Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals through children’s books

The U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (or Global Goals) are a list of goals adopted by all United Nations Countries which aim to create a better and more sustainable future for everyone by 2030. Learning about the Global Goals offers children opportunities to develop their sense of global citizenship, become responsible citizens and take positive action in their local community. To find out more including reading about each specific goal see the Sustainable Development Goals website(this link will open in a new window).

In this list, we’ve gathered some of our favourite children’s books to prompt discussion about the Global Goals, strengthening children’s understanding and empathy. As with all our resources, we advise that you read any books before using it with your class and use your judgement about whether it is appropriate for the children you work with.

Kathryn White Rachael Dean Home for Grace

One day, Jess and her mum strike up a conversation with Grace, an unhoused woman who lives in their community. When Grace tells her story, they learn about the both the experience of being unhoused and Grace’s journey as a refugee. Told with compassion and empathy, you could use this picture book to explore the following goals: Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16: Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions

Tom Percival The Wrong Shoes

This illustrated chapter book follows Will, a young boy who lives with his dad. When his dad loses his work, and there’s no sick pay, Will and his father have to navigate living in poverty. Written with empathy, this story reflects the reality of living in poverty and the long-term impact it has. Importantly, it doesn’t advocate for charity, but justice - by tackling the root causes of poverty. The Wrong Shoes is an excellent text for exploring: Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 3: Good Health And Wellbeing and Goal 8: Decent Work And Economic Growth

Andrea Beaty David Roberts Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

After Sofia’s Abeulo is injured by local landfill, Sofia decides something has to be done to improve her local area. Working with her community, she comes up with the idea for a park, eventually going to City Hall to advocate for community space that is cleaner, greener and more connected. This playful rhyming picture book is a fun way to explore: Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communites

Kerascoët Malala Yousafzai Malala's Magic Pencil

Written by education activist Malala Yousafzai, this picture book follows Malala when she was growing up in Pakistan. As a child, Malala wished for a magic pencil that she could use to redraw the world. As she grows up, she wants to draw all children as equals – including giving girls the right to go to school. Eventually, Malala realises that whilst she cannot have a magic pencil, there are other ways she can advocate for change across the world. This picture book is an excellent exploration of both Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 5: Gender Inequality

Carole Lindstrom Michaela Goade We Are Water Protectors

Inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in America, this picture book follows a young Ojibwe girl who is fighting against the building of an oil pipeline which would destroy her community’s water supply. Exploring folklore, community and eco-activism, this picture book is a rich exploration how marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by environmental damage. This is an excellent text for developing pupils’ understanding of Goal 6: Clean Water And Sanitation, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production

Varsha Bajaj Thirst

This chapter book follows Minni, a young girl living in Mumbai, where there is limited access to clean water. When her mother becomes sick from drinking unclean water, Minni has to take her place in the queue for water, often making her late for school. To make matters worse, the water mafia are stealing this precious commodity, making it harder for everyone to access it. This book is rich with prompts for exploring various goals, including Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 6: Clean Water And Sanitation, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

Debasmita Dasgupta Lakshmi Thamizhmani Ganesha Goes Green

Whilst getting ready for Ganesha Chaturthi festival, Prema discovers that her town’s tradition of placing plaster statues of Ganesha in the river is polluting the water. With her friends, she comes up with the idea of creating natural clay statues instead. Throughout the story, Prema faces obstacles to her eco-activism but persists through problem-solving and resilience. This picture book also promotes taking local action for global issues, in Prema’s case, tying into Goal 6: Clean Water And Sanitation and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production

Alastair Chisholm Reek

This illustrated dyslexia-friendly chapter book is set in a future Scotland after “the Reek”: a cloud of pollution that is poisoning the world’s air. Sparrow must work as a courier to earn enough money to buy fresh oxygen for her family. This accessible read is excellent for prompting discussion about what we want Scotland’s future to look like, both for its citizens and its environment. Reek provides opportunities to explore various goals, including Goal 7: Affordable And Clean Energy, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities and Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production

Annabel Wright Babs Nicgriogair What Starts Here Stops Here

In this beautifully illustrated pamphlet picture book, a Glaswegian robin is accidentally blown back in time. Learning about Scotland’s history from the industrial revolution to the present day, Robin begins to understand the connections between colonialism and climate change and what needs to be done to make Scotland fairer, more just and greener for all. Written as an extended poem, this pamphlet advocates for hope and imagining a better future and provides excellent exploration of Goal 7: Affordable And Clean Energy, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production and Goal 13: Climate Action

Aya Ghanameh These Olive Trees

Set in 1960s Palestine, this picture book follows Oraib, a young girl who loves the olive trees that grow around the refugee camp she lives on. She tells us about how her and her mother pick the olives and turn them into olive oil and soap. However, when war forces Oraib and her family to leave the refugee camp, Oraib must say goodbye to the olive trees, hoping one day she will return. Inspired by a true story, this picture book provides meaningful opportunities to discuss the connections between Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Chloe Daykin Fire Girl, Forest Boy

This fast-paced chapter book follows Maya, a young Scottish girl who travels to Peru with her scientist dad. When he goes missing, Maya meets Raul, a young boy whose family were forced to leave their village due to dangerous and illegal logging. Together, the two of them work to uncover the illegality of the logging corporation’s actions and their corruption. This book is a page-turning read about destruction and greed and its impact on both wildlife and natural spaces as well as indigenous communities. We think it’s an excellent text to support learning about Goal 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production and Goal 15: Life on Land

Adelina Lirius Anna Taylor Loll Kirby Old Enough to Save the Planet

This beautiful large-format non-fiction book introduces readers to children just like them who have taken action to make the planet a better place. From Ella and Amy, who advocate for the elimination of single use plastics, to Eunita who educates about the importance of bees and other pollinators. We love how this book highlights that no one is too young to make a difference in their community, and that acting locally can have global consequences. This book would be excellent for exploring Goal 12: Responsible Consumption And Production and Goal 13: Climate Action

Dapo Adeola Nathan Bryon Rocket Says Clean Up!

When visiting her grandparents in Jamaica, Rocket is horrified to discover the impact of pollution on the island, littering the beach and hurting the local wildlife. Working with the local community, Rocket organises a beach clean-up. This bright picture book also includes facts about marine pollution, making it an excellent text to explore: Goal 11: Sustainable Cities And Communities, Goal 14: Life Below Water and Goal 17: Partnership For The Goals