Ahead of Earth Day, a new Canadian kids book tackles climate anxiety—with a dose of Jewish soul

The graphic novel is about a polar bear who befriends an electric car.
Authors Paul Shore (left) and Deborah Katz Henriquez read their new book "Steve and Eve Save the Planet"
Authors Paul Shore (left) and Deborah Katz Henriquez read from their new book, "Steve and Eve Save the Planet: I Can Hear Your Heart Beep" on Feb. 25, 2023, at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver. (Albert Law photo)

An orphaned polar bear named Steve with not enough fish to eat meets a lonely electric vehicle named Eve who ran away to the North Pole to escape being bullied by gas-guzzling cars. That’s the premise of a new graphic novel for young readers by award-winning B.C. authors Paul Shore and Deborah Katz Henriquez.

Launched at a book reading in March 2023, Steve and Eve Save the Planet: I Can Hear Your Heart Beep is the first offering in what the creators promise will be a series of books that tackle climate change.

Shore, a trained engineer, and Katz Henriquez, a professor of nursing, hope their colourful characters and requisite gross-out jokes about herring breath and burps will entertain children—and also inspire them to take action.

Paul Shore and Deborah Katz Henriquez join The CJN Daily to explain how their book promotes tikun olam, and why the message resonates with readers of all backgrounds.

What we talked about

  • Find out more about Earth Day and events in Canada this month
  • Learn more about the authors and order the book
  • Why more and more Canadian synagogues are going green, on The CJN Daily

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.

Author

Support Our Mission: Make a Difference!

The Canadian Jewish News is now a Registered Journalism Organization (RJO) as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency. To help support the valuable work we’re doing, we’re asking for individual monthly donations of at least $10. In exchange, you’ll receive tax receipts, a thank-you gift of our quarterly magazine delivered to your door, and our gratitude for helping continue our mission. If you have any questions about the donating process, please write to [email protected].

Support the Media that Speaks to You

Jewish Canadians deserve more than social media rumours, adversarial action alerts, and reporting with biases that are often undisclosed. The Canadian Jewish News proudly offers independent national coverage on issues that matter, sparking conversations that bridge generations. 

It’s an outlet you can count on—but we’re also counting on you.

Please support Jewish journalism that’s creative, innovative, and dedicated to breaking new ground to serve your community, while building on media traditions of the past 65 years. As a Registered Journalism Organization, contributions of any size are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.