Uncle Marlow's Machine
Henry heads off to his uncle's farm, leaving behind a pollution-choked city. His uncle is building something special, you see...
Uncle Marlow's Machine is the picture story book that the next generation needs, wants and deserves. It's high time we talked about climate change.
A kids' book that celebrates the wonderful things we can do to halt climate change.
Recommended ages: for 0 - 10yrs old
Author: Stuart French
Illustrator: Alvin Mulyono
What is this picture book about?
Join little Henry as he heads off on a journey to visit his wacky uncle at a farm far, far away. When Henry finally arrives, he discovers something incredible. Uncle Marlow’s been building a secret machine! But what is it? And why don’t the city people like it?
Infused with a touch of satire and a lot of goodwill, this is the story you need to be reading to your little ones to protect our climate future.
This beautiful book will be remembered in decades to come as the awakening we all needed.
Praise for Uncle Marlow's Machine
“Uncle Marlow’s Machine is honest and clear, its writing style attributing a sense of responsibility to the reader. The illustrations in this story make a real impact. Beautiful green fields contrast with smoky skies and dirty power plants, and this helps to demonstrate the story’s theme.” Shannon A. Jade
An excerpt from the story
He’s in his barn when he hears our truck rumble to a stop, and he quickly pulls the barn doors closed.
“We’ve come to see your machine!” I yell, pointing at the big red barn with both hands, as Uncle Marlow walks outside.
Dad sighs. “You weren’t supposed to say anything, Henry…”
“What are you talking about, Squirt?” asks Uncle Marlow, yanking on my cheeks.
“Does it fly, or jump in the sky?” I ask. “Or does it swim in the ocean with its long propeller?”
ISBN: 9780648702429
Where do orders ship from?
Book Specs
Readership
Distribution
Ethicool has warehouses in the following locations and your order will almost always ship from the warehouse nearest to your delivery address:
AUSTRALIA: Melbourne & Sydney
NEW ZEALAND: Auckland
USA: Dallas, TX
Size: 11" x 8.5" landscape (27.5 x 21cm)
Cover: softcover (300GSM)
Pages: soft inside pages (200GSM)
All Ethicool Books are designed for ages 0 - 6 years old.
All our stories average 500-750 words in length.
This book is retailed exclusively online by Ethicool Books Pty Ltd, and available for purchase worldwide via our website.
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Shipping and delivery
Ethicool is proud to ship worldwide 🌎, to anyone, anywhere, with same-day despatch for most orders. We use sustainable packaging methods and have warehouses in Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺 and Dallas, USA 🇺🇸. All our deliveries are tracked and insured, meaning we’ve always got your back. We also offer 7-day, no-questions-asked returns, so you can buy with peace of mind 😊
shipping policy
Sustainable production
We put a lot of thought into whether or not we should continue the tradition of physically printing children’s books. After all, we have Kindle and iPad these days, right? Why waste more paper? Well, yes, this is all true, but after several months’ research on the topic, all data points concluded that kids are already getting way too much “screen time”. So, what could we do? We’re a business with sustainability at our heart and should discourage paper usage… but we’re also a business that wants to encourage kids to get outside and away from the screens they’re all too often drawn to! The solution was to scour the globe for a large-scale printing partner that followed strict practices of sustainability, including frequent use of recycled papers and plant-based inks. And, sure enough, we found one! As a result, you can buy from us knowing we’re here for the planet – and you can even recycle our books in years to come! Even our delivery service within Australia is 100% carbon neutral 🚚 😍
About us
A story about Ethicool
In 2019, two famed writers realised they had read just about every renowned children's book ever produced. Many of these books, too, they adored and read over and over again to their own children, revelling in the utterly timeless joy that is found when children become immersed in a story. But, "what now?" they thought, gazing into the very-full bookshelf of their eldest child. This is when they realised, in the literal heat of Australia's horrendous bushfire season, it was time to start a new realm of a children's books; to introduce a revitalised approach to everything surrounding this time-honoured industry... And so, Ethicool was born. A progressive, passionate, and even polarising brand that has begun to turn this industry on its head. All Ethicool books are sustainably produced, dispatched, and of course, ethically written. But, most of all, Ethicool exists to engage children in the issues that are impacting our planet, and to empower them to make lasting change. Welcome to Ethicool, we're SO glad you're here.
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take me away
Uncle Marlow's Machine tackles the tricky subject of renewable energy, and allows children to imagine ways they can help make a difference by making informed decisions now and into the future. My girls and I enjoyed this book very much, and thank you for another special addition to our home library.
As a Geography teacher of secondary school students, most of my lessons focus on sustainability and provide practical ways to be more sustainable. Secondary students still love picture books and story time and these books are perfect. These books sit proudly in the classroom library where the students are able to read them multiple times. The "fast finishers" love the idea they can, in a matter of minutes, read a whole book and look at the beautiful illustrations, while I love the subtle message and support for diversity. The themes in these books support the messages I am teaching and is a wonderful way to reiterate and reinforce the core values of the classroom in a different form and medium.
Fabulous book
With coal pollution causing known damage to people’s health and acting as a key player in climate change, alternative energy solutions are a big topic! Uncle Marlow’s Machine is honest and clear, its writing style attributing a sense of responsibility to the reader. The illustrations in this story make a real impact. Beautiful green fields contrast with smoky skies and dirty power plants, and this helps to demonstrate the story’s theme.
what an amazing book. This book brings back so many different memories that are so special.
Thank you xo
Love how this book has managed to tie a complex topic into something fun for kids. Nicely done! I'll buy again
A very special story and we loved the illustrations. It's a shame your first allocation of books has sold out though. When are more coming?
Been looking for something like this for a while. My son loved the story! Only suggestion is that you provide more example of the story on your website. Thanks!