That grandfatherly guide to the natural world, who debuted in author/illustrator Jim Arnosky's very first book, the 1977 I Was Born in a Tree and Raised by Bees, returns in this thirteenth and (to this date) final picture-book devoted to his adventures. In this title, Crinkleroot gives a wealth of ideas for ways that young people can give back to nature, from protecting and even creating spaces where animals feel welcome, to using less energy and natural resources. As Arnosky makes plain in his brief author's note, these are all things that children can do...

Like it predecessors, Crinkleroot's Guide to Giving Back to Nature is an appealing book, pairing an engaging and informative text with lovely illustrations and a charming narrator and guide. I appreciate the empowering message here, and the way that it encourages children to see themselves as part of nature, and also as nature's guardians. This entire series, and its eponymous guide were recommended to me by my friend Kathryn, and I am certainly glad that they were! I feel a little melancholy that I've come to the end of the Crinkleroot books, but will definitely keep them in mind, when recommending works of natural history for the picture-book set. ( )