2019 Green Earth Book Awards - Long List The art and writing of Gwen Frostic are well known in her home state of Michigan and around the world, but this picture book biography tells the story behind Gwen's famous work. After a debilitating illness as a child, Gwen sought solace in art and nature. She learned to be persistent and independent--never taking no for an answer or letting her disabilities define her. After creating artwork for famous Detroiters and for display at the World's Fair and helping to build WWII bombers, Gwen moved her printmaking business to northern Michigan. She dedicated her work and her life to reminding people of the wonder and beauty in nature.

The notion of 'freedom' is essential to America's view of itself as a democratic and individual-based society. In this philosophical dialogue, characters assess the many facets, implications and apparent contradictions inherent in this deceptively complex idea. Seventy-nine short segments provide food for thought even in stolen moments of reading pleasure. The book sparkles with intellectually stimulating views. Drawing on the tradition of the Platonic dialogue, 'On Freedom' explores what freedom is and what it means through the discussions of two characters (Director and Friend). Topics include Slavery, Responsibility, Anarchy, Wealth, Love, Courage, Authority, Inhibition, Happiness, Discipline, Vigilance. The characters arrive at no simple or absolute definition of freedom. But that doesn't mean they don't finish with a better idea of what freedom is than when they started. If anything, they come to appreciate the need for clarity about their subject. And they come to see that such clarity necessarily involves complexity. Readers with no philosophical training can enjoy this book, while readers with a philosophy background can enjoy the way it treats an old, familiar theme with a lighter touch. Families will value 'On Freedom' for enabling younger readers, too, to explore philosophic ideas of general interest and importance.

The reader of this book is invited to enjoy a tasty feast of bite-sized philosophical dialogues. One reader might choose to enjoy a single dialogue at a time. Other readers might prefer to try a few at a time, in a “dim sum” approach to thoughtful inquiry. Either way, the reader will find a ariety of individual themes that reflect upon each other and add up to a larger discussion. Sections center on notions including Peace, Dread, Daring, Ignoring, Hiding, Doubt, Sparks, Time, Patience, Fluff, Dwelling, Revealing, Stepping Back, Knowing, Worry, and Gratitude. As with the author's previous two books with Algora, the main character, Director, leads his interlocutors through an analysis of the issues in question in each dialogue. Sometimes the characters reach agreement; sometimes they don't. But in all cases light is shed on the questions at hand. Readers will find that the book stimulates thought about important topics, and that, if read with other people, it stimulates conversation. A reader might not agree with the conclusion that the characters draw in a particular dialogue, or even how they handled the discussion, but the reader will often find him or herself smiling nonetheless. Like Nick's previous two books, the style here is that of a Platonic dialogue; the language is concise, pointed, and fun.

Gathers translations of Plato's works and includes guidance on approaching their reading and study

"This is my pledge, my promise, my vow, Lasting forever, starting now: I'll be a friend to nature." An illustrated book celebrating the natural world and ways to appreciate it, filled with practical activities and ideas to help wildlife and the environment on your doorstep and worldwide. Starting with a pledge in poetic form, this book is a call to arms for the next generation of peaceful eco warriors. Broken down into sections of activities, each lyrically relates back to the metaphor of being a friend to nature. The activities themselves are short, easy, and fun, with a few more extensive projects mixed in. These are interspersed with nature quotes, poetry, and other thought-provoking musings, as well as pieces of simple non-fiction information, such as the life cycle of a frog, a butterfly, a cross section of a flowering plant, and why you should always wish on a dandelion clock. The final section explores what nature can give back to us in turn; that if we look after the natural world, we will always have a friend in nature - a space to be calm, to pause and think, to recharge, to bring us joy, amusement, and health.