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2020 has felt like it’s had an odd start, hasn’t it? Unusual weather patterns, BREXIT and now Covid-19 is making for uncertain times.
We try *really* hard not to pass on any of our anxieties about the state of the world to our children; we want their childhood to be worry free! We instead try to engender problem-solving attitudes and help them to see that they can help to engender change in the world around them. With that in mind I’ve shared some of my favourite recent books for children that want to change the world.
The links that follow are affiliate links and some of these books were gifted to us by the publishers. My full disclosure policy can be found here.
Inspirational People
First up I want to share the fantastically great women series of books by Kate Pankhurst. They’re truly superb and the latest one, Fantastically Great Women who Saved the Planet, is a brilliant addition to the series. We like this series a lot here and it’s presented in a really fun and accessible way. Em has been fascinated by Eugenie Clark – who dived with sharks and taught us much about the underwater world. The book is really accessible and each double-page spread is full of information about one great woman. There were many women that I didn’t know in this book and so it’s been a learning curve for me too! We really like doing short projects on people of note, and this book, I am sure, will inspire a new project soon.
Continuing the theme of inspirational women Greta and the Giants is a wonderful picture book about Greta Thunberg which brings her story and the tenacity of Greta’s climate movement to young readers. Through this fictionalised version we can see how one person can have a huge and profound effect. It’s brilliantly done and helps children to see that everyone can have a voice and be part of a movement such as this.
Finally, for inspirational people the book Earth Heroes is great for older readers. This is actually on my ‘to read’ list this year and it’s packed with the stories of those who have dedicated their time to fighting for the earth. Truly inspirational and I have watched as Daniel has dipped in and out of this book, picking up snippets of information as he goes along about these amazing individuals.
Understanding our Worth and Feeling Connected
It’s really easy to feel disconnected in the modern world. For many nature and other lands can feel like a whole other world, but it’s important that children know and understand that their actions and those of others can impact on those around them, often inadvertently. Children can learn about standing up and making a stand for change. The Questioneers series of books is superb and the latest one, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez is excellent at helping children to understand that actions have consequences and the importance of having the courage to make a stand.
Sofia demonstrates that when communities come together, they can initiate and enact change and this is a really powerful idea for children. Knowing that working together makes you stronger is an important message.
Appreciating the Earth
Finally, understanding our earth and appreciating its beauty will really help children to be the change that our Earth so badly needs. In an age when we are told children are ever more removed from nature, getting to grips with its sheer beauty and all that it has to offer helps to foster a better love and appreciation of our world. My Friend Earth is a wonderful new book that shows us the earth as though it was a friend. We travel through seasons and across the world as we look at the many different and beautiful climates and habitats. This is a wonderful book with lovely calming and poetic language and it makes me long to see all the things the author describes and which the illustrator, Francesca Sanna, so beautifully brings to life. This is fast becoming a favourite here.
And, finally, Dear Earth by Isabel Otter and illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi is the perfect book for introducing an earth topic. It’s written as a letter from Tessa after her grandfather tells her all about his adventures. She begins with Dear Earth… and her imagination takes her on a trip around the world, listing all the things she wants to do. At the end of this book there are some facts about the changes to the Earth but also some really practical ways that you can help to protect the earth. I’m planning to look at this soon in more detail with my three as part of a creative writing exercise and get them to pen their own letter to the earth.
