Inspiring Conservation with Children's Literature

The LION, the WITCH, and the WARDROBE

One of the greatest contributions to society is the deep, longing beauty of natural settings in children's literature. Who could forget the wild woods of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA or the quaint, cozy dens of the little animals in THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS? Each of these inspirational books opens the hearts of young readers to develop a life-long appreciation for Nature and hopefully a life-long commitment to conservation. Through imaginative stories we cherish fantasy worlds full of mountains, forests, streams, rivers, oceans, and splendid meadows. 

Whatever is beautiful and fresh and clean belongs to the heroes and heroines in the grand sagas and glorious adventures. It is the central characters' honorable undertaking to protect the living world, the great oaks, the sacred springs, and the rich farmlands.

Badger's Comfortable Home in Wind in the Willows

Two of my favorite classics from childhood with wondrous outdoor settings are The Secret Garden by Frances H. Burnett and the world of Peter Rabbit and Tom Kitten created by Beatrice Potter. 

The Garden Landscape of Tom Kitten Illustrated by Beatrice Potter

Both authors bring to life sensitive, enchanting dreamscapes that give young readers a sense of safety and play. Children need to feel protected and nurtured by their imaginary surroundings, especially if their immediate family life and neighborhoods are violent and unstable. Since young imaginations are very vivid and impressionable during elementary school years, a closeness with Nature in literature offers a sense of belonging, as well as a safe haven of emotional retreat. Gardens and forests in the adventures represent a higher calling, a nobility of place worthy of sustainment.

It would be unthinkable to uproot the forests of Hobbiton or pollute the rivers of Bree. Only dark wizards and diabolical orcs would engage in such destruction and sacrilege. No one would spray herbicides and insecticides in Mr. McGregor's garden. The heroes and heroines in the grand sagas protect and cherish the natural world, defending the boundaries of charmed gardens and cool dells, just as they would defend the brightest magic and the element of hope itself. Nature in these sweeping adventures is associated with nobility, wonderment, and preservation.

Mrs. Rabbit's Home Illustrated by Beatrice Potter

The glorious tales of childhood move our hearts to be brave and resourceful, to stand up for right action and the general good of all society. It is through Nature that we make the necessary link to distinguish between a destructive personality and a constructive desire to preserve the world around us. I trust each generation will enter the secret gardens, the willowy havens, the misty mountains, and the deep oceans with a sense of wonderment and a resolve to share the bounty with their children. 

Through conservation we link the nobility of our favorite characters with the modern world. We pay it all forward. It is my hope to continue the legacy of conservation in children's literature by writing and sharing the magic of Ghost Horse Hollow. It is my life's work, filled with gratitude for the inspiration I received along the way. 

Mary in The Secret Garden by F. H. Burnett