Wednesday's green book: Clean Body: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing Yourself

Today is the third day of our green book review and this time we're diving into the bathroom and learn how to be really really clean and healthy and support the environment with just five simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen cupboard.

Our book this week is:

Clean Body: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing Yourself

Author: Michael DeJong

Author, designer and artist Michael DeJong did his Clean investigations while cleaning apartments to supplement his income when he first moved to New York. He has appeared in the media, on websites and in many publications. Clean was included in the trainee kit for Al Gore's Climate Project and the goody bag in the Green Room at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Publisher: Sterling

Published on: May 2009

What this book is about? (from the publisher's website)
Clean Zen, clean green! Clean Body follows the successful Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing, by cleaning guru Michael DeJong. As with the first book, this is not merely about washing away the dirt: it embodies a mindset, a philosophy, an alternative to mass consumerism.

DeJong draws from Eastern belief systems—especially the element theory in Chinese medicine and Asian cooking—and harmoniously balances five pure essentials in his recipes, using baking soda, lemon, olive oil, salt, and white vinegar as the basis for his all-natural concoctions.

Including special, separate sections for men and women, Clean Body has ideas for everything from facial exfoliants and natural aftershave to moisturizers and creams for itchy skin, discolored knees, and smooth feet. EVERY part of the body, from head to toe, is covered.

Why you should get it?
If yesterday we had a book presenting a win-win model (healthy to you - better for the environment) created by implementing the rules of green cooking, today we have another win-win model, but this time we're talking about green cleaning.

Still, we're also talking today about recipes and about food ingredients that make all the difference. To create notoxic, eco-friendly alternatives, DeJong is using five cleaning elements that are taken of the kitchen cupboard: baking soda, lemon, olive oil, salt and white vinegar.

I like the both the content of the book and its spirit. This pocket-sized book is full not only with easy recipes that can clean your body with no chemicals involved, but it's also a praise to simpleness and to the notion that if you want to make a difference and do something good for you and the environment, there's no better and simple place to start this journey than your bathroom (and your kitchen cupboard..).

Want an example? you can find one in DeJong's column on the daily green about natural shampoo.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Eco-Libris is partnering with the Pilcrow Lit Festival in Chicago (May 17-23)

We LOVE literary festivals and we're crazy about Chicago, one of the greenest and coolest cities around. Hence we're so happy to announce that for the second year in a row we're partnering with the Pilcrow Lit Fest that will begin next Sunday in Chicago.

This is a great event and we wanted to tell you all about it and how we partner with them, but we were certain that Amy Guth (in the photo below), the founder and director of the Pilcrow Lit Fest will do it much better, so we asked her for an interview, and here it is with (almost) all the information you need to do before you make the next step and check their website for the full schedule and more!

Hello Amy. Can you remind us what is the Pilcrow Lit Fest and when and where it's going to take place?
Pilcrow Lit Fest is an annual small press and independent media festival taking place May 17-23 in Chicago and, now also, October 23-24 in Nashville.

What is the main focus of this year's Pilcrow Lit Fest?
Every year the focus is, of course, on small press authors, publishers, designers and publications, but this year I have partnered with several existing local literary events throughout the city to best showcase all of the literary events in Chicago.

How many participants you're expecting this year? Can you share with us few of the prominent ones?
We'll have over one hundred people participating in the various areas of the festival including readings, panel discussions, events and Literary Death Match, an event we are co-hosting to help raise funds for local organization Young Chicago Authors. Designer David Barringer will be participating, as well as author of So New's upcoming release, American Soma, Savannah Schroll Guz, but really, so many wonderful and diverse people are coming together for this years festival that I could just go on and on about each one. Best to check out the list of participants (http://www.pilcrowlitfest.com/participants.html)

I saw that some of the panels' topics are relating to current events and trends like the recession and social media - is there a growing demand from the writers for such panels? do you like this "practical path"?
It was funny, last year, every panel, no matter what the original topic, managed to discuss social media and the changing landscape of publishing right now. I think it's an important conversation, and one that is often cut off at the knees, so to speak, so I like to do what I can to encourage this dialog. I'm have a very "get it out in the open" approach, without a doubt.

