Majestic Lion

Despite Black Friday and even Cyber Monday, the first day of December can be eye-opening if you haven’t started getting ready for Christmas or any of the holidays celebrated at this time of year. If you haven’t bought or made a single present yet, you still have some time. Not much but some. And I’ve got some ideas for “greener” Christmas gifts, starting with books for everybody on your list. These are my picks based upon my library – virtually all books I purchased myself. However, full disclosure, the links to the books in Amazon are through my affiliate account, so I’ll get 0.04% back or something like that if you order.

Okay, one of my all time favorite green books for kids is The Lorax (Classic Seuss). The Lorax is a chilling tale warning of the dangers of clear-cutting and pollution, yet told in Dr. Seuss’ whimsical rhyming. The plight of the Truffula Tree tufts, chopped down to produce and mass market Thneeds, and the resulting devastation is a moral we should all heed. Encourage a budding environmentalist with this Dr. Seuss classic. Another option is When Santa Turned Green, which encourages each child to take steps to reduce climate change.

For the teen on  your gift list, try Jenn Savedge’s The Green Teen: The Eco-Friendly Teen’s Guide to Saving the Planet. A great gift for a teen concerned about going green, Jenn’s book is filled with tips, resources and advice.

For the foodie on your list, you might try Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It. Another favorite is Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (P.S.). If you have a foodie who is also a history buff, Swindled: The Dark History of Food Fraud, from Poisoned Candy to Counterfeit Coffee is a very interesting read.

For history buffs generally, or those that enjoy an interesting read, I loved Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution (California/Milbank Books on Health and the Public). Other favorites include The Secret History of the War on Cancer, When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales Of Environmental Deception And The Battle Against Pollution, and Doubt is Their Product: How Industry’s Assault on Science Threatens Your Health.

For the Martha Stewart wannabe on your list, Anna Getty’s I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More is the perfect gift!

For those that appreciate majestic photography, I think Nick Brandt’s books are just amazing. If his majestic images don’t inspire you to protect this Earth, then I don’t know what will. Try On This Earth: Photographs from East Africa or A Shadow Falls. Or another favorite is Paul Niclen’s Polar Obsession.

Okay, I’ll have some more recommendations tomorrow!