One of my favorite childhood books was The Wump World, written by Bill Peet. This book was designed to raise awareness of environmental problems. Published in 1981, one year before Dr. Seuss's The Lorax was published, both books have similar parallels. The story is an allegory of our own mistreatment of Earth. The book begins with the destructive Pollutians (martians who pollute) landing on the unspoiled Wump World to cover it indiscriminately with industry, development, and waste, all to the detriment of the innocent Wumps.
The clueless Pollutians force the gentle, little Wumps shivering underground and cringing at all the noise pollution. Soon the Pollutians dispatch more exploratory spacemen to find a new world, because the Wump World is almost all used up.
Wump World was published over 30 years ago, but Bill Peet’s message remains relevant today. It is said that many who read The Wump World decades ago as small children credit it with helping acquire their strong environmental awareness of today. I know I do.
Happy Earth Day!
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