CBR15Passport genre (learning about environmental issues with humor and fiction)
Harold is a head of iceberg lettuce, who worries a lot. And when he learns about icebergs and how they are melting, well, Harold the Iceberg Melts Down. In the first book in a Harold the Iceberg series, Lisa Wyzlic takes the “worrying character” and makes them a head of lettuce who is a bit neurotic and honestly, a bit vain. They go through the environmental aspects of what is happening, his friends try and help calm him. and finally, he realizes that okay he is lettuce, not an ice-iceberg, but tht does not mean the icebergs do not need his help.
Rebecca Syracuse has illustrations that I think you will love or not. They are sweet, but not necessarily for everyone. They have nice color, good details and will catch the child’s attention. There are some puns that might go over the heads of some readers/listeners, but the adult will enjoy. The environmental story arc is done with humor and is familiar but does have some new characters to learn with. The calming routines are real things we can do when we have our own anxiety issues, and overall, it is a cute book. That was not exactly for me, but I do know that people will be enjoying this immensely.
I am assuming that a classroom setting might work best for the reading potential, but if you have a child that likes funny stories, it could work, too (after all a panicking head of lettuce is not something you see every day).