How do you think this year's fest will be different from last year's fest?
Partnering with the various local events has been an interesting experimental addition to the festival. Otherwise, it'll be very much the same as last year because last year's format worked so wonderfully.

Can you tell us about the part of Eco-Libris in the fest?
Eco-Libris stickers will be made available throughout the festival, and particularly during the busy weekend panel discussions and evening fundraiser. I think it's important to share the work of Eco-Libris with as many members of the publishing and literary community as possible, as there are so many ways to partner with Eco-Libris, and doing so feels like such a great, measurable effort.

Is Chicago having a significant influence on the fest or it's just the city where it takes place and nothing more than that?
Chicago is filled with writers and publishers and literary events, truly, almost every night of the week, we have some sort of literary event happening. Yet, there was very little community organization going on. I had a really positive experience speaking at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution Decatur Book Festival, the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and the (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, and knew the elements of the festivals which made them so great would translate really well in Chicago.

What is the part of the festival you're most expecting for?
I think the panel discussions are going to be incredible and fun like last year, but I think Literary Death Match on the evening of Saturday May 23rd is going to be a real stand-out. Opium's Literary Death Match is coming from San Francisco, and we've invited many of the local reading series to each send a representative to compete in the event, and we've assembled a great line-up of judges including actor/improviser T. J. Jagadowski. As we did last year, we've asked authors to disassemble their own books and re-assemble them into art of some kind for us to auction off for Young Chicago Authors.

If I am in Chicago, love literature but have very limited time and can come only to one or two events, what would you recommend me to do?
The Saturday evening Literary Death Match for sure. It's going to be great fun for a great cause. Plus, the venue where it is to be held, Viaduct Theater, has a non-profit bar, so even having cocktails there is drinking for a the arts!

Thanks Amy!

So if you're in the Chicago area between May 17-23 you're welcome to take part in the fest. More information on the Pilcrow Lit Fest's website - http://www.pilcrowlitfest.com

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

Tuesday's green book: Big Green Cookbook (and a giveaway!)

Today is the second day of our green book review and this time we're in the kitchen, where the table is full with interesting dishes like avant garde arugula salad and veggie studded sticky quinoa and one big cooking book in the middle.

Our book this week is:
Big Green Cookbook: Hundreds of Planet-Pleasing Recipes and Tips for a Luscious, Low-Carbon Lifestyle

Author: Jackie Newgent

Jackie Newgent is a registered dietitian, eco-cuisine expert, and cookbook author and writes for Glamour, Weight Watchers Magazine, Woman’s Day, and other health publications. In the May 2008 issue of Better Homes and Gardens, she was one of seven food experts featured. She has been a repeat guest expert on Emeril Lagasse’s TV show “Emeril Green” on Planet Green (Discovery) Channel.

She has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBCs Later Today, CBS’s Up to the Minute, Food Network’s Follow that Food and Lifetime’s Lifetime Live as well as on the radio including NPR, CNN Radio Network, and WOR. She’s also a cooking instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. She’s the author of the award-winning The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook. Her websites are: biggreencookbook.com and jackienewgent.com. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Publisher: Wiley

Published on: April 2009

What this book is about? (from the book's website)
You can now reduce your carbon footprint deliciously … with green cuisine. Big Green Cookbook by Jackie Newgent, RD (Wiley), is like a hybrid … the “Prius” of cookbooks. And there’s something in it for everyone—whether a little green or already completely eco-conscientious.

Chockablock with plant-based recipes, informative sidebars, and useful tips with every recipe, Big Green Cookbook is a comprehensive climate-conscious cookbook that’s ideal for both culinary novices and experiences cooks. In it, Jackie shows how to cleverly maximize flavor in real meals that minimize environmental impact.

The book contains 200 simple and environmentally-friendly recipes for fresh, delicious, all-natural food, with a chapter for every season plus a year-round-recipes chapter, including succulent dishes such as Gingery Red Grapefruit Shrimp Salad, Eco-Beer-Battered Red Onion Rounds, Cool Thai Peanut Soba Noodles, Breaded Organic Chicken Paillard with Fresh Mango Relish, Garlicky Spinach Flatbread Pizzette, Pan-Seared Alaskan Wild Salmon with Papaya Sauce, Buckwheat Blueberry-Peach Pancakes, Navel Orange Mojito, Hot Fuji Apple Sundae, and Chocolate Fudge Brownies with Starfruit.

