By Antonio Brown | Contributor
Reflecting on the recent storms and the impact of climate crisis in our community, I cannot help but view it through my own experiences, values, and the work I do in my community.
Leading the Competitive Readers Coalition Inc. (formerly The Barbershop Book Club) I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of bringing people together for a shared purpose.
Just as we gather to promote literacy and empower young minds, we must also unite to address the threats posed by climate change.
The fight against climate change is not just about reducing emissions or saving polar bears; it’s about protecting the lives, health, and futures of the people we care about.
The communities that are often hit the hardest by climate change are those that are already vulnerable—particularly Black and Brown communities, who face socioeconomic and systemic challenges that make them more susceptible to its impacts.
Rising sea levels, extreme heatwaves, flooding, and storms do not just damage homes and infrastructure; they deepen inequalities and threaten the stability of entire neighborhoods.
In these moments, I am reminded of the literacy crisis I work to address—how both issues require targeted, community-focused solutions that uplift the most affected and empower them to take action.
One of the most powerful ways to combat both climate change and the literacy crisis is through education and reading. Just as I strive to help young boys of color fall in love with reading, we must inspire them to care about the world around them.
The knowledge shared through children’s books can empower young readers to understand their place in the world and how they can impact it.
When we teach our youth about the environment and the consequences of their actions, we plant seeds of responsibility and hope for a better future.
In my work, I’ve seen how young minds can be transformed by stories—how they can see themselves in characters, learn from their struggles, and dream of new possibilities.
Imagine if we could use that same passion to teach them about the environment, about the effects of climate change, and about how they can be agents of change?
When children are armed with both the knowledge of their history and an understanding of science, they become unstoppable forces for good in their communities.
I’ve always believed that small, consistent actions can lead to significant change. Whether it’s a book club session that sparks a young boy’s interest in reading or a conversation that opens his mind to new ideas, I’ve seen how the smallest moments can have the most profound impact.
This philosophy applies to climate change as well. When we teach our youth that their choices matter, we cultivate a generation ready to fight for their future.
We may not all be scientists or policymakers, but each of us has the power to make a difference. We must encourage young people, especially those in vulnerable communities, to recognize their power and to act on it.
The young people we inspire today will be the leaders, scientists, policymakers, and activists of tomorrow. We must also help them understand the importance of environmental stewardship.
Here are eight books about climate change, sustainability, and community empowerment to share with young people to continue – or start – this important conversation.
- City Green Hardcover – Picture Book, August 15, 1994 by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan (Author, Illustrator)
- One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet Paperback – Illustrated, April 7, 2020 by Anuradha Rao (Author)
- Old Enough to Save the Planet: A Board Book (Changemakers) Hardcover – Picture Book, February 9, 2021 by Loll Kirby (Author), Adelina Lirius (Illustrator)
- Kenya’s Art by Linda Trice (Author), Hazel Mitchell (Illustrator)
- Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson (Author), Sonia Lynn Sadler (Illustrator)
- One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia Hardcover – Picture Book, by Miranda Paul (Author), Elizabeth Zunon (Illustrator)
- We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow (Author), Bob Staake (Illustrator)
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Young Readers Edition) by William Kamkwamba (Author), Bryan Mealer (Author),
Addressing climate change is not just a scientific challenge; it is a call for us to rethink how we live, how we treat each other, and how we interact with the planet. It is a call to act with empathy, to lift up those who are most affected, and to build a future that is better than our past.
