The Story in 8 Chapters
In despair that her Earth is out of balance, Mother Earth travels to 6 habitable continents to seek help from children, ages 7 and older. Knowing that children have open minds and hearts to understand different environmental problems on her Earth, she seeks 6 children to learn from her and help resolve those problems. Readers will find out about environmental issues as well as something about each of the six continents. They will learn about issues with insects, animals and birds; oceans, rainforests, and floods. Mother Earth's song (with a QR code) at the end of the story leaves readers with hope in their hearts that , with effort and a willingness to change, people can solve these environmental problems and restore balance on the Earth again.
Annie Houston grew up in Jamaica and England before coming to the U.S. at age twelve. She lived in Washington DC with her architect husband for about 50 years, moving after his death in 2021 to Brooklyn, NY to be with her daughter and her family. She has been an educator of children of many ages, a director of Shakespeare’s plays for young people, creator and artistic director of the puppet company Shakespeare For The Young, and D.C. actress. She was nominated for a Helen Hayes in 2018 for best actress in the play Still Life With Rocket. She is passionate about the earth and its environment. She hopes her book will inspire young people to take care of it.
I am the wind in the trees
Oxygen that you breathe
Bees that pollinate
Butterflies that vibrate
I am all of these.
I am the family of wolves
Showing you how to love
Hawks that fly high
In azure skies
I am all of these.
Take what you need
Not what you want
Share what you have
There's enough for us all.
Mother Earth's Song of Hope
QUESTIONS ABOUT EARTH
PART I
1. How many continents are there on Earth?
2. What are the names of those continents?
3. How many continents on Earth are habitable by humans?
4. Which continent on Earth is not habitable by humans but used for research by them?
5. Which is the largest continent on Earth?
6. Which is the smallest continent on Earth?
7. Which is the most populated continent?
8. Which is the least populated continent?
9. Which is the longest river on Earth; where is it located?
10. Which is the biggest desert on Earth; where is it located?
11. What is the deepest lake on Earth; where is it located?
12. What is the tallest mountain on Earth; where is it located?
ANSWERS ABOUT EARTH
Lichen: sensitive to environmental changes, including air polution
PART I
1. Seven continents
2. North and South America, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe
3. Six continents
4. Antarctica
5. Asia
6. Australia
7. Asia
8. Australia
9. The Nile flows in 11 different countries in Africa
10. Antarctica
11. Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia (5.387 feet deep or over 1 mile)
12. Sargarmatha/Mt. Everest in Nepal, Asia (29,032 feet hight or 5.5 miles high
PART II
1. How old is Earth?
2. When did life first appear?
3. When did hominids first appear on Earth?
4. When did Homo Sapiens (our ancestors) first appear on Earth?
5. Which continent is the most polluted by humans, which the least?
6. Which continent is the most polluted per capita?
PART II
1. About 4.5 billion years ago
2. The first microorganisms first appeared about 3.7 billion years ago
3. 6-7 million years ago
4. 300,000 years ago in Morocco, Africa
5. Asia @ 60%; Africa, the least
6. North America @ 18%; 2nd biggest polluter in the world
Upcoming Events
May 27 & 28 NY PS 110: Four 3rd Grade Classes: Games about Continents and Mother Earth, Reading from Tales of Mother Earth and Her Children, Discussion about how we can help our Earth
If you would like a reading and discussion for young audiences ages 7 to 14 of some of the stories in the book, please contact me at
Prints from Book
#1. Kai finding the North Star
#3. Fishing Boats in the Hebrides
#2. The Maned Wolf Cubs
#4. Mother Earth's Song of Hope
Prices of Items with FREE shipping
Book..................................$15.00
Prints.................................$12.00
Song........................Free w/QR code
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