I read Liam Heneghan’s Beasts at Bedtime, sometime ago. The book discusses about environmental wisdom in children’s literature and highlights environmental issues are critical and there’s need for increased environmental literacy. I was fascinated by this book after I read about the author, somewhere that ”On the surface we encounter a scientist, teacher and father; but in the depths we meet a child, animal, and sprite.”

Beasts at Bedtime is also encyclopedic. One can read it in any order at their convenience. This book is suitable for use as a textbook in various disciplines- environmental studies, English, psychology etc. In addition to in-depth analysis of several classic children’s books such as Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit, the author looks at how to build a love of nature and of reading with young people. There are many references and examples of scientific research done. It also looks at the connections between environmental science and everyday life.

Beasts at Bedtime is an awakening to the vital environmental education children’s stories can provide—from the misadventures of The Runaway Bunny to tales like The Lorax. Heneghan serves as our guide, drawing upon his own adolescent and parental experiences, as well as his travels in multiple regions. Organized into thematic sections, the work winds its way through literary forests, colorful characters, and global environments.

Other literary critical gems include chapters on Where the Wild Things Are, Robinson Crusoe, Calvin and Hobbes. As an environmental activist, I was particularly impressed by Heneghan’s main point about the reduced environmental literacy among adults. The author gives good advice and models of how to engage with children’s literature as a form of education as well as entertainment. He also provides a lot of encouragement for parents to continue to educate themselves. There is no better way to cultivate attachment to the natural world than through telling stories. When we read stories to our children we also train them to become storytellers.  And training them to become storytellers is a way of helping them to influence their culture, their socio-political sphere, and their environment.

Beasts at Bedtime is similar to a biblical commentary. Keep this book close by and delve into it whenever you need a fresh perspective on your relationship to the environment.