Why you should get it?
If you love to cook and want to stay eco-friendly while cooking this book is a no-brainer.

But even if you don't like cooking and really want to stay at the kitchen as little as possible, but at the same time you care about your health and don't want to feed yourself with junk food forever, this is the book for you.

I love cooking and so I was very happy to learn about this book. What I like mostly about this book that it is a great fit for everyone - busy mothers will find easy recipes they can prepare really quickly, locavores will find many ideas dishes they can make of local foods, and both vegetarians and carnivores will find plenty of creative ideas that will suit their preferences.

I love the focus of the book on seasonal food (the book is divided by the seasons of the year), as eating by season is not only an important step to reduce the carbon footprint of our food, but also makes it much more tasty as there's nothing like fresh food.

The book presents a list of green cooking rules, which are the cornerstones of the recipes of the book, including the 4Rs (reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle), buy locally when logical, enjoy fresh foods naturally and simply prepared, be an energy-wise cook, prepare plant-based meals. And of course have fun, which is an important motto of the book.

And this book is really fun, filled not only with recipes, but also with tips (little green cooking tips such as "finger licking is proper eco-friendly etiquette!") and my favorite "use it, don't lose it" ideas like how to reuse marinade in a safe way, or what to do when you have extra cream cheese but no plans to smear it on a bagel..).

Finally, this lovely book walks the talk and is printed on 100% post-consumer de-inked fiber without chlorine, which is very important given the fact it's really a big book with 386 pages.

What others think about the book?
"The Big Green Cookbook shows you how deliciously easy it can be to reduce your carbon 'food' print. It's the perfect tool for anyone who wants to eat well and treat the earth right." - Ellie Krieger, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite and author of The Food You Crave

"Big Green Cookbook is THE step-by-step guide for greening your kitchen and your cuisine. Packed with easy tips and fantastic recipes based on the best of the season, Jackie Newgent shows America how tasty green cuisine can be, and why it's so critical to our planet." - Kate Geagan, MS, RD, author of Go Green Get Lean

You can get more information about the book and some great recipes on its website - www.biggreencookbook.com

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

We're giving away our review copy of the book, courtesy of the book's publicist, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!

How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: what is your favorite dish? Submissions are accepted until Tuesday, May 19, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

10 Ways to Change the World Through Social Media

Citizen journalism, open government, status updates, community building, information sharing, crowdsourcing, and the election of a President.

Editor's note: This is first guest post from Max Gladwell.

Our children will inherit a world profoundly changed by the combination of technology and humanity that is social media. They'll take for granted that their voices can be heard and that a social movement can be launched from their laptop. They'll take for granted that they are connected and interconnected with hundreds of millions of people at any given moment. And they'll take for granted that a black man is or was President of the United States.

What's most profound is that these represent parts of a greater whole. They represent a shift in power from centralized institutions and organizations to the People they represent. It is the evolution of democracy by way of technology, and we are all better for it.

For most of us, social media has changed our lives in some meaningful way. Collectively it is changing the world for good. Given the pace of innovation and adoption, change has become a constant. Every so often we find the need to stop and reflect on its most recent and noteworthy developments, hence the following list.

Please note this is not a top-10 list, nor are these listed in any particular order. It's also incomplete. So we ask that you add to this conversation in the comments. If you'd like to Retweet this post or take the conversation to Twitter or FriendFeed, please use the hashtag #10Ways.

1. Take Social Actions: The nonprofit organization Social Actions aggregates "opportunities to make a difference from over 50 online platforms" through its unique API. It recently held the Change the Web Challenge contest in order to inspire the most innovative applications for that API. The Social Actions Interactive Map won the $5,000 first prize. The result is a virtual tour of the world through the lens of social action. "People are volunteering, donating, signing petitions, making loans and doing other social actions as we speak -- all over the world. To capture the context of the where, this project uses sophisticated techniques to extract location information from full text paragraphs." You can also join the Social Actions Community, which is powered by Ning...which now boasts more than one million individual social networks.

