Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.