Raising Changemakers: How NABU Books Teach Kids About the Environment and Society

In communities across Africa, Asia and beyond, children are opening books that don’t just teach them to read, they teach them to care. Whether learning about ocean pollution, deforestation, or inclusion, these young readers are discovering that their voices and their choices can shape the future of their environment and society. As we mark World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, and World Albinism Day, we are reminded that raising awareness about our planet starts with the stories we tell.

Literacy is more than a foundational skill; it’s a catalyst for awareness, empathy, and action. By creating and distributing culturally relevant, mother-tongue books that address real-world issues, we are nurturing a generation of informed, compassionate, and empowered children. In a time when global challenges like climate change, biodiversity, and social exclusion affect even the youngest lives, it’s never too early to start building environmental and social consciousness, one story at a time.

Why Children Need Social and Environmental Awareness Stories

The UN Environment Programme reports that over 1 billion children are at "extremely high risk" due to climate impacts. The UNESCO Ocean Literacy Initiative reveals that only 1 in 5 children can explain how human behaviour affects the sea. Meanwhile, children with albinism across Africa face discrimination, stigma, and, in some cases, life-threatening violence rooted in myths and misinformation.

These are not distant, adult problems but are also children’s realities and to change them, we must start early by shifting hearts, minds, and habits.

The NABU Approach

NABU creates free, high-quality children’s books in underserved languages, combining educational value with engaging storytelling. Through vibrant characters and culturally relevant narratives, these books gently introduce topics like environmental conservation, inclusion, empathy, and identity.

• Accessible on low-data mobile app and web reader
• Written and illustrated by local creators
• Available in over 40 languages, including Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Yoruba, Tagalog, and Romanian

The result? Children across Kenya, Rwanda, the Philippines, Nigeria, and beyond are discovering their place in a much larger world and realizing they have the power to change it.

Here are just a few examples from NABU’s books on social and environmental awareness

• Tahidi saves her coral reef: When Tala discovers her favourite beach covered in trash, she takes action, rallying her friends to clean up and educate their village. This story teaches ocean stewardship, recycling, and grassroots community action.

• Abi and the little mermaid: This story follows Abi, a young girl who lives with her fisherman father. One day by the sea, she meets Lora, a kind mermaid, and they become close friends. They share stories, play, and explore the ocean together. When Lora suddenly stops showing up, Abi feels sad but their joyful reunion reminds her that true friendship endures, even with distance and change.

• The Sea is our Home: This delightful journey follows Didi and his sister as they learn about bees, wildflowers, and the importance of pollination. A fun, fact-filled look at biodiversity and interdependence.

• The Grassies and the Plastic Guzzler: Another bilingual children's story that follows the quirky Grassy family on an exciting environmental adventure. When their beloved city is overwhelmed by plastic waste, the family discovers a magical machine called the Plastic Guzzler- an invention that gobbles up plastic and turns it into useful things. As the Grassies learn how the machine works, they also learn important lessons about recycling, reducing waste, and protecting the planet. Through funny mishaps, teamwork, and creative solutions, they inspire their neighbors to take action and transform their town into a clean, green, and joyful place. The story is told in both Romanian and English.

• The Healing Leaf: A beautiful story of discovery, kindness, and courage. Marta learns that a rare red leaf at the edge of a distant forest can heal her sick mother; she sets out alone, armed only with bread, water, and hope. Along the way, her kindness to animals is repaid in the most unexpected way, reminding us that compassion always finds its way back.

• The Plant Nursery: A book about twin sisters Ramona and Bianca, who, with the help of friends and family, learn about climate change and take action by creating a tree nursery to save their drying garden and inspire their village.

• Stand out like Lulu: Stand Out Like Lulu is a story for every child who has ever felt different. It reminds us that you don’t need to fit in to be proud of who you are. It encourages confidence, embraces diversity, and helps change how children with albinism are seen and treated.

We Are Just Getting Started

Despite progress, many children across Africa and beyond still face significant challenges: they lack access to age-appropriate books in their own languages; grow up in polluted or deforested environments with limited environmental education; face stigma due to race, ability, or differences such as albinism; and miss opportunities to lead change because of persistent literacy barriers.

Want to help us reach more children?

• Watch read-alouds at YouTube.com/@ReadWithNABU
• 💌 Donate to support development of future environmental and social awareness stories
• 🤝 Partner with us to co-create or distribute these vital books, contact us via info@nabu.org