2. Twitter with a Purpose: This list could be exclusive to Twitter. The micro-blogging sensation was featured on our first two lists (a three-tweet), and it's certain to be a fixture. From Tweetsgiving, the virtual Thanksgiving feast, to the Twestival, which organized 202 off-line events around the world to benefit charity: water, it's become the de facto tool for organizing and taking action. Tweet Congress won the SXSW activism award, and celebrity Tweeps Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Rose Tweeted their two million followers about ending malaria. Max Gladwell recently initiated the #EcoMonday follow meme as a way to connect and organize the Green Twittersphere.

3. Visit White House 2.0: Inside of its first 100 days, the Obama administration has managed to set the historic benchmark for government transparency and accountability. The President's virtual town hall meeting used WhiteHouse.gov to crowdsource questions from his 300 million constituents, complete with voting to determine the ones he'd have to answer. All told, 97,937 people submitted 103,978 questions and cast 1,782,650 votes. The White House continues to raise the bar with its official Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter channels. In so doing President Obama is not just setting the standard for state and local government in the U.S. He's establishing the world standard. The Obama administration is spreading democracy not by force but through example. Because you don't have to be an American citizen to be a friend or follower of White House 2.0.

4. Claim your Zumbox: What happens when all mail can be sent and delivered online to any street address in a paperless form? That's the big question for Zumbox, which has created an online mail system with a digital mailbox for every U.S. street address. And while the answer to that question remains to be seen, it promises to be as liberating as it is disruptive. A key quality for Zumbox is that it's closed system much like that of Facebook, only instead of true identity it's true address. This will enable people to better connect with their communities including their neighbors, local businesses, and the mayor's office. The primary agent of change, though, might not be that this uses street addresses but that it enables direct and potentially viral feedback, which is a virtue that e-mail and the USPS do not offer. The first methods are to request exclusive paperless delivery and to block a sender, but others are certain to evolve such as real-time commenting and ways to share mail with friends, family, and colleagues. Welcome to Mail 2.0. (Disclosure: Zumbox is a client of Rob Reed, the founder of Max Gladwell.)

5. Host a Social Media Event: This is the year of the social media event. No meaningful gathering of people is complete without an interactive online audience, especially when it's so easy and cost effective to pull off. Essential tools include a broadband connection, laptop, video camera, projector, and screen. Add people and a purpose, such as entrepreneurship. Promote it through social media channels, and you have a social media event. A recent example in the green world is the Evolution of Green, which was hosted by Creative Citizen, a green wiki community. It celebrated the launch of a new Web property, EcoMatters, while also establishing a new Twitter tag. By posing the question, "How can we go from green hype to green habit?" and including the #GreenQ hashtag, it sparked a conversation between attendees and the Twittersphere in real time. Thus was born a new mechanism for getting answers to green questions via Twitter.

6. Travel the World: More than anyone else, Tim O'Reilly knows the potential for social media to change the world. In his opening keynote at this year's Web 2.0 Expo, he called for a new ethic in which we do more with less and create more value than we capture. This provided the context for SalaamGarage founder Amanda Koster, whose presentation followed O'Reilly's. The idea is that social media has enabled each of us to have an audience. Whether through Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, or a personal blog, each of us can have influence and reach. What's more, it can be used for good. SalaamGarage coordinates trips for citizen journalists (that means you) to places like India and Vietnam in conjunction with non-government organizations like Seattle-based Peace Trees. The destination is the story, as these humanitarian journalists report on the people they meet and discoveries they make. Their words, images, and video are posted to the social web to gain exposure and because these stories just need to be told.

7. Build It on Drupal: You may not have noticed, but the open-source Drupal content management system (CMS) has quickly become the dominant player on the social web. While we still prefer WordPress as a strict blogging application, Drupal has emerged as the go-to platform for building scalable, community-driven Web sites. It powers Recovery.gov, a key part of President Obama's commitment to transparency and accountability. PopRule uses it as a social news platform for politics. And Drupal will soon become the platform for Causecast, a site where "media, philanthropy, social networking, entertainment and education converge to serve a greater purpose." This is especially significant because Causecast CEO Ryan Scott is transitioning the site off of Ruby on Rails because Drupal has proved more efficient, user friendly, and cost effective. (Disclosure: Max Gladwell founder Rob Reed is co-founder of PopRule.)

