SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund: The Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals
Join us in celebrating
The Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals
AWARD WINNER!
The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife
The Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals honors books for their dedication to promoting compassion and respect for animals in their readers.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Erica Silverman
Illustrated by Ginnie Hsu
A unique and artful blend of poetry, science, and activism, this picture book shows how city dwellers can intervene so that nature can work her magic. Perfect for fans of The Curious Garden and Harlem Grown.
In Oslo, Norway: citizens create a honeybee highway that stretches from one side of the city to the other, offering flowerpots, resting spots, bee boxes, and beehives—even water fountains—every eight hundred feet.
In the Bronx, New York: a community rallies to clean their river and cheers at the return of the long-lost beaver population.
In Busselton, Australia: people make a rope bridge that swings high above speeding cars, creating a safe path for tree-hopping possums and squirrels alike.
Through a mix of lyrical poems, real-life success stories, and bouquet-bright artwork, The City Sings Green explores the environmental impact of humans and showcases the many ways that we can rewild cities across the globe. Together, we can welcome nature back!
Detailed back matter includes sources, links to explore, ways to help, and recommended reading.
Download THE CITY SINGS GREEN Activity Sheets!
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ABOUT The SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund
The SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund, launched in 2022, is a division of SCBWI created to support the charitable activities and community purposes of SCBWI. Its programs and initiatives are not limited to SCBWI members but are available to the entire children’s book community.
Mission
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Impact and Legacy Fund is committed to creating, implementing, and supporting programs that center children’s books and their creators as a driving force behind equity, literacy, and freedom of expression for readers and storytellers alike.
How we do it:
Supporting freedom to read;
Honoring courage and excellence in children's book publishing;
Providing opportunities for children worldwide to access exceptional books that represent their stories, identities, and communities;
Providing a public forum for discussing relevant issues in children's health, safety, and education;
Equalizing reading opportunities for diverse communities in the United States and globally;
Documenting the important legacy of contemporary children’s book history.
ABOUT Erica Silverman, Author 📖
As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone, playing pretend games, making up stories and songs, and acting out all the parts. Books inspired my daydreams and fantasies. I loved pretending to be Madeline, walking on Paris streets “in two straight lines” with the other orphan girls. I spent hours imagining myself as the very cool, brave Nancy Drew, getting out of dangerous situations as I solved complicated mysteries.
In my imagination, I also have horses and cows, rabbits, goats and parrots. In my imagination, I swim with sea turtles and fly with ravens. In my imagination, I'm a foot taller and play a mean game of basketball. And with my imagination, I can make up new stories, write new books. Isn't imagination wonderful?
ABOUT Ginnie Hsu, Illustrator 🎨
I'm Ginnie, a creator, gardener, and educator.
I grew up in Taiwan, where nature and story were part of daily life from bustling markets to misty mountain trails. Those early rhythms shaped who I am: a creator, gardener, and educator with a slow-growing, ever-evolving creative ecosystem.
As a gardener and flower farmer, I’ve learned to trust the seasons, honor the process, and find beauty in the waiting. My partner and I grow flowers at The Meadow. We have two dogs (Boba and Luna), three runner ducks (Barb, Tasha, and Beatrix), and five chickens (Falafel, Nutella, Cupcake, Frittata, and Marmalade). As a professor, I help students think deeply and create with care.
My work lives at the intersection of nature, storytelling, and emotional rhythm, always learning, always listening, constantly growing.
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