Lions and Tigers and Bears...Or Not

In a study recently published in Sociological Inquiry and highlighted in last Tuesday’s USAToday, researchers examined 296 Caldecott Medal winning or honored picture books from 1938-2008 and found that images in children’s books increasingly depict “built” (indoor) environments and decreasingly depict nature and wild or domestic animals.

In other environmental news, an animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax hit theaters this past Friday on what would’ve been Seuss’s 108th birthday. The film features the voices of Danny DeVito as the Lorax, Betty White, Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, and Ed Helms. So far, it has largely opened to mixed reviews, some of which hail Hollywood for successfully and charmingly adapting Seuss's story and some of which express disappointment in the film for not living up to the original.

Speaking of Seuss, for those of you in need of encouragement, remember that Seuss's first book was rejected 27 times before it was finally accepted by a publisher--never give up! :)