In this narrative, governments and industry are represented by giants who destroy the environment, leaving the animals fearing for their future.

But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits.

In the notes following the tale, the author admits the real Greta is still fighting the Giants, and needs our help. This inspiring picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg - the Swedish teenager who has led a global movement to raise awareness about the world’s climate crisis - using allegory to make this important topic accessible to young children. Check out the teaching ideas for reading comprehension strategies, grammar topics and social emotional learning skills that can be taught using this children’s book. Soon she is joined by a brown-skinned little boy, then animals and other, diverse children, all bearing more signs…until in time the giants hunker down in embarrassment and promise to mend their ways. The book is also very cute with lovely illustrations and and a nice age appropriate way to make young children aware of climate issues.

Greta and the Giants is a sensitively written and beautifully illustrated story for young readers by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico. The Giants are portrayed as the destructors of the forest, taking more and more trees in their greed and desire to build more and more.This is an absolutely gorgeous picture book inspired by Greta Thunberg and her fight against climate change and the institutions that will not change to save this world. This way my child and others won’t feel the powerful negativity of the situation at first but can slowly be introduced to the issues and not overwhelmed.