8. Green Your iPhone: Looking for an organic diner within biking distance that has a three-star green rating? There's a app for that. It's called 3rd Whale, and you can download it for free. (Except that the star rating is actually a whale rating.) Complete with Facebook Connect, this iPhone app locates green products and businesses in 30 major North American cities. It uses the iPhone's dial function to select a category (food), sub-category (restaurants), and distance (walking, biking, or driving). In Santa Monica, this might give you Swingers diner for its selection of veggie and vegan fare. You could then get directions from your current location using the iPhone's built-in Google map, rate your experience on the three-whale scale, and write up a quick review. 3rd Whale recently released a new feature that integrates green-living tips, which can show how much energy or waste you'll save by taking a given action.

9. Unite the World Through Video: Matt's dancing around the world video inspired many to tears. Today, more than 20 million people have viewed his YouTube masterpiece, where he performs a kooky dance with the citizens of planet earth. The most recent example of this approach is Playing for Change, which connects the world through song. The project started in Santa Monica with a street performance of the classic Stand By Me and expanded to New Orleans, New Mexico, France, Brazil, Italy, Venezuela, South Africa, Spain, and The Netherlands. The project was superbly executed via social media, complete with a YouTube channel, MySpace, Facebook, and Blog. It's received tremendous mainstream media exposure and also benefits a foundation of the same name.

10. Rate a Company: The conversation about corporate social responsibility (CSR) takes place across the social web on blogs, Twitter, and YouTube, but a central hub for this information and opinion is still to be determined. SocialYell seeks to address this by building an online community around the CSR conversation, where users can submit reviews of companies together with nonprofit organizations and even public figures like Michelle Obama. The major topics are the Environment, Health, Social Equity, Consumer Advocacy, and Charity. The reviews are voted and commented on by the community in a Reddit-like fashion with both up (Yell) and down (shhh) voting. The site is relatively new and still gaining traction, but there's no question that a resource like this is needed to shine a bright light on CSR and and other related issues.

11. Publish a collective, simultaneous blog post on a universal topic: As Nigel Tufnel might say, this list goes to eleven. Let the #10Ways conversation begin...

Final note: This is Max Gladwell's third list of "10 Ways to Change the World Through Social Media." The first was posted a year ago today on Sustainablog.org, and the sequel followed five months later. If a single headline can capture the Max Gladwell raison d'etre, this is it.

Monday's green book: The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World (and a giveaway!)

Today we start our green book reviews week with a book that is the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to take part in building a better world and don't know where to start from.

Our book today is:

The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World: How to Turn Your Good Intentions into Actions that Make a Difference

Author: Idealist.org with Stephanie Land

Idealist.org, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995, facilitates connections between individuals and institutions that are interested in improving their communities. Learn more.

Stephanie Land was a book editor in New York City before becoming a freelance writer and editor.

Publisher: Perigee Books

Published on: March 2009

What this book is about? (from Idealist.org's website)
Part career guide, part activist's handbook, The Idealist.org Handbook to Building a Better World provides tools and inspiration for anyone who wants to make a difference but doesn't know where to start. Inspired by Idealist.org's 600,000-member online community and their ongoing search for work that gives back to the world, this practical reference walks readers through the different ways they can get involved and the range of possibilities for applying one's interests and skills to meet their community's needs.

Idealist.org's staff gives a comprehensive understanding of the issues, options, organizations, and resources so readers can be proactive, whether it's through one's current job, volunteering, donating, personal spending, board service, starting an organization, or changing careers.

Why you should get it?
We talked on this blogs several times about the importance of having strong communities. This book is the perfect guide to people who share the same beliefs and want to take an active part in their communities.

Timing couldn't be better for such a guide - President Obama has just tripled signed a $5.7 billion national service bill that triples the size of the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years and strongly is calling on Americans to volunteer.

As repoted on Yahoo! News President Obama said "I'm asking you to help change history's course, put your shoulder up against the wheel, and if you do, I promise you your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century."

