Originally published in TEACH Magazine, April 2026 Issue
By Kelsey McCallum
Did you know that over 65% of Canadian and American students report feeling anxious about climate change, and 75% of youth worldwide are frightened for the future? Eco-anxiety is real, and kids are feeling it.
That’s why hope matters. When students see authentic, tangible examples of people taking action—young activists, scientists, and communities creating solutions and fighting against environmental injustice—the climate crisis stops feeling overwhelming and starts feeling solvable.
These 10 books help educate students about the science of climate change, while also introducing them to everyday people all over the world who are working towards a more sustainable planet—and inspiring them to do the same.
Note: For teachers who are looking to do their own reading about climate change, be sure to check out our TEACHer’s Corner segment, featuring recommended books from members of the TEACH team.
Are Glaciers the Key to Climate Change? Discover the Science Behind Glaciology
By Olivia Watson
Illustrated by Daniel Limon
Beetle Books (October 2025)
Grade Level: K–3
This non-fiction text offers young readers an easy introduction to glaciers and the people who study them. It explores questions like: How do glaciers change the shape of Earth? What can they tell us about our planet’s past, present, and future? And many more. The book includes back matter with glacier facts, as well as QR codes that link to downloadable teacher resources.
A Better World Is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis
By Meera Subramanian and Danica Novgorodoff
First Second (March 2026)
Grade Level: 9–12
Environmental journalist Meera Subramanian and best-selling illustrator Danica Novgorodoff have teamed up to create this graphic novel guide to climate change, and what today’s young people are doing about it. Through the stories of four youth activists, readers will learn about the science of our changing planet and what solutions are possible when we all come together to fight for a better world.
Eating to Save the Planet: How Veganism Helps Fight Climate Change
By Anne Broyles
Illustrated by Hannah Li
Holiday House (August 2025)
Grade Level: 3–7
Eating to Save the Planet presents an accessible entry to plant-based diets for middle-grade readers. Its chapters delve into the environmental impact of eating meat and what terms like “vegan” and “plant-based” actually mean, while also encouraging kids to think about where their food comes from, why that matters, and small steps they can take to make a difference. Back matter includes nutritional information and a list of additional resources. A Teacher’s Guide is available as well.
Footeprint: Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women’s Rights
By Lindsay H. Metcalf
Charlesbridge Teen (February 2026)
Grade Level: 7–12
This historical YA novel-in-verse showcases the extraordinary discoveries of Eunice Newton Foote, the first woman to point to carbon dioxide as the cause of climate change—what’s now known as the “greenhouse effect.” When she initially shared her findings in 1865, they were largely ignored. In fact, the discovery of the greenhouse effect is often attributed to John Tyndall, who published his own research paper three years later. But today, Foote is finally getting the credit she deserves, as seen in this empowering story perfect for teens interested in STEM, women’s rights, and the history of the climate crisis.
Let’s Talk Climate Change: Take Action, Be Positive, Love Our Planet
By Ruth Owen
Ruby Tuesday Books (February 2026)
Grade Level: 2–5
In an era where there’s plenty of “doom and gloom” commentary related to the climate crisis, Let’s Talk Climate Change presents an open and honest narrative framed around optimism. After all, the best counter to the eco-anxiety that so many kids are experiencing is to help them understand the science of climate change, as well as what each of us can do to take action.
One Goal: How Soccer Can Help Save the Planet
By Heather Camlot
Illustrated by Drew Shannon
Groundwood Books (April 2026)
Grade Level: 4–7
Publishing just a few months before the 2026 World Cup, One Goal looks at what soccer players, clubs, and fans around the world are doing to build a greener future. Whether by using soccer fields to collect and clean rainwater, making seats from recycled fish nets, or biking to and from games, there are plenty of ways that soccer can chart a path forward for sustainability in sports.
Onward: 16 Climate Fiction Short Stories to Inspire Hope
Edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Charlesbridge (February 2026)
Grade Level: 7–12
This YA anthology gathers the work of sixteen diverse authors who explore possible futures of an Earth shaped by climate change. Told through prose, poetry, and personal essays, and across a wide variety of genres—including fantasy, science fiction, and thriller—each story offers compelling characters fighting for their future as they navigate a changing world. The book also includes a section on ways to support mental health and manage eco-anxiety. Be sure to check out the accompanying climate action resources page, as well as the Discussion Guide.
Our Home, Our Only Home
By Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Sophie Diao
Candlewick Press (March 2026)
Grade Level: K–2
Our Home is a rallying cry for current and future generations to reconnect with our planet. Marion Dane Bauer presents a poetic timeline of humanity, from the ice age to the industrial age, while also outlining our responsibility for the climate crisis. Although her poetry calls forth the seriousness of the climate emergency, it also shares ways we can all take action to protect our one and only home.
What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change
By Karen Tam Wu
Illustrated by Bithi Sutradhar
Orca Book Publishers (August 2025)
Grade Level: 4–6
In this middle-grade STEM book, readers will learn about revolutionary ways that people around the world are reusing and repurposing garbage. From turning food scraps into fuel, to converting old clothes into reusable fabric, to making a new kind of plastic from seaweed, there are plenty of creative projects that are using garbage to help save the planet.
World Without Birds: How to Save Our Planet, One Bird at a Time
By Nick Lund
Illustrated by Asia Orlando
Workman Kids (March 2026)
Grade Level: 5–12
Written by Nick Lund of the National Audubon Society, this book shares the true story of birds—their beauty and uniqueness, the important roles they play in nature, and the challenges to their survival. Through a combination of climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species, birds are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. World Without Birds offers an in-depth exploration of these factors contributing to their loss, what our planet would look like without birds, and, ultimately, what we can do to protect them.
TEACHer’s Corner
What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures
By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
One World (September 2024)
I prefer to read climate books that aren’t all doom and gloom, but that actually address possible solutions and look at what a better future could hold for us. In What If We Get It Right?, author and climate activist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson delivers exactly that. The book is told through a curated collection of essays, poems, and interviews, and features climate activists, reporters, changemakers, and a whole host of other guests who are involved in the climate movement in one way or another—such as Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm; Paola Antonelli, curator at the Museum of Modern Art; and Bill McKibben, the co-founder of 350.org.
I’d highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which includes the actual recorded audio from each interview. If you’re looking for more climate-positive content, Dr. Johnson also has an ongoing podcast that serves as a continuation of the book.
—Kelsey McCallum, Associate Editor at TEACH Magazine
Other impactful books on climate change
Kelsey McCallum is an Associate Editor for TEACH Mag. She holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and a Graduate Certificate from Centennial College. She currently lives in Toronto, ON, with her partner and their cat, Banksy.
