Mother Earth by Libby Hathorn. Illus. by Christina Booth

This is a gorgeous collection of timely poems about the wonder of nature, the human effect on the earth and what we can do to protect it. Christina Booth's (Welcome Home) illustrations are rich and poignant, her use of light and depth a particular strength. The poems within are varied in form and focus. There are some haikus, rhyming poems, a rap, a riddle and some with context provided (rescued koala after bushfire). There is a poem about some plant species that need protecting in each state and territory ('Small tufted bush pea with reddish stalk slender, you're tough and you're vibrant and yet you are tender'), one about the danger of cane toads ('We're dangerous to wildlife with our poisonous glands, haven't you heard to dogs and to birds?'), one about rubbish and recycling ('Learn the trick to sep-a-rate, you can do it, sort it, mate!') and another about the Gundungurra people of the Megalong Valley ('The song of songs was there, the heartbeat of the earth, the oldest story known of life, of death, re-birth'). Birds, storms, sounds of nature, trees, deforestation, wildlife, native flora, icebergs, coral reef exploration and water are also covered. 

This is a wonderful collection that deserves a place in every Australian school library. 'Keep the forest, green gold place, the glow of hope on this earth's old face'. Libby's website even has some tips and prompts for writing poetry that could be adapted to any age as well as offering poetry workshops for teachers. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Nature, Poetry.

Nicole Nelson