And we have a winner on our giveaway of "The Green Year"

We had a giveaway following our review of "The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference" by Jodi Helmer, and we have a winner!

We asked you to share with us a tip of your own - one small step to go green that you successfully adopted. We got great tips and our winner is Annie who adopted what seems to be (at least to fathers like me) a very challenging though rewarding green practice - cloth diapers. Here is what she wrote:

Well- we have been trying to go green by adopting cloth diapers last year! They are making a come back!!!

Since our decision to do the cloth diapers, our whole look on waste has change naturally. We use cloth napkins at dinner time and we use dish towels more than anyone I know! The little things you do can make a huge difference!

Congrats Annie. You won a copy of this great book and we'll also plant a tree for it and send you with it our "One tree planted for this book" sticker.

Thank you to all the other participants who shared their great stories with us.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading

A new children's book "Where the Buttercups Grow" is going green with Eco-Libris

Our partner Aaspirations Publishing has a great new children book coming - "Where the Buttercups Grow". This wonderful title, which is the work of a mother-daughter team, is doubly special because a tree is being planted with Eco-Libris for every book!

Here is some more information about the book:

Title: Where the Buttercups Grow

Author: Shelley Meyer

Shelley Meyer is a wife and mother of two children. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education Degree from UBC and an Early Childhood Education Certificate. She enjoyed teaching for 5 years and is now the owner and operator of Li’l Munchkin Preschool. Her preschool program encourages care and respect for each other and for the environment. Shelley's mother works with her, and together they hope to teach young children values they can live up to all their lives.

Illustrator: Tessa Meyer

Tessa Meyer, the book’s illustrator is the author’s 17 year old daughter. She graduated from high school in 2008 and has an undying passion for soccer. She is currently on the Whitecaps Reserve roster and is playing for Trinity Western University where she is currently studying. Illustrating has been her long-time hobby and she has truly enjoyed using her creativity to illustrate this book.

What's the book about: What happens when a mother-daughter team combine the beauty of buttercups, the power of storytelling and a great respect of nature to create a wonderful book with amazing art?

In a beautiful field, the buttercups grow, but when two children have no respect for nature garbage begins to pile up high. Are the days of the buttercups over, or will help come to rescue the buttercups from a fate more deadly than illness? See the difference that children can make when they set their mind to it and decide to take care of Mother Earth. Beautifully written by Shelley Meyer and vividly illustrated by her daughter Tessa Meyer, this inspiring and powerful story will find a spot on every child's list of favourites, especially when they can carry the story forward in their own lives and plant their very own buttercups.

Pre-orders are open at www.aaspirationspublishing.com or click on http://www.aaspirationspublishing.com/where-the-buttercups-grow.html to read more and to buy.

We will soon review the book and give away one copy so stay tuned!

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

And the winner of "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear" is...

Thank you for all the participants in our giveaway of "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear" by David Bruins (author) and Hilary Leung (illustrator), following the review of this great book!

We got a lot of great comments about your 2009 green resolutions. Many of them were about reducing and recycling and it looks like the most popular resolution is to start using reusable shopping bags. Kudos to everyone who are looking to make their 2009 a greener year! And the winner in our giveaway is Mama Zen, whose green resolution is as follows:

My family plans to walk more and drive less. We are also trying to continue using our old things rather than buying something new.

Congrats Mama Zen! You will receive a copy of "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear", and I'm sure you will be happy to know that a tree is being planted with Eco-Libris for this copy, as well as with every other copy of the book!

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: plant a tree for every book you read!

Book review of "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear" (and a giveaway!)

When I first heard about the title of our today's book, I thought to myself 'wow, that's an interesting combo'. After reading the book it's looks like there isn't nothing more natural in the world than a friendship of a ninja, cowboy and a bear.

Yes, the book we review today is "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear" by David Bruins (author) and Hilary Leung (illustrator).

Firstly, few words on our collaboration with the author, David Bruins. As you can see from the photo of the cover of the book to your right, our logo is part of the cover, which means that for every copy printed of "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear", a tree is planted with Eco-Libris. The book by the way is printed with vegetable-based ink on 30% recycled paper, by a FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified printer.

And now to the story. "The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear" is an illustrated children's story described as "a story about three friends (a ninja, a cowboy and a bear) who discover an important truth about equality, diversity and how to appreciate one another's unique traits".

I found it a great story about friendship and the way different characters can be friends. I believe the use of ninja, bear and a cowboy as the characters actually help kids to understand the way the idea behind the story and to identify with the way they act within the story.

The story has many lessons for kids and first and foremost is the idea that diversity is a good thing and can benefit us all if we approach it positively and from with the right approach.

This is all heavy stuff especially for kids and therefore it's a pleasure to see the way David Bruins and Hilary Leung are handling it and making this a fun story. The beautiful pictures of Leung together with Bruins' prose work together to capture children's attention, spark their imagination, and put a smile on their face.

The book also invites you (even if you're a grown up) to play the game Ninja Cowboy Bear, which is similar to to one you probably already know - rock, papers, scissors. The big difference is how you play it.. You can also play it online via the book's website.

Book details:

Book's name: The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear

Author: David Bruins
David Bruins spends most of his days as a computer programmer. However, he'd much rather spend his time riding his bicycle, playing guitar, or coming up with stories and telling them to anyone who will listen.
Illustrator: Hilary Leung
Hilary Leung is a designer by day, illustrator by night and ultimate player on weekends. Having spent the last five years pursuing other dreams, he is happy to return to his first true love - drawing.
Publication Date: November 2008
The book is available on: the book's website and on a long list of bookstores in Ontario
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ninja-Cowboy-Bear/40018109739

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

Author David Bruins is giving away a copy of the book, and of course it comes with a tree that will be planted for the copy!

How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: A new year is beginning this week (yes, 2009..) - what's your green resolution for the new year? Submissions are accepted until Sunday, January 4, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a Tree for every Book you Read!