Climate and Environmental Books for Children
Here are five books to help children understand climate change and the environment. They make great holiday gifts.
The narrator states, "I take care of the earth because I know I can do little things every day to make a BIG difference." Parr then offers a practical catalog of simple activities easily managed by even quite young children, followed by clear explanations of how those simple things can have a large impact on the health of our planet. "I use both sides of the paper and bring my own bags to market because…I love the trees and I want the owls to have a place to live." The book is "printed with recycled materials and nontoxic soy inks." The vibrantly colored cartoons with heavy black outlines resemble those a child might create. Useful as an introduction to the subject, this is a bright and cheerful presentation.
This environmental book will teach young ecologists about how our actions affect planet Earth. Discover shocking facts about the waste we produce and where it goes. Did you know that every single plastic toothbrush ever made still exists? Or that there's a floating mass of garbage twice the size of Texas drifting around the Pacific Ocean?
From acclaimed picture book creator Jeanette Winter comes the urgent and powerful story of Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old climate activist who has sparked a worldwide student movement and is demanding action from world leaders who refuse to address climate change.
When she was fifteen years old, Greta Thunberg’s teacher explained to her class that our climate is changing—the earth is getting warmer, the polar ice caps are melting, and life on earth is threatened. Greta was devastated. What could she do? If the grown-ups weren’t doing enough to save the planet, Greta would have to demand change herself.
So she went on strike, skipping school every Friday to sit outside of the Swedish Parliament building with a sign that read “School Strike for Climate.” At first, Greta was the only one. But gradually, more and more students joined her, until her lone protest had sparked a worldwide student movement for action on climate change.
Extinct: An Illustrated Exploration of Animals That Have Disappeared
A gorgeously illustrated tribute to animals that no longer live on our planet, paired with information on how we can save future species.
This exploration of animals that we have lost over the past century, from the California grizzly to the Persian tiger, aims to create awareness and inspire children to act responsibly toward their environment. Each animal's story of how it came to extinction is told through graphically stunning illustrations and information packed spreads. Further scientific resources and profiles of animals that have been rediscovered or successfully reintroduced into the wild empower children with the knowledge and tools necessary to aid in conservation and encourage sustainability.
Celebrate nature with Dr. Seuss and the Lorax in this classic picture book about protecting the environment!
I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.
Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to speak up and stand up for those who can’t. With a recycling-friendly “Go Green” message, The Lorax allows young readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted, all in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.
Tom Copeland - www.tomcopelandblog.com
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Climate_March_1665_(34368547795).jpg
