BY SIMONE BUTLER

Environmental entertainment for you and your family is much easier to find than you might think. If you want to spread awareness and create environmental interest among the younger ones in your life, make it fun and you’ll have a better audience! Take a look at this list of quality entertainment suitable for a variety of ages.

Environmental Movies
	Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest is the oldest on this list of films, but probably features the most straight-forward message regarding deforestation and rainforest preservation. Mystical creatures of the Fern Gully forest have to ward off an evil toxic entity known as Hexxus in this 1992 animated film.
	WALL-E takes place in the distant future, and dwells on the adverse effects trash has contributed to the planet. The old generation waste-collection robot falls in love with a newer one named EVE, and together they help save the world. Issues including consumerism, waste management and other environmental complications are present in this cute film.
	The Lorax, based on Dr. Seuss’ original children’s book, was tweaked slightly for the silver screen, adding a few new characters, but not straying too far from the book’s initial message—respecting the environment. The Lorax is about a man who cut down Truffula trees in excess, and placed his booming industry before the land from which he worked. Nature’s envoy—The Lorax—warns both the man and the moviegoers about the dangers of not replenishing what is taken from nature.
	The 2006 film Over the Hedge was actually inspired by a comic strip. Animal habitat destruction and the corresponding confusion the animals undergo was a clear theme in this film, as the animals try to make their way in a now human-integrated atmosphere without getting hurt in the process.
Environmental Books
	Hoot, written by Carl Hiassen, is a novel about a boy named Roy Eberhardt who tries to stop the destruction of a burrowing owl community in Florida. The novel won the Newbery Honor in 2003, and is a suitable read for young-adult readers.
	The Horrible Science series features trivia, experiments and some oddly delivered facts to keep kids entertained for hours. This particular book, Wasted World, speaks about global warming and climate change, answering questions about greenhouse gases, toxic waste, and whether or not Earth will make it to 2100—all in good fun! Written by Nick Arnold and Tony de Saulles.
	Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace is the story of Wangari Maathai, a young Kenyan girl who grew up side-by-side with nature. Follow her journey and relive the tale of the first African woman and environmentalist to win a Nobel Peace Prize, and her quest to sow enough seeds to bring change to the world. Written by Jen Cullerton Johnson.
Environmental Video Games
	Plan It Green, sponsored by National Geographic and General Electric, is a social media game accessible on Facebook that requires you to build your town in an eco-friendly fashion. Initially, factories utilize coal energy but, as you go through the game, you can research new green technologies and learn about current technology being used in the real world! As an added bonus, while playing, tips on how to be more environmentally friendly cycle at the bottom of the screen.
	Flower is a title that was originally released on PS3 and the PS Vita, which will be re-released for the PS4. Players control the wind, guiding flower petals to help revive dead patches of grass, and adding more petals to the trail. This game is relaxing, cerebral and very casual. Flower features cross-buy as well, meaning if it is purchased for PS3 or Vita, it can be played between PS platforms and on the PS4 at no additional charge.
	Super Mario Sunshine features Nintendo’s star plumber in an adventure that has him cleaning up the graffiti and messes of his doppelgänger, all while trying to save Princess Peach once more! This game was released on the GameCube back in 2002, and is now playable on the newer Wii U. Don’t litter, kids, or Mario has to clean up after you!
	Oddworld: New ‘n Tasty is the remake of the critically acclaimed 1998 game Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. The game revolves around a Mudokon alien named Abe who works for a polluting meat-packing corporation in a dystopian society. When he hears from his boss that Mudokons are being put on the menu in order to salvage the company, Abe escapes, trying to save his co-workers along the way in this puzzle-platformer masterpiece.
	The Rune Factory series and its spinoffs have been around for almost a decade now, and there’s a good reason as to why the farming simulation role-play games are still doing so well. In Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon, your objective is to restore glory to your relative’s rundown farm. Players tend to crops, take care of livestock and befriend the townspeople.
	Reach for the Sun is for more curious minds who want to enjoy learning how plants grow and flourish. The player takes control from seed to sprout and aids in monitoring water, nutrients, and starch so that the plant can grow up to the sky. A very educational game not just for kids, but for adults as well.As environmentally themed media become more common, they will not only provide a gateway to understanding sustainability but they will offer a fun an engaging way for the entire family to discuss and learn about green living.