Parrot Trivia: Why do parakeets and lorikeets have "keet" in their name? Read to the end to find the answer.

This month's Roots & Shoots Book Club selection follows the journey of a young lorikeet who is named after the sound he likes to make: "Sreeeeeeeet." In Here, There and Everywhere: The Story of Sreeeeeeeet the Lorikeet, by Mira Tweti, a young bird is taken from his happy home in New Guinea and brought to a pet shop in New York City, where life is not as happy for him.

"In Here, There and Everywhere," Dr. Jane writes in the book's foreword, "we can feel, through the experiences of its hero, Sreeeeeeeet, the excitement and joy of learning to fly, taking showers in the rain, feeding, grooming and playing with his family and friends. And we share his anguish when he is cruelly snatched away, imprisoned and misunderstood."

Endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BirdLife International, Here, There and Everywhere deals with issues of animal welfare and the commercial pet trade.

The book is appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12, and children as young as three will enjoy listening to the story. With Lisa Brady's whimsical illustrations and the story's frequent giggle-inducing mentions of parrot poop, this book is definitely a kid-pleaser.

Once you've read the book, here are some ideas for taking action:

• Learn more about parrots. You could even watch a parrot movie. Share your findings on the Roots & Shoots Discussion Boards.
• Once you know what parrots look like, draw one and enter it in the "Parrot of the Month" drawing contest. Get inspired by checking out the contest art gallery. Younger kids can color a parrot.
• Find out where in the world parrots live, and search for Roots & Shoots groups there.
• One of the book's readers was inspired to write "Song for Sreeeeeeeet." Sing along and, if you're feeling creative, compose your own song!
• If you want to help parrots like Sreeeeeeeet, you could sponsor a rescued parrot or a wild parrot. Learn more about how to help through the Indonesian Parrot Project. Once you've taken action, be sure to submit a Project Report.
• Have you discovered the bird-lover in you? Find more bird projects by doing a keyword search for "bird" in the Project Database.

Parrot Trivia Answer: "Keet" means long tail, which parakeets and lorikeets both have.

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