Think of the city where you live — or one near you — and visualize the most inspiring ecological project in that place. Now multiply by 13, and you will begin to get an impression of this wondrous book by architect turned children's book author and artist Victoria Tentler-Krylov.
After giving an introduction about climate change written for readers ages four to eight, Tentler-Krylov spotlights projects in visionary cities: from the living roofs in Singapore and the Billion Oyster Project in New York City to Melbourne's green laneways, Milan's vertical forests, and more. Vibrantly colorful two-page spreads give a 2-3 paragraph description of each project with details noted on the illustrations. For instance, Rotterdam's floating park made of recycled litter shows how "the plastic is compacted into interlocking floating blocks," and Bangkok's Centenary Park shows that "rainwater runs toward a retention pond. There, water waits for the dry season, when it will be used to nourish plants and flowers."
We were most moved by the Kyabirwa Surgical Center in Jinja, Uganda. With solar panels that double as shade canopies, perforated walls that keep the building cool, and tanks that store rainwater for future use, the building itself is ecological. But equally important, the clinic is located in a relatively remote area, so that patients do not need to travel for hours to get to the closest hospital.
Knowing that children who read this book will grow up with visions of transformed cities flourishing in their minds and fueling their own creative solutions brings us real joy. We're grateful to Tentler-Krylov for turning her diverse skill sets toward writing children's books, an excellent way to help ensure a kinder, more beautiful future.
