Whether you live in the countryside or in a city, near a woodland or in a village, there are lots of things you can do to help your local ecosystem, and this bright, attractive book lays out lots of ways to make a difference.
In chapters dedicated to different environments, from gardens to grasslands and even in your house, it lists the wildlife to look out for, describes the impact of human activity and lists simple actions we can all take to lessen that.
There are suggestions of activities too that will reveal more about the local ecosystem or boost it. Going pond dipping, building a bug hotel or growing a herb garden all seem fun, and attainable things to do. Written by the presenter of BBC Earth Kids, this is informative and engaging and likely to inspire junior eco explorers everywhere.
You don't need a big garden of fancy equipment to bring about positive changes - all you need is the spirit of an eco explorer: curiosity, respect for nature and a desire to do good.
We know that the environment needs our help, but can we really make a difference? Beloved children's presenter Yussef Rafik has made it his mission to share his knowledge about the natural world and the things we can do to help it.
How to Be an Eco Explorer introduces you to 10 key ecosystems, from gardens to the coast, and from arid lands to the city. For each one, you will discover:
Ecosystem facts: learn about how the ecosystem works, including the challenges it faces
Small solutions: discover little things we can do to help solve these challenges, as individuals or as a society
Habitat heroes: meet under-appreciated animal heroes that are crucial to making the ecosystem work, such as pond snails, cellar spiders and dung beetles
Practical activities: enjoy two step-by-step activities that you can try at home. For example, learn how to make your own rainwater harvester or bathyscope for spying critters underwater!
This is the perfect book for young people feeling anxious about the environment, but also for parents looking for inspiring ways to get their children outside, having fun and learning.
Yussef Rafik is a zoologist and wildlife TV presenter, best known for hosting the BBC Earth shows Bugface, and After We've Gone 24 Hours With, as well as narrating the documentary series Wild Bites. He has also presented on the likes of CBeebies, BBC Radio 4, Sky Nature and BBC Bitesize. Through his work, Yussef hopes to inspire a love of the natural world in young readers.
