13 books for climate-conscious children and teens

In “The Parents’ Guide to Climate Revolution,” author Mary DeMocker lays out 100 approaches to cultivating a climate-conscious and empowered family. One way is to get kids reading. These are DeMocker’s favorite books for inspiring and motivating youths into action.

>> Mary DeMocker: How to raise the next generation of planet protectors

For children 12 and under

“Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles” by Phillippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson

This story teaches children what a powerful difference young people can make in the world. The books ends with a message of advice to young activists from activist-author Phillippe Cousteau.

“One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia” by Miranda Paul

One plastic bag can break into hundreds of pieces of trash, but what if that bag were turned into something beautiful instead? This is the story of a girl in Gambia who finds a unique solution to her village’s plastic bag problem.

“The Lorax“ by Dr. Suess

Since 1971, The Lorax, who speaks for the trees, has been teaching children about the dangers of a culture that consumes until there is nothing left.

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” by William Kamkwamba

This is the true story of a young boy who built a windmill with tractor and bicycle parts to bring energy and water to his drought and hunger-stricken community in Malawi.

“Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story” by Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to integrate into a white school in 1960. This is her story, written for children, in her words.

“Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay” by Susan Hood

This is the true story about the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. It began when people in an impoverished village near a trash heap wanted to find a way to make music. Today the orchestra plays concerts around the world with its instruments made from trash.

“Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet” by Harriet Rohmer

The true stories of 12 North Americans who fought to protect the environment and won, including youths in Ohio and Rhode Island.

For teens

“We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement that Restores the Planet” by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

The 17-year-old leader of the group Earth Guardians shares his story and lays out effective activism strategies in this new book.

“The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods” by Julia Hill

Hill writes about her experience in 1997, when she climbed into a Redwood tree to save it from logging that was destroying old-growth forests.

“I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban” by Malala Yousafzai

When Malala was 15, she stood up to the Taliban, refusing to give up her right to an education. She nearly paid for that decision with her life but lived to inspire youths around the world ever since.

“Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March” by Lynda Blackmon Lowery

Lowery was the youngest person to march from Selma to Montgomery in the 1965 voting rights march with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is her story as she told it.

"Drawdown," edited by Paul Hawken

“Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” edited by Paul Hawken

This book is full of innovative solutions to global warming, from agricultural practices and green energy to cultural changes and emerging science. This book shows that reining in greenhouse gases is possible, and we already know how to do it. (ALSO IN STREET ROOTS: ‘Drawdown’: The plan to save the world from climate change)

“March” by John Lewis

This trilogy of books written by political icon and civil rights activist John Lewis offers younger generations his perspective as a young activist in the 1950s and 1960s, putting a human face on the historic events they’ve read about in their textbooks. (ALSO IN STREET ROOTS: Rep. John Lewis: From Selma to Congress)