ECF's own Laurentien van Oranje has released a best-selling childrens' book dealing with global warming, titled Mr. Finney and the world turned upside-down (original Dutch title: Mr. Finney en de wereld op zijn kop). The book was launched at the end of October 2009 and some 20,000 copies were sold within just a few months.

Laurentien van Oranje is the author and initiator of the series. The beautiful watercolor and line drawings are the work of award-winning illustrator Sieb Posthuma.

The book is a modern parable and a refreshing way to reach children with its environmental message. It tells the story of Mr. Finney’s journey of discovery around the world, in search of the “holy grail of the flag on the North Pole". During his search for answers Mr. Finney is confronted with a range of environmental problems, directly and indirectly relating to climate change. It is a children’s story in its own right and the content confronts adults with shortcomings in the way we treat our planet, concerning climate change in particular. The book aims to encourage and empower children to think about the issue, to formulate questions and to confront adults with their thoughts and questions.

The book was launched at a high-profile media event, attended by children (5+), young people (19+), politicians, corporate and NGO representatives and leading personalities from the world of literature in the Netherlands. The ECF has supported the distribution of copies of the English version of the book. It is available from Querido Childrens' Press and Bol.com.