So if you're one of those who wants to put your shoulder up against the wheel and you're wondering what is the best way to do it, this is your book. The expertise and know-how of Idealist.org, which is really doing an outstanding work in facilitating connections between individuals and organizations, is been reflected in this book and gives it a unique added-value.

What I like mostly about this book is the way it is presenting opportunities to make a difference for everyone - those who are way too busy, those who don't have much money to spend and those who feel they don't have the required skills - in this book everyone can find ideas and directions to the path that would be the best fit for them.

And it's not only about non-profits - more platforms to create change are presented on this book including your workplace. It's also a very good guide to anyone who considers a career in the non-profit world.

All in all this is a very valuable guide and I hope that not only it will help those who are already willing to make a difference, but it will also help others to generate this kind of willingness, because as President Obama put it "All that's required on your part is a willingness to make a difference, And that is, after all, the beauty of service: Anybody can do it."

What others think about the book?
"This has to be the single best book for those who want to translate good intentions into action. It clearly presents the myriad ways in which each of us, regardless of our age, resources or preferences, can have a positive impact on our community. Whoever you are, whatever you are doing, this book will empower you to help make this world a better place. A must read for idealists everywhere!" - Bill Alberta, Associate Director, Cornell Career Services

"At once practical and inspirational, this book asks the simple but penetrating questions: are you an idealist? if so, what are you going to do about it? A must read for anyone interested in making a difference, changing their life and community—in short, building a better world." - Patrick Corvington, Senior Associate, The Annie E. Casey Foundation

You can get more information about the book on its webpage - http://www.idealist.org/en/handbook

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

We're giving away one copy of the book, courtesy of the book's publicist, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!

How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: what is your favorite organization and how it helps to build a better world? Submissions are accepted until Monday, May 18, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Which green book you should give your mom on Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is going to be celebrated in many countries tomorrow and many people are already asking themselves - what can I bring my mom? what will make her happy?

My mom is a librarian and an avid reader and I always try to find an interesting book for her. This year it will be 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' by Michael Pollan. In any event, a book is always a great gift and we want to help you with recommendations on the best green book to give your mom this Mother's Day.

We chose ten books from the ones we covered on our blog, which we believe will be a great fit to ten different types of moms we detailed below. We published this list for last year's Mother's Day, but it's still a great list, so check it out and we hope you find the right green book to your mom!

1. For the fashionable mother -

Green is the New Black: How to Change the World with Style by Tamsin Blanchard

Is your mother into fashion, but needs an introduction to eco-fashion? well, this is a great book to start the eco-fashion journey with.

Tamsin Blanchard, the Style Director of Telegraph Magazine and a longtime fashion journalist, wrote a guide on how to green up your lifestyle, without compromising on style, quality, being fashionable, etc. She is focusing on topics such as eco-fashion, eco-style, eco-friendly shoes and bags and getting the (green) look. In addition the book also presents the alternative way to be green and fashionable - DIY.

2. For the shopping mother -

Big Green Purse - Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern

If your mother is in charge of shopping in the house, this is the perfect book for her. It will show her how she can change the world with a simple but deadly weapon: her purse.

This book is a call-to-action for women to use their power as buyers (women spend 85 percent of every dollar in the marketplace) to make a difference. MacEachern's message is simple but revolutionary: if women harness the "power of their purse" and intentionally shift their spending money to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit, they can create a cleaner, greener world.

3. For the Ed Begley, Jr.'s fan mother -

Living Like Ed - A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life by Ed Begley, Jr.

Was your mother a fan of Dr. Erlich of the television series "St. Elsewhere" or likes to watch Living With Ed? If the answer is 'Yes', she will probably be happy for the opportunity to meet again with Ed Begley Jr.

Begley Jr., an actor and a committed environmentalist, presents a do-it-yourself guide to green living that explains how to incorporate eco-friendly products and practices into one's everyday life. The book is covering areas such as the home, transportation, recycling, energy, food, gardening, clothing and furnishing. Begley shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't, and what will save you money!

4. For the food (and cooking) loving mother -

100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon

This book can change your mom's kitchen for good. The 100-Mile Diet begins in a cottage in the Canadian wilderness with no light, fridge, car or hot water; After an inspired meal gathered only from the wild, Alisa and James launched a year-long diet of food only found within 100 miles of their home. They found themselves returning from their cottage not starving, but with armfuls more food than they arrived with.

