Children’s book serves as Lennon’s tribute to mother

NEW YORK — With a little help from a white feather, Julian Lennon is seeking to nurture a new generation’s commitment to the environment.

The firstborn son of the late John Lennon has co-written “Touch the Earth,” a picture book for kids as young as 3 about the world’s water problems — from polluted oceans to the need for clean drinking water in the developing world.

The book features a group of kids loaded into a plane called the White Feather Flier as they span the globe and learn about the need for filtration, irrigation and ocean-life protection.

The first of three children’s books Lennon plans — featuring illustrations created both by hand and computer — is in line with the environmental and humanitarian work of his White Feather Foundation.

“We’ve failed miserably in looking after our environment,” he said during a recent interview. “I think this is a great way to approach children into realizing what’s at stake, and to help educate and help them make decisions about the right things to do for the future. It’s for those with inquiring minds who are asking ‘Why?’ “

Lennon has taken on environmental issues in song (including in his 1991 “Saltwater”) and in film (including in the 2006 documentary “Whaledreamers,” covering a gathering of indigenous and tribal leaders at which connections among whales, dolphins and humanity are explored).

Appealing to the next generation of prospective eco-warriors grew out of his friendship with co-writer Bart Davis after the two put aside plans — for now — for the 54-year-old Lennon to write a biography.

Still, he hasn’t completely abandoned the idea.

“I feel time’s marching on, you know,” Lennon said. “A lot of my friends and people I know are popping their clogs. You know, who knows what’s next. It’s in the cards in the next few years, absolutely — before it’s too late.”

So what’s up with the white feather for Lennon, the son of the former Beatle and his first wife, Cynthia? He shares the story at the back of the book.

“On the odd occasion when I saw Dad, he mentioned once that should he ever pass, a way he would let me know that he was OK, or that we were all going to be OK, would be in the form of a white feather,” Lennon explained. “I thought that quite peculiar. I told Mum about it, too, and we just sort of went on with life.”

Later, while on tour in Australia, he was presented with a white swan feather by an aboriginal tribal elder of the Mirning people.

“It was a freaky moment, but one I took to heart immediately,” he said. “I realized that this was about stepping up to the plate now — and, you know, I can sing all I want about this stuff, but am I actually going to do something about it? So I spent 10 years making a documentary about the Mirning people.”

That’s also when he established his foundation, visiting Ethiopia with the head of a clean-water initiative and touring schools and health clinics in Kenya.

A portion of the book’s proceeds will go the foundation, which now does a range of work, including providing scholarships for girls in Kenya.

Lennon’s father was fatally shot in 1980. His mother died two years ago of cancer at 75. Her loss remains tender. Lennon dedicates the book to Cynthia, and he established the Kenya scholarships in her name.

“I talk to her every night, pretty much,” Lennon said. “She has given me the strength to carry on. Where I’m at, at the moment, I feel very strong, very Zen-like. I just want to do the right thing — to try to continue to be the best that I can be.

“That was all based around wanting to make her proud.”

“Touch the Earth” (Sky Pony, 40 pages, $17.99) by Julian Lennon, left