Keep Our World Green: Why Humans Need Gardens, Parks and Public Green Spaces

Green space is good for us all.

Parks and gardens bring life to communities big and small all over the world and provide a habitat for native plants and animals. Ensuring access to these outdoor spaces can inspire art, music and literature and create ways for communities to grow their own food. But today, green space everywhere is at risk.

Keep Our World Green looks at how green space has evolved throughout history, from the first public garden to the origins of bonsai trees. It examines the political, social and environmental challenges of maintaining green spaces because of pollution, inequality and the effects of the climate crisis. It also introduces the people working to protect these places for the future--you can be a green space activist too! Come on, let’s take a walk in the park together!

Frieda Wishinsky is the international award-winning author of over 80 picture books, novels and nonfiction. Her books have been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, French, Chinese and Korean. Frieda loves exploring new ideas and sharing the writing process with writers and readers of all ages. Frieda also loves to travel and take pictures. She enjoys walks and talks with friends and family, eating chocolate and, of course, visiting parks, gardens and green spaces everywhere.

Sara Theuerkauf is an illustrator and interior architect. Her work captures moments of simple ritual coziness and reflects her affinity for nature, textiles, traditional craft, maps and design. Her best ideas for sketches come to her on long walks through the forest or botanical gardens near her studio in Vancouver.