Researchers at several universities reviewed about 8,100 images in 296 children's books. The books were all Caldecott Medal winners and honorees from 1938 to 2008. The Caldecott awards are given annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Researchers categorized images as containing either a natural environment, such as a jungle or forest; a built environment, such as a house, school or office; or a modified environment, such as a mowed lawn, park or farm field. They also identified wild and domestic animals. Findings published in February's Sociological Inquiry:  •Early in the study period, built environments were the primary environments in about 35% of images. By the end of the study, they were primary environments about 55% of the time.  •Early in the study, natural environments were the primary environments about 40% of the time; by the end, roughly 25%.  Images of wild animals and domestic animals declined dramatically over time, says lead author Al Williams of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "The natural environment and wild animals have all but disappeared in these books."  Co-author Chris Podeschi of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania says, "This is just one sample of children's books, but it suggests there may be a move away from the natural world as the population is increasingly isolated from these settings. This could translate into less concern about the environment."  Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, says this study and others suggest "a physical disassociation with the natural world …. Nature experience isn't a panacea, but it does help children and the rest of us on many levels of health and cognition. I believe that as parents learn more about the disconnect, they'll want to seek more of that experience for their children, including the joy and wonder that nature has traditionally contributed to children's literature."  Psychologist Susan Linn, author of The Case for Make Believe, says the research supports growing concerns about kids' lack of connection with nature. "Time in green space is essential to children's mental and physical health. And the health of the planet depends on a generation of children who love and respect the natural world enough to protect it from abuse and degradation."
Natural environments, such as forests and jungles, and wild animals appear to be losing their place in children's books, a new study suggests.