Inspiring climate and environmental books to read with kids

Children and climate change are deeply intertwined. Young people are among those most affected by the environmental crises. They need us to be responsible ancestors, to listen to their voices, include them in conversations and, crucially, to ensure we're not asking them to shoulder the burden alone. It’s understandable there are concerning levels of ecoanxiety for young people and their parents. This reality has sparked passionate conversations about family choices about whether to have children, fewer children, or none at all in the face of climate uncertainty. There are no easy answers.

As a parent, like many others, I think often about how to support our children through these complex times. That means offering age-appropriate, accurate information without overwhelming them. In our family, reading together has always been important and seeking out hopeful, empowering climate stories has become part of that journey. They’re still too rare but, thankfully, are growing in number every year.

Here are our family's favourites:

Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer (age 0-6)

Many parents will recognise the song, but the book adds a powerful visual layer. The illustrations show the little men flying past pollution, traffic, deforestation, oil spills, and landfill sites, bringing gentle environmental awareness to young readers about why the little men in the flying saucer “didn’t like the sight, and [one at a time] flew away”. With cut-out holes in the hardback version for little hands to explore, it’s great for interactive reading. And by the end, when “they really liked the sight… so they decided to stay,” there's a hopeful note that even the youngest of readers can understand.

The trouble with dragons, Debi Gliori (age 2-6)

The dragons in this story multiply, devour resources, make a mess with their toys, and heat up the world with their fiery breath. Seas rise, deserts expand, and the other animals begin to leave. But there's a turning point, the dragons beg the animals not to leave and the animals offer wise advice, requiring change before they will promise to stay: stop chopping down trees, eat locally, protect wild spaces. With its playful tone and sing-song rhymes, it walks the line between serious and silly. One bedtime warning though: the final line (“for if we can’t see that our stories are linked…then sadly, like dragons, we’ll soon be extinct”) might just catch in your throat. That said, the sight of Father Christmas knee-deep in floodwater adds humour and keeps things light.

What did the tree see? Charlotte Guillain and Sam Usher (age 4-8)

This beautifully illustrated book follows an oak tree across the centuries describing what it sees - from hunter-gatherers to medieval villages, to steam trains, motorways, and high-rise buildings. It shows how landscapes and societies have changed around the tree, ending with a new acorn sprouting and the question of what it might see in the future. A gentle way to spark conversation about humanity’s environmental shadow and we can all play in shaping what comes next.

Bright new world – building a better planet. Cindy Forde and Bethany Lord (age 7+)

Vibrant and visionary, this book imagines a future where we've come together to tackle climate change, pollution, and inequality. In this bright new world, nature is thriving, factories purify air, and technology is used for good. Full of real-life innovations and optimistic storytelling, this one will inspire adults as much as kids. A joyful vision of what’s possible with beautiful illustrations.

Future Vision – stories of our brilliant tomorrow. Dr Cathy Rogers and Madeleine Rogers (age 8+)

Another gorgeously illustrated, future-focused book. This one travels to the year 2070 to look back at how we transitioned to sustainable living. With clean energy, green cities, smart homes, and healthy lifestyles, it paints a practical and inspiring picture of what life could be like. It’s grounded in real science and possibility, making it a great read for the whole family, not just the 8–12s it's aimed at.

Whether you have kids in your home or not, the last two books are ones every adult should read at least once. They remind us not only what’s at stake, but also what’s within reach. The future is ours to shape.