“The journey of the “Planitizenship Reading Club for Children” which we carried out with children as Roots & Shoots Türkiye and Doğa Oyunları Evi, lasted for about a year and a half. Guided by Burcu Meltem Arık and her daughter Sumru, this adventure took shape with a new book every month and grew through the children’s curiosity, imagination, and questions.

Over this period, we read a total of 14 books together. Each opened a new window for us: sometimes we ran through the mountains with a wolf, sometimes we saw the world through the eyes of a robot, and at other times we dove deep into the sea with whales. Through these stories, we explored nature, animals, people, and different ways of life.

In the reading group, the children did more than just read books; they asked their own questions, drew pictures, and dreamed together. This collective sharing strengthened their ability to see both the world and each other through the lens of being “companions of the Earth.”

The books that accompanied our journey were:

The Wolf Wilder – Katherine Rundell

The Wild Robot – Peter Brown

The Explorer – Katherine Rundell

The Doors of the Sekoyana (Sekoyana’nın Kapıları) – Şiirsel Taş

Wild Things (Vahşi Şeyler) – Burcu Aktaş

Lost in the Map (Haritada Kaybolmak) – Vladimir Tumanov

The Lost Whale – Hannah Gold

The Last Bear – Hannah Gold

The Ickabog – J.K. Rowling

Malamander – Thomas Taylor

When the Mountains Roared – Jess Butterworth

The Sandwolf (Kumkurdu) – Åsa Lind

The Map of Leaves – Yarrow Townsend

The Girl Who Fell to Earth (Yeryüzüne Düşen Kız) – Patricia Forde

Each of these books left a mark on the children’s imaginations. At the end of our reading journey, what remained with us was not only the books themselves but also dozens of shared memories, laughter, and fresh perspectives on nature.

This long journey reminded us once again that books are powerful companions in helping children look at the world with love, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. We sincerely thank everyone who joined us on this adventure.