It wouldn’t be easy. Stepping outside the industrial food system, Smith and MacKinnon found themselves relying on World War II-era cookbooks and maverick farmers who refuse to play by the rules of a global economy. They bargained for sacred squash at a suburban Buddhist temple, discovered the true sweetness of honey, and learned the lost history of dozens of varieties of local wheat. What began as a struggle slowly transformed into one of the deepest pleasures of their lives.

5. For the suburban mother -

Farewell My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living by Doug Fine

Here's a book about the experiences of a guy who exchanged the suburbs he grew up in into a farm life in New Mexico. Maybe it will convince your mother to follow suit..

Like many Americans, Doug Fine enjoys his creature comforts, but he also knows full well they keep him addicted to oil. So he wonders: Is it possible to keep his Netflix and his car, his Wi-Fi and his subwoofers, and still reduce his carbon footprint? In an attempt to find out, Fine up and moves to a remote ranch in New Mexico, where he brazenly vows to grow his own food, use sunlight to power his world, and drive on restaurant grease. Both a hilarious romp and an inspiring call to action, 'Farewell, My Subaru' makes a profound statement about trading today’s instant gratifications for a deeper, more enduring kind of satisfaction.

6. For the corporate mother -

Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy? by Andrew J. Hoffman and John G. Woody

Does your mother work in a managerial position in the corporate world? this book is will be of interest to any decision maker in the corporate world. Eventually it might be that not only your mom will thank you for this book, but all of her company..

Believe or not - climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. Most of all, it is quickly becoming a crucial business issue. But how will you and your company respond? You need fast and reliable advice from the world's foremost experts. Climate Change delivers just that: four strategies from two MBA professors with broad and deep experience with environmental issues. 'Climate Change' gives you a first-hand look at how world-class thinkers would react to this pressing issue if they were in your shoes.

7. For the busy mother -

The Armchair Environmentalist by Karen Christensen

Everyone are busy, especially moms. This is the book to show them how going green is not necessarily time consuming.

The Armchair Environmentalist is “a three minute-a-day action plan to save the world.” It focuses on what individuals can do to reduce their use of energy and water and create a healthier environment at home and at work. It is an easy read and chocked full of cute pictures and graphics. Printed on 100% recycled paper, this little book can fit easily into a briefcase or handbag, making it that much easier to take the info "to go".

8. For the mother with a big carbon footprint -

How to live a low-carbon life: the individual's guide to stopping climate change by Chris Goodball

How big is your mom's carbon footprint? don't know but wants to help her reduce it anyway? here's the guide she'll need.

A handbook for cutting your carbon footprint and bills, written by a former director at consumer champion Which?. It’s ideal for anyone at the early stage of greening up their life when you want the facts, and you want a cash-saving incentive to help you get motivated. Goodall’s book has a sufficient depth of detail to help your mom make decisions and shopping choices to cut her carbon emissions, instead of general and ultimately unhelpful advice like “drive less”, “use less energy” or “shop greener.”

9. For the mother who wants to learn more about green biz -

Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World by Gary Hirshberg

Here's a book you should give your mother if you're considering a career in the green biz world, or if you're already there, and your mom is not sure if it's the right move for you or wants to know more on what does it actually mean 'to do good and well at the same time'.

Gary Hirshberg has been at the forefront of movements working for environmental and social transformation for 30 years. From his early days as an educator and activist to his current position as President and CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, the world’s largest organic yogurt company, Hirshberg’s positive outlook has inspired thousands of people to recognize their ability to make the world a better place. In 'Stirring it Up', Hirshberg presents stunning evidence that business not only can save the planet, but is able to simultaneously deliver higher growth and superior profits as well.

10. For the mother who would like to have (almost) all her green options in one book -

Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day by Grist Magazine

Wouldn't it be great if one book would provide mom with all the green options she has on her daily life? well, check out this guide.

