Topic: Plants and animals
List of entries
As a combination of evolutionary biology and anthropology, this work of non-fiction offers answers to some of life’s most fascinating questions. The subheading On the Evolution and Future of the Human Animal gives a glimpse of the insightful content specifically written for younger readers. From what point on and how did humans differentiate themselves from […]
After his parents die, young James is sent to live with his two abusive aunts, Spiker and Sponge. One day, a giant peach magically starts growing on their property. Who would expect that James’ new friends and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure are waiting for him on the inside…
The siblings Wendy, John and Michael live with their parents in London’s West End. One night Peter Pan flies through their window and invites them to come with him to Neverland. In this magical realm, they live with a gang of Lost Boys, encounter mermaids and fight against the pirate Captain Hook.
A crime story dealing with powerlessness, alienation, and insanity. A young woman returns to her hometown to look for her father, who has disappeared. She, her lover, and her best friend go to her father’s island, where she follows some clues and concludes that her father has gone mad but must still be alive. Over […]
This documentary addresses an important and often overlooked effect of global warming. In the past 30 years, half of our coral reefs have died due to coral bleaching from rising water temperatures. To visualize this problem and raise awareness, scientists and photographers use time-lapse cameras to capture this devastating process. Watching this documentary could be […]
When everyone in London goes to sleep, the animals come out to play. And although London’s animals do not usually get along, they gather for a celebration of peace and harmony once a year. But when a discussion begins about what the most beautiful place in London is, things get a little tense… This bilingual […]
“Well that is Planet Earth. Make sure you look after it, as it’s all we’ve got.” This beautifully illustrated book presents Earth as something precious that needs to be protected by all generations. The story shows both the beauty of the world as well as its problems while staying optimistic, for: “Though we have come […]
This humorous story of two fox cubs is the perfect introduction to graphic novels for younger readers. Nancy and Ted, two young foxes, have always lived in the Big City. However, they are driven away by the terrifying street cat Princess Buttons. They seek refuge in the countryside, but Grimwood isn’t as peaceful and quaint […]
Jurassic Park is the first installment of the science-fiction franchise of the same name. On the fictional island Isla Nublar, wealthy businessman John Hammond has created a wildlife-park like none other. His team of geneticists manages to bring formerly extinct dinosaurs back to life through the help of prehistoric mosquitos and cloning. When an employee […]
A classic case of a Robinsonade, this film explores the extraordinary life of Chuck Noland. As a systems analyst executive with a terrible work-life-balance, Chuck regularly travels for work. On his way to Malaysia, his plane crashes, leaving him stranded on an uninhabited island as the sole survivor. He spends the next four years with […]
For her 11th birthday, Kate’s present is all she could have ever wanted… a magical locomotive! She immediately wants to take it for a spin, but her brother and she aren’t the only passengers. The train is filled with endangered animals that need to be returned to their natural habitats. From a lost polar bear […]
This picture book is a fable of colonisation. While both the writer and the illustrator live in Australia, the stylised illustrations and the abstract descriptions manage to provide a more general understanding of the experience of a culture feeling overrun by another. The story is told from the perspective of numbat-like creatures who experience how […]
This ecocritical, animated short film for children, young adults and other ages, which was adapted from Tom Rivett-Carnac’s children’s book by the same name, shares an empowering message: “No time for sorrow, we are building tomorrow.” Following a young girl, the story explores how mankind rediscovers nature during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, […]
This Gothic short story contrasts inner and outer monstrosity, and, going along with that, also focuses on moral values and the view on what is different. The young student Giovanni moves into an apartment in Padua, with windows that are opening to a beautiful garden. Said garden seems to consist of poisonous flowers and is […]
This animated comedy-adventure film navigates stereotypes, friendships and crime. Judy Hopps’ dream is to become the first bunny police officer in the metropolis Zootopia. Her job isn’t quite what she hoped for, but soon enough she’s wrapped up in her first case. While trying to solve a mysterious disappearance, she encounters scam-artist Nick who’s living […]
This documentary addresses a myriad of issues connected to the fishing industry. From overfishing to plastic marine debris and inhumane working conditions, the film brings to light many factors that could play a role in the destruction of the marine ecosystem. It raises questions surrounding industry practices, but also the consumer’s behavior: How important is […]
This award-winning children’s book is narrated from the perspective of a young Ojibwe girl, who speaks up to defend her people’s land from the black snake (representing oil pipelines). Threatening to pollute and destroy planet earth, the black snake must be stopped, before it eventually poisons the life-giving water. Will the voice of the young […]
This inspiring picture book illustrates the real-life story of Jadav Payeng, who grew 1,300 acres of forest to protect the environment. “In India, on a large river island, among farms and families hard at work, there lived a boy who loved trees.” Jadav becomes alerted when he finds out that animals are dying around his […]