Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Green book review: A Lion's Mane by Navjot Kaur

Today we review a green book that not only is printed on recycled paper (50% PCW) and processed chlorine-free, but also goes green with Eco-Libris - 625 trees are planted with us for the first edition of this beautiful book.

Our book today is:

A Lion's Mane

Author: Navjot Kaur

Born and raised in England and of Sikh-Panjabi heritage, Navjot Kaur has always found ways to identify with her environments. During her academic years, she unearthed valuable insights into the connections between 17th century Spanish Literature with that of the Panjabi Classics. Experiences across these diverse cultural borders have enriched her sense of global citizenry; forging her forward not only as an author, but also, as an educator and mother.

Having already led diversity initiatives within her schools, A Lion's Mane is her first children's book, a story that contextualizes the many connections we share as global citizens. Navjot is a member of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators and currently resides in Canada with her husband and son.

Illustrator: Jaspreet Sandhu

Publisher: Saffron Press

Published on: September 2009

What this book is about?
(from the publisher's website)

In this beautifully illustrated story, young readers journey to cultures around the world to explore the meaning of the dastaar, or turban of the Sikhs. Allusive words placed within a vibrant red dastaar help promote our connections as global citizens and encourage dialogue around issues of identity and kinship. A Lion's Mane promises to be a staple on the shelves of all young visionaries.

Here's the book's trailer:



What we think about it?

This is a beautiful book. Literally. Not only the content and message of the book are simply beautiful and moving, but also the marvelous illustrations of Jaspreet Sandhu that gives you the feeling that you're looking into an art work and not just a book.

This book is dealing with Sikh identity, but anyone and especially kids, who come from a different background of their surroundings, will easily identify with the hero's quest for meaning and understanding of his place in the cultural circles that he belongs to. His acceptance and pride eventually in his uniqueness are actually not the end of his journey, but just the beginning.


Although this journey that follows the winding red
dastar (turban) may be demanding and requires the reader's full concentration, it's definitely rewarding. At at the end of the book, you might even find yourself smiling and having a moment of optimism, as this book is filled with a positive spirit that is definitely contagious.

Bottom Line: Beautiful and meaningful book!

Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the author.

If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on Eco-Libris website's green resources section.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Vegan, Vegan, Vegan, Vegan, Small Business and one more Vegan!

No, this is not a guest list or a sophisticated code - these are the subjects of the books we're giving now on our green gifts giveaway!

Yes, we ha
ve five great vegan books and one great book on greening up small businesses that we're giving away as gifts on our green gift campaign! Not only that these are great and valuable books, but they're also printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper!

So who gets the
m? It's very simple - if you balance out 50 books, you can choose one of these “green” books as a gift. Customers will be offered to choose from a list of 5-6 books that will be changing occasionally.

The books offered are books that participated in Eco-Libris green books campaign last November that promoted responsibly printed books. You can see the list of books currently offered at http://www.ecolibris.net/gifts.asp

What do
you need to do to get this gift? Choose a book from the list and Email us its name after you complete the purchase on the take action page, or enter it in the comments box during the payment process.

Here are some more details on the "green" books you can choose from:


Raw for Dessert: Easy Delights for Everyone

Author: Jennifer Cornbleet

Now you can have your cake and eat it too! You can stay vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, or just plain health-conscious and still eat delicious cakes, pies, compotes, crumbles, custards, sorbets, ice creams, cookies, and candies. All raw!

Here are Jennifer's favorite no-bake, no-guilt treats. You'll learn to avoid white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans-fats, saturated fats, and processed foods. And you'll be able to make easy-to-follow recipes for a reasonable amount of money, in a reasonable amount of time.

Some of the delectable desserts perfect for every occasion are: Summer Berry Compote, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, Crème Brulée, Lemon Tart, Pumpkin Pie, and Knockout Brownie Sundae. Gorgeous color photos provide all the inspiration you need.

Greening Your Small Business: How to Improve Your Bottom Line, Grow Your Brand, Satisfy Your Customers - and Save the Planet

Author: Jennifer Kaplan

The ultimate resource for small business owners who want to go green without going broke.
Greening Your Small Business
is the definitive resource for those who want their small businesses to be cutting- edge, competitive, profitable, and eco-conscious. Filled with stories from small business owners of all stripes, Greening Your Small Business addresses every aspect of going green, from basics such as recycling, reducing waste, energy efficiency, and reducing the IT footprint, to more in-depth concerns such as green marketing and communications, green business travel, and green employee benefits.

For companies too small to hire consultants to draft and implement green policies and practices, this guide is designed for easy use, featuring:
• Simple ways to make the workplace greener
• Two plans of action for going green (divided into two levels)
• Definitions for green terminology and jargon

Local Bounty: Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Author: Devra Gartenstein

The marriage of vegan foods and seasonal produce is a natural one: plant-based foods follow annual cycles and both are healthy and environmentally sustainable. Ripe local produce has the most flavor and nutritional value, uses fewer resources to store and deliver, is more economical to buy, and often supports local farmers.

Local Bounty reintroduces the world of seasonal produce: leafy greens in the spring, tomatoes, peppers, and summer squash during the summer and fall, and root vegetables and winter squash during the cooler months. The bounty of the garden is transformed into wonderful meals that will truly nourish and satisfy with a minimum of fuss to prepare. Real food, real taste.

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book, Cruelty-Free Recipes for Canine

Author: Michelle Rivera

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book by animal rights advocate Michelle Rivera shows how your companion canine can become a satisfied omnivore. This compendium of nutritious, plant-based recipes provide the nutrients your dog needs in order to maintain good health as well as the flavors they love according to the enthusiastic response from pets being fed this diet.

Although vegans will now be able to extend their lifestyle to include what they feed their dogs, you needn't be a vegan or vegetarian to profit from this information. Most dog owners are concerned about the quality of ingredients in commercial dog food.

Sweet Utopia, Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts

Author: Sharon Valencik

Sweet Utopia shows how to create the luscious flavors and familiar textures of traditional desserts without the use of eggs or dairy. These easy-to-make, yet sensational, desserts are all lactose- and cholesterol-free and perfect for vegans, anyone allergic to dairy or eggs, those who need to watch their intake of saturated fat, and last, but not least, lovers of sweets everywhere.

These recipes cover a wide array of goodies including cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and other treats and are accompanied by over 130 full-color photos that provide inspiration and anticipation.

Tofu Cookery (25th Anniversary Edition)

Author: Louise Hagler

TOFU COOKERY 25th Anniversary Edition celebrates a quarter of a century of helping people prepare delicious dishes featuring tofu. Since then, tofu has become a household word, the health benefits of soy have been validated by thousands of scientific studies, and a goldmine of soy products can be found in supermarkets nationwide.

The best tofu dishes, however, can still be made at home. Soy-foods pioneer Louise Hagler expertly shows how easy it is to add a little tofu to both your favorite comfort foods and gourmet fare. To reflect today's tastes and trends, new recipes were added and the original recipes revised to use less salt and smaller amounts of more healthful fats. The latest cooking methods preserve nutrients as well as flavor.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris


Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!