This is a handy guide to making green decisions throughout your day. It's not a guide about guilt, but about making little choices throughout the day that improve the planet - what to eat, what to wear, how to dispose of dog poop or diapers, how to travel from point A to point B, where to have a post-work cocktail, and so on. 'Wake Up and Smell the Planet' covers a full 24 hours of confusing and often contradictory options. Like a wise (and wisecracking) friend who isn't afraid to share secret tips, the book will give you easy tips for simplifying your life and lessening your impact.

If you choose to give your mother a book as a gift, you are more than welcome to balance it out with Eco-Libris, add our sticker to the book and make it the perfect green gift for Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

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

And you can make a difference too! - an interview with Suzanne Corso, author of "Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!"

"Sammy and Sue Go Green Too!" is not only a great children's book, but also a very inspirational one both for kids and their parents.

If you had a chance to read our review of the book you probably know already that a) this book is about a joint mother-daughter journey into the green world and b) Eco-Libris collaborates with the publisher, Beaufort Books, and the author, Suzanne Corso, to encourage the readers of this wonderful book to green up their reading and take a step to support the environment by planting a tree with us for their copy.

The book is already receiving enthusiastic feedback and endorsements. On March it was selected as Book of the Year by NWYA's NY Reads Program, which is a program of New York Women’s Agenda (NWYA), a city-wide book discussion based on the reading of one book selected each year.

We felt that there's much more to explore about this great book and interviewed the author, Suzanne Corso, about her muse, the shared green experiences with her daughter and what children like about this book.

(Suzanne Corso on the left in the launch party of the book with actress Lorraine Bracco. Photo courtesy of Suzanne Corso)

Hi Suzanne. Please tell us what brought you to write this book

My daughter, Samantha. She is 10 years old now and she came to me 2 years ago came to me asking questions about the environment and she also wanted me to write something with her, and the result is the 'Sammy and Sue' series.

What is your favorite part in it?

Experiencing it with my daughter - driving a hybrid car with her, going together to Whole Foods, changing bulbs to energy saving bulbs, etc. I enjoyed explaining to her while we were doing it and she enjoyed learning as kids like to learn through visuals.

You did this green journey together with your daughter. Did it bring you closer? do you recommend other parents to team together with their kids and explore the green world together?

Definitely. It's a win-win and I recommend it to every parent - take your children to journeys, explain to them about recycling, food, cars and so on and you'll find it not only helps to raise the awareness of your kids, but also brings you together.

What are the main changes that you and Samantha made in your daily life following your journey?

There are many changes. A major one is food. We eat better and healthier food. We have this pack where Samantha eats super well on week days and then on the weekends she can enjoy herself with whatever food she wants. Eventually, I find that even of the weekends she wants to eat good food.

How did it influence her?

She is much more aware now to environmental issues. She helps me to explain kids about green issues such as recycling. When it comes from her it definitely helps to reinforce the message.

What is the feedback you're getting?

I get great feedback from both parents and children. I'm a mother, not an expert and parents can easily relate to it and to the idea of taking baby steps to make a difference.

Do you think children are capable of understanding the issues at stake?

Yes. When we have reading events for kids they always have questions and want to learn more. The best way is to use simple terms and relate to daily activities they know such as brushing teeth (keep the faucet closed while we brush), recycling newspapers, and so on. In the book I added a glossary at the end to help simplify difficult terms.

This is your first children's book. How is it in comparison with other writing you did?

I wrote before the book a novel and a screenplay and I can say that once you're a writer, you can write anything. But here I'm also extending my writing into further activities for kids and I founded and serve as the chairwoman of Sammy and Sue Enterprises, LLC, which will design and market a 3-D virtual world filled with games for kids with environmental themes. We plan to offer the first games at the beginning of 2010.

What are the upcoming titles in the series?

The next title is "SAMMY & SUE WITH ELEPHANTS IN AFRICA TOO"!, which takes place in Africa and combines both environmental and animal themes, as it will also a journey to save the wild elephants in Africa. This book will be released in January 2010. The title afterwards will be SAMMY & SUE EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING TOO!.

Thanks, Suzanne!

You can read more about the book and the 'Sammy and Sue' series at www.sammyandsue.com

And if you're in New York on Saturday, you can meet Suzanne Corso at Barney's NY, where she'll have a signing event. Details are below.

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