Talking lions, philosophical bears, very hungry caterpillars, wise spiders, altruistic trees, companionable moles, urbane elephants: this is the magnificent menagerie that delights our children at bedtime. Within the entertaining pages of many children’s books, however, also lie profound teachings about the natural world that can help children develop an educated and engaged appreciation of the dynamic environment they inhabit. In Beasts at Bedtime, scientist (and father) Liam Heneghan examines the environmental underpinnings of children’s stories. From Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter, Heneghan unearths the universal insights into our inextricable relationship with nature that underlie so many classic children’s stories. Some of the largest environmental challenges in coming years—from climate instability, the extinction crisis, freshwater depletion, and deforestation—are likely to become even more severe as this generation of children grows up. Though today’s young readers will bear the brunt of these environmental calamities, they will also be able to contribute to environmental solutions if prepared properly. And all it takes is an attentive eye: Heneghan shows how the nature curriculum is already embedded in bedtime stories, from the earliest board books like The Rainbow Fish to contemporary young adult classics like The Hunger Games. Beasts at Bedtime is an awakening to the vital environmental education children’s stories can provide—from the misadventures of The Runaway Bunny to more overt tales like The Lorax. Heneghan serves as our guide, drawing richly upon his own adolescent and parental experiences, as well as his travels in landscapes both experienced and imagined. Organized into thematic sections, the work winds its way through literary forests, colorful characters, and global environments. This book enthralls as it engages. Heneghan as a guide is as charming as he is insightful, showing how kids (and adults) can start to experience the natural world in incredible ways from the comfort of their own rooms. Beasts at Bedtime will help parents, teachers, and guardians extend those cozy times curled up together with a good book into a lifetime of caring for our planet.

Beasts at Bedtime: Revealing the Environmental Wisdom in Children’s Literature

Heneghan, Liam

Teen & Young Adult

University of Chicago Press

Eco and environmental art can highlight the primal importance of natural resources for human life and the need to be responsible environmental stewards. This catalog for a recent exhibition at the DePaul Art Museum explores one particularly undervalued resource: soil. Bringing together the work of fifteen artists, including that of photographers Sally Mann and Jane Fulton Alt, interdisciplinary artist Claire Pentecost, and Baroque painter Adriaen van Utrecht, Rooted in Soil addresses critical issues of soil degradation and combines scientific approaches with fresh philosophical perspectives. Though we rarely recognize it, soil is an integral part of the natural cycles of life and death. The essays here include scholarly meditations on the importance of decay for soil, which allows for rebirth and regeneration. The works in the Rooted in Soil exhibition collectively highlight the fundamental interconnectedness that we have with the natural world and inspire viewers to become better stewards of the soil and the land.

Rooted In Soil

Arts & Photography

Fatemi, Laura

Fatemi, Farrah

Collections, Catalogs & Exhibitions

DePaul Art Museum

An insightful and illuminating discussion of the impact humans have had on Earth In A Primer on Human Impacts on the Environment: The Conceptual Approach, distinguished environmental scientist Liam Heneghan explores the intricate relationships between humanity and Earth in an accessible and engaging style. Replete with real-world examples and drawing from classic and contemporary scholarship, the author adapts the fundamental conceptual models of the environmental disciplines to assess the risks human beings are taking with their home planet. The conceptual approach of this primer challenges readers to think across multiple disciplines to reveal the &#65533;big picture&#65533; that is all too often lost in the details of contemporary environmental studies. Readers will also find: <ul> <li>A thorough introduction to conceptual modeling, showing how systems models can be adapted and applied in a rapidly changing world</li> <li>Comprehensive explorations of the human impact on the Earth, including an examination of possible ecological limits and planetary boundaries</li> <li>In-depth evaluations of environmental risks, especially, though not limited to, climate change and biodiversity loss</li> <li>A guide to contemplating catastrophic risk and the potential for societal collapse without inducing unnecessary anxiety</li> <li>An interdisciplinary focus, emphasizing the role of the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and humanistic disciplines in safeguarding the future</li> </ul> Perfect for students of environmental science and environmental studies, A Primer on Human Impacts on the Environment will also earn a place in the libraries of graduate students working on environmental themes and practicing professionals in the environmental management community.

A Primer on Human Impacts on the Environment: The Conceptual Approach

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

wiley

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Heneghan, Liam. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Heneghan, Liam