Our family doesn't understand why the climate crisis plays such a big factor in our life choices, especially now that they come more into contact with them due to our one-year-old daughter.
They, of course, know that climate change exists, but they don't seem to understand the severity and don't let it impact their own choices.
We would like them to understand the impact the climate crisis will have on the future of our daughter.
Our idea is to have our daughter hand out books as Christmas gifts to help build this understanding. Since it's hard to convince them to read a non-fiction book about the climate crisis, we're looking for personalized books for each of them.
Below is a list of the books we're currently considering. I'm posting this here to get feedback and recommendations from people who've read relevant books, and possibly to inspire others to take similar action in their families.
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Our Current Considerations
- For both grandmothers who are avid novel readers: We're thinking about Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, which apparently conveys the feeling of loss for the declining natural world well, and is available in their native language.
- For the grandfather who works in agriculture/agriscience: We're thinking about Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet by George Monbiot. I read this one myself and believe it is balanced enough to speak to him. It is also available in his native language.
- For the godfather who only reads fantasy: We're thinking of The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, which apparently centers around environmental catastrophe.
- For the godfather who is not really an avid reader, but is quite open-minded and has a young daughter of his own: We're thinking of The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells. It's quite short and brings a strong message.
Other Books We Considered
- The High House by Jessie Greengrass, but it is not available in our native language.
- Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope by Joëlle Gergis. I read this one and it really brings home the impact the climate crisis will have on the life of our daughter, but I don't think it's accessible enough for them.
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, but I'm afraid the religious side would put the grandfather off.
- Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey by James Rebanks, but I don't think it's balanced enough to convince the grandfather.
- Hot Mess: What on earth can we do about climate change? by Matt Winning, for the godfather who is not an avid reader, but I'm afraid it would stay too much on the surface.
- This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein, clearly lays out the problem with Business As Usual, but is probably too dense for them.
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Curious to hear your thoughts.
by Robbmeisterr