In an interesting turn of events, we found ourselves at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Earth Day this year. What a great chance to get a bird’s eye view of how Disney is engaging in earth-friendly pursuits. Disney’s cast members greeted all guests with a “Party for the Planet” pin, and the children were encouraged to participate in fun activities throughout the park that would keep them thinking about the wider world (no small task indeed). The Tree of Life, with its intertwining animal carvings, is a tremendous symbol of how all of us are connected in Nature. There was talk of protecting animals in their natural habitats on the Kilimanjaro Safari and we got a great look at two lions and many other species that roam the wild acres of the Animal Kingdom, all exciting visual reminders that we should be more conscious of how we share our world with animals.

While travelling we have been reading two wonderful books written by a family committed to raising awareness of endangered animals and ways to protect them in their natural habitats. Craig Hatkoff, founder of Turtle Pond Publications, and his two daughters, Juliana and Isabella, have captured the hearts of countless readers with their book “Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World.” Knut, a baby polar bear who was born at Zoo Berlin, was rejected by his mother at birth and has been raised by a zookeeper whose tireless efforts to nurture the newborn mirror (or even rival) the hardest work any mother has ever done. Almost overnight, Knut became the face of global warming and has emerged as a symbol for a greener world. Late last year, Zoo Berlin launched its campaign ‘Respect Habitats.Knut’. According to Zoo Berlin’s CEO, the Knut logo is “intended to be used as an emblem of positive strategies that deal with complex environmental issues in a fair manner.” Get a glimpse of Knut at play in his own swimming pool and his public debut at www.knut.net. (find where to buy)

Hatkoff and his girls have also penned “Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship” which shares the amazing story of a baby hippo orphaned in the Asian tsunami. Found alone on the beach after his family was washed away, Owen was raised in Kenya alongside a giant tortoise name Mzee. One of the most charming tales of friendship, this book is sure to have families talking about many aspects of love and tenderness. Turtle Pond has built a highly interactive website, featuring a fascinating documentary at owenandmzee.com (books can be purchased there, as well).