Graduate Student, School for Sustainability and the Environment
Children’s Book
Abstract
The children’s book, “Chip and the Mystery of the Big Bubble,” uses a combination of visual art and storytelling to address the impacts of climate change in an engaging way that children can understand. The work focuses on using detailed, colorful artwork to illustrate both the beauty of the natural world and the anthropomorphized threat. The story-telling works within the framework of a detective story to illustrate the scientific process of asking questions, collecting evidence, and applying that evidence to find solutions. Together, this piece works to combat both disinformation and disillusionment in the face of a changing climate.
In the text of “Chip and the Mystery of the Big Bubble,” I seek to convey the scientific principles of some of the causes and impacts of climate change, as well as provide a basis for children to understand the importance of collective action and their individual impacts. By working within the familiar story-arc structure of a detective story, parallels develop between the act of seeking clues to solve a mystery and of how science works to collect evidence to explain an observed phenomenon. Despite using the simplistic language and style of a children’s book to be easily understood, I attempt to not shy away from the complexities of the issues. This is accomplished through exploring the impacts of climate change, including changing temperatures, more intense storm events, and changed habitat ranges of animal species. Additionally, the book incorporates related scientific concepts, such as how additional stressors can enhance a problem (as depicted in the discussion of pollution and of human construction impacting bird migration).
The book also touches on issues of culpability in an effort to balance the individual actions that contribute to greenhouse gas emission without overshadowing the disproportionate impacts of corporations. It is not my goal to leave the target audience of this book, young children, with the idea that their choices are solely responsible nor that they alone are in charge of finding a solution. Instead, the book aims to leave readers with a sense of the potential for collective action to change things for the better. By addressing the anxiety that comes in the face of an overwhelming problem, the book places emphasis not only on actionable steps to help mitigate some of the effects of climate change on the natural world but also the importance of not having to work towards solutions alone.