Climate change message for kids

EDUCATION is often the key to change, and Ballina author and illustrator Kim Michelle Toft's latest book gives young kids a chance to learn about global warming, and things they can do to help the planet.

This is Kim's ninth book, and all the illustrations began their life as original silk paintings. It has taken two years to produce the book.

The former school teacher said the book, titled Recipe for Perfect Planet Pie, is a "fun way of looking at a serious topic".

She is trying to teach children the Earth is "like a pie made up of all natural ingredients that need to be looked after so we get a healthy delicious pie".

"And it's up to us to keep these natural ingredients there," she said. Kim has featured Lennox headland in this book to "bring the global issues back home". There is something for the mums and dads in the book, too, with scientific explanations included.

Kim's previous offering, Tick Tock, Tick Tock, What's up Croc?, recently won the Royal Zoological Society's Best Children's Book award, and was named as a notable book in the Children's Book Council of Australia awards.

The book will be launched at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery, Cherry St, Ballina, on Friday, June 1, from 6pm to 8pm, and the silk paintings featured in the publication will be exhibited until June 24.

Kim will be at the launch to sign copies of the book.

It will retail for $24.95 and be available at the ABC shop in River St, Ballina, following the launch.