It can be difficult to talk with kids about the climate crisis in an uplifting and age appropriate way. Books can help us to educate our kids, instill values, talk about difficult topics, and ultimately bond whilst doing so. Here are five of my favorite books for reading to and inspiring kids (ages 3-12) to live consciously and advocate for the planet.
Gardening Lab for Kids includes interesting activities to encourage a love of nature and a mindset of reusing whenever possible. It helped me to see discarded items in creative ways, as materials to create and inspire, rather than purely as waste. Doing projects that this book suggested helped inspire a deep love of nature in my children, something that is essential in giving kids a reason to want to live more gently.
The Good Garden depicts a family struggling to make ends meet on a small farm. Throughout the year they learn new methods to care for the earth and their soil, and they watch their farm begin to prosper. It illustrates how sometimes what is commonly done is not always what is best, and it shows that when people take care of nature it also takes care of them. In the end the family is comfortable and at peace, and their garden is thriving.
Zero Waste Kids gives many ideas for reusing items and reducing waste. It shares hands-on crafting projects to create beautiful pieces of art, ideas for making changes in larger institutions like schools, and even shares recipes for zero waste snacks. I appreciate the diversity of the activities it shares as well as the diversity of the children it depicts. It gives the impression that everyone can make a difference, regardless of age, race, physical ability, or socioeconomic situation, and that is a beautiful and encouraging thing for children to see.
The Last Straw follows a plastic straw around many different environments. It talks about the harm that litter can do to animals of the land and sea. It depicts many common items like six-pack holders and balloons and shows how their being in nature can cause devastation. It manages to keep things lighthearted and positive, expressing that small changes like refusing single use plastic can make a huge difference to the planet.
Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You A Pie follows a family throughout the growing season. Together, the family forages and harvests food for their meals and also preserves food to enjoy in the winter months. It is clear that the family works with and appreciates the nature around them, taking joy in the process of collecting and cooking their food. The story is grounding, showing how integral food and nature is to life, and how delightful small moments and memories can be.
I hope you and your children enjoy these books as much as my family did.