Before Greta Thunberg there was Severn Cullis-Suzuki, whose 1992 Earth Summit speech made her known as “the girl who silenced the world for five minutes.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki was only twelve years old when she addressed the whole world and asked: What are you doing to the Earth, our home? How far can human greed go? Young Severn looked at the world leaders in attendance and said, “I’m only a child, and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you!” She entreated those world leaders to make their actions reflect their words and to protect the Earth for generations to come.
Severn’s speech is even more urgent today than it was thirty years ago. Beautiful illustrations accompany her words in this first book in the Speak Out series, followed by an analysis written by Alex Nogués that gives readers more detail about Severn’s life and the context of her speech, while highlighting the most powerful and persuasive points of her address.
The Speak Out series publishes the most inspiring speeches of our times, then deconstructs them to give young readers a deeper understanding of global issues and the power of language to influence them.
Key Text Features
biographical information
definitions
explanation
facts
headings
historical context
illustrations
informational note
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3
Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5
Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
Before Greta Thunberg there was Severn Cullis-Suzuki, whose 1992 Earth Summit speech made her known as “the girl who silenced the world for five minutes.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki was only twelve years old when she addressed the whole world and asked: What are you doing to the Earth, our home? How far can human greed go? Young Severn looked at the world leaders in attendance and said, “I’m only a child, and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you!” She entreated those world leaders to make their actions reflect their words and to protect the Earth for generations to come.
Severn’s speech is even more urgent today than it was thirty years ago. Beautiful illustrations accompany her words in this first book in the Speak Out series, followed by an analysis written by Alex Nogués that gives readers more detail about Severn’s life and the context of her speech, while highlighting the most powerful and persuasive points of her address.
The Speak Out series publishes the most inspiring speeches of our times, then deconstructs them to give young readers a deeper understanding of global issues and the power of language to influence them.
Key Text Features
biographical information
definitions
explanation
facts
headings
historical context
illustrations
informational note
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8
Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3
Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5
Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6
Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Sep 6, 2022 |
| Specifications | 56 pages | 4.72 in x 7.87 in |
| Keywords | current events; global dependency on oil; habitats and ecosystems; justice system; social activist; issues; justice; pollution; integrity; civics; kids as heroes; overcoming adversity; citizenship; world studies; biographical information; definitions; informational note; |
| Written By |
SEVERN CULLIS-SUZUKI started the Environmental Children’s Organization at the age of ten, which culminated in a speech to the UN Earth Summit in 1992 when she was twelve. Severn is an Action Canada Fellow and co-editor of the book Notes from Canada’s Young Activists. She holds an M. Sc. in Ethnoecology from the University of Victoria and is currently a Vanier and Public scholar PhD candidate studying endangered language revitalization. She lives on the archipelago of Haida Gwaii off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and two sons. |
| Illustrated by |
ANA SUÁREZ has studied fine arts and illustration. She lives in Barcelona, Spain, where she creates illustrations for NGOs and environmental, cultural and educational projects. She illustrated the picture book El cielo imaginado, written by Pablo A. Mastro. |
| Written By |
|
SEVERN CULLIS-SUZUKI started the Environmental Children’s Organization at the age of ten, which culminated in a speech to the UN Earth Summit in 1992 when she was twelve. Severn is an Action Canada Fellow and co-editor of the book Notes from Canada’s Young Activists. She holds an M. Sc. in Ethnoecology from the University of Victoria and is currently a Vanier and Public scholar PhD candidate studying endangered language revitalization. She lives on the archipelago of Haida Gwaii off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and two sons. |
| Illustrated by |
|
ANA SUÁREZ has studied fine arts and illustration. She lives in Barcelona, Spain, where she creates illustrations for NGOs and environmental, cultural and educational projects. She illustrated the picture book El cielo imaginado, written by Pablo A. Mastro. |
| Audience | ages 9 and up / grades 4 and up |
| Key Text Features | biographical information; definitions; explanation; facts; headings; historical context; illustrations; informational note |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 |
The first section of the work can be used in speech classes, and both portions offer eye-opening lessons in social justice and environmentalism. A worthwhile purchase for classrooms and libraries.
” —Booklista small but also powerful book for environmentalists of all ages. … Severn’s words can encourage others to take action and urge governments and corporations to change their ways.
” —The International Educator BlogAn important talk that deserves to be more widely known and makes a great addition to the social justice shelf.
” —Canadian Review of MaterialsThis is an important call to action for children and adults. … It is a great addition to any collection on ecology, conservation and environmental change.
” —Canadian Children's Book News