School-wide Poetry Month: Day Fifteen (Jonathan)

I chose "A Song in Storm" by Rudyard Kipling because it has a lot of powerful words in it and it also speaks to me and feels meaningful to me. It has power in my mind.

A Song in Storm
Be well assured that on our side
     The abiding oceans fight ,
Though headlong wind and heaping tide
     Make us their sport to-night.
By force of weather , not of war,
     In jeopardy we steer:
Then welcome fate's discourtesy
     Whereby it shall appear
           How in all time of our distress,
           And our deliverance too,
           The game is more than the player of the game,
           And the ship is more than the crew!

Out of the mist into the mirk
     The glittering combers roll.
Almost all these waters work
     As though they had a soul-
Almost as though they leagued to whelm
           Our flag beneath the green:
           Then welcome fates discourtesy
           Whereby it shall be seen, etc.

Be well assured, though wave and wind
     Have mightier blows in store,
That we who keep the watch assigned
     Must stand it to the more;
And our streaming bows rebuke
     Each billow's baulked career'
Sing welcome fate's discourtesy
     Whereby it is made clear, etc.

No matter though our decks be swept
     And mast and timber crack-

We can make good all loss except
    The loss of turning back.
So twixt these devils and our deep
     Let courteous trumpets sound
To welcome Fate's discourtesy,
      Whereby it will be found, etc.

Be well assured though in our power
       Is nothing left to give
But chance and place to meet the hour,
       And leave to strive to live,
Till these dissolve our Order holds,
       Our service binds us here.
Then welcome Fate's discourtesy
       Whereby it is made clear
             How in all times of our distress,
             And in our triumph too,
             The game is more than the player of the game,
             And the ship is more than the crew!

Poem ©Rudyard Kipking. All rights reserved.

Green Books: Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet

This review is part of the Green Books Campaign. Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco-friendly paper, we hope to raise awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.

The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on the Eco-Libris website.

Sometimes kids think that adults control everything and that they are powerless to make a difference. But Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet teaches readers that kids are all powerful. In her book, Canadian author Janet Wilson profiles 10 young environmentalists from around the world who are each taking action to help specific environmental causes. Through these profiles, Wilson shows that kids can do a lot to help the environment and spread the message of conservation! For example, Sam Levine of the United States helped start an organic vegetable garden at a school to connect kids directly to their food.

The stories Wilson includes feel attainable. We hear the story of Janine Licare of Costa Rica who started small, selling painted rocks with a friend to raise money to build overhead monkey bridges. Eventually as the girls wanted to do more, they expanded their operation and opened a store to sell their products and the work of other artists. From their humble beginning, Janine and her friend Aislin have made a world of difference in the rainforest.

Now only does this book profile 10 children, it also contains a helpful reference section in the back. For example, in the "How You Can Help Save the Planet" section, Wilson details ways kids can help save the earth. These ideas include everything from unplugging the TV and going outside to play to writing letters to world leaders to advocate for climate change. And this is just one of the bonus sections in the back! You can also learn how "Kids Create" and how "Kids Take Action."

This book is excellent because it goes beyond just telling ways that kids are making a difference around the world. It also teaches kids a lot about the small steps they can take to make a big difference. For example, Wilson recommends that students become more aware of the products they use that are grown in the rainforest so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to use them. Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet is also significant because usually authors write books about adults saving the environment, but this one has kids saving the Earth, so it's more relevant to the readers. It shows you that you can save the earth too!

Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet is not just environmental in its theme. It's also environmental in its production! It is printed on Forest Stewardship Council Certified paper!

We recommend this book for people who care about the environment and want to save it. This is also a great book for people who don't yet care about the environment and need some serious inspiration. The book is particularly great for kids ages 7 to 13 who want to hear extraordinary stories about ordinary kids.

Kids--Janet Wilson is counting on you to save the Earth, and we are too! Go kids! Save the Earth!