I was worried that Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter would be preachy. I was afraid it would get “controversial” and “too political” and lose the message in being “PC.” Honestly, I thought it might try to “push” an opinion on you one way or the other.
However, it is a lovely and straight forward look at Ms. Thunberg and what she did and what she is doing. I have a feeling the text is as direct as she can be herself. The great thing about Our House is that you do not have to agree with her, with her methods, her gender, or age. That is not the point. The point is a biography for the younger reader to read or to be read to in a classroom. While this is obviously about current events and a real person, it has a gentle feel of a story. Greta could be “just a girl” who decided to try and stop climate change the only way she knew how. It honestly does not matter that there is a real Greta Thunberg who is out there and trying to kick some butt.
I have a feeling if Reading Rainbow was still active, they would feature this book.
And to top it all off, the illustrations are classic Winter illustrations. Her colors and style paint the story along with the text. And while they are not “pushy” they do jump out at you. They capture the feeling of the time, place and people perfectly.