Interview with Child Psychologist Amira Berhili on 'Dear Mother Nature'

The inspiration for *Dear Mother Nature* originated during a phone call between Berhili and her friend and co-author, Minu, amid the pandemic. Minu expressed her frustration over the lack of engaging books on climate change for her students. Berhili suggested they create their own book to ignite curiosity and inspire action among young readers. The book encourages children to ask questions about their role in protecting the planet and includes a page for readers to write letters to Mother Nature, reflecting on the story's themes.

While crafting the narrative, the authors faced the challenge of conveying the seriousness of environmental issues while keeping the story engaging and hopeful for children. They used rich language to spark imagination and gathered feedback from students in a Year 2 class, which confirmed that they successfully struck this balance.

The writing process began in 2020, with a publication offer received in 2021. The collaboration with the publishing team continued remotely, requiring additional time for revisions of the illustrations.

Berhili expressed that she enjoyed the writing process and the development of their ideas into a finished product, though she found the early stages of illustration revision less enjoyable. If she could start over, Berhili would focus more on refining the book's marketing strategy, aiming to promote its use in primary schools to enhance climate literacy in the classroom.

*Dear Mother Nature* is currently available through various retailers, including Waterstones and Amazon, where it has received positive feedback, achieving five-star reviews. Parents have noted their children's enjoyment and expressed interest in future works.

The book exemplifies the effort and dedication put into educating young readers about environmental issues while engaging them in thoughtful dialogue.