Planting Seeds of Change: Integrating Environmental Themes into Children’s Storytime
Onyebuchi Ekpolomo
Chief Librarian at African University of Science & Technology, Abuja, Nigeria. | Leadership and Management | Library Services | Archives Management | Knowledge Management | Content Creator | Reviewer | Policy Strategist
In the gentle hush of a library, where children gather cross-legged in eager anticipation, lies a powerful opportunity to shape the next generation of environmental stewards. Storytime often filled with fairy tales, animals, and adventure can also become a vibrant platform for green literacy. As climate change becomes one of the most pressing issues of our time, libraries around the world are planting seeds of sustainability in young minds through engaging, eco-conscious programming.
Traditionally, storytime in libraries has focused on developing early literacy and imagination. Today, it is evolving to incorporate critical themes like environmental awareness, conservation, and climate action. Whether it’s reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss or One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul, librarians are curating books that make children think about the world beyond their immediate environment. These stories open conversations about nature, responsibility, and positive action without overwhelming young listeners. In Nigeria, for instance, the Children’s Green Library Project, launched in 2022 by the Centre for Earth Works in collaboration with local schools and community libraries, introduced weekly eco-storytime sessions in underserved communities. Librarians and volunteers used storytelling and puppet theatre to teach children about recycling, pollution, and the importance of trees. In the town of Elelenwo, Rivers State, the initiative inspired children to organize community cleanups and tree-planting days.
While public libraries often lead the way in storytime programming, academic libraries are also stepping into the green literacy space sometimes in innovative and inspiring ways. Across Africa, Europe, and the Western world, academic institutions are using storytelling and environmental themes to support outreach and lifelong learning. At the University of Cape Town in South Africa, the library collaborates with the Green Campus Initiative to promote climate education and has supported student-led reading activities that use children’s books with environmental themes to engage local schoolchildren. Similarly, the University of Ibadan Library partners with the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources to host awareness programs that include storytelling, community reading campaigns, and book drives focused on nature and conservation.
In Europe, the University of Edinburgh Library in Scotland hosts exhibitions such as Nature and Knowledge, which spotlight sustainability through historic and children’s literature while offering curated reading kits for families within the university community. In Germany, the Humboldt University Library works with the university’s sustainability office to run “Green Weeks” that include children’s events, using translated eco-literature to make climate education more accessible to diverse audiences. Meanwhile, in North America, Cornell University Library in the United States regularly features green-themed book displays and family reading events during Earth Month. The University of British Columbia in Canada also stands out for its Sustainability Office’s collaboration with the library system to offer child-friendly environmental learning experiences during open campus days.
Beyond reading, integrating hands-on activities into storytime strengthens green literacy and deepens children’s understanding. In South Africa, several libraries have introduced “read and plant” programs, where children listen to stories about trees and gardens before planting seeds in biodegradable pots to take home. This blend of storytelling and action reinforces the message and cultivates a tangible sense of responsibility. In the United Kingdom, the Oxfordshire County Library runs an engaging “Eco Explorers” program, which combines themed storytimes with activities like building bird feeders or crafting with recycled materials. These creative sessions transform environmental learning into joyful, memorable experiences.
One of the ongoing challenges that African libraries face is the limited availability of children’s books that present environmental themes in culturally relevant ways. Fortunately, this gap is narrowing as more local authors and publishers' step forward. For example, Ugo Anidi’s A Tree for the Future tells a relatable Nigerian tale about a community planting and protecting trees. Farida Ado’s Saving Tobi shares the story of a tortoise affected by plastic pollution, encouraging children to care about wildlife and their surroundings. Ngozi Ugochukwu’s Nuzo’s Plastic Problem, set in Lagos, follows a young girl’s effort to reduce plastic waste in her school and neighborhood. These stories not only reflect local environmental realities but also empower young readers to be agents of change.
Other powerful African narratives include The Adventures of Dada the Farmer by Chinenye Chukwuogo, which introduces children to sustainable farming and land care practices. Miranda Paul’s One Plastic Bag, though authored by an American, is based on the real-life work of Isatou Ceesay in The Gambia and is widely used in African literacy programs. Jeanette Winter’s Wangari’s Trees of Peace shares the inspiring story of Kenya’s Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai, and her mission to reforest communities through the Green Belt Movement. From South Africa, Book Dash continues to produce a wide selection of free, open-licensed books such as The Rainy Day and Let’s Have an Inside Day, both of which introduce themes of water conservation and environmental appreciation in language and contexts familiar to African children.
The success of these efforts is often multiplied through partnerships. Libraries are increasingly working with environmental NGOs, schools, and community organizations to host storytimes, establish green reading corners, and organize eco-themed outreach events. In Kenya, for example, the Kenya National Library Service established “Green Corners” in children’s reading rooms with the support of environmental organizations. These spaces are filled with colorful materials books, posters, puzzles, and board games that promote green awareness and spark curiosity.
Green literacy doesn’t require a complete overhaul of library programming. It begins with the conscious selection of stories, creative collaborations, and a willingness to engage the youngest members of our communities in meaningful dialogue about the planet’s future. Whether under the baobab tree in West Africa or within the walls of an academic library in Europe or North America, the mission is the same: to make sustainability not just a topic, but a story every child grows up knowing they are part of.
References
African Storybook. (2023). Children’s Books about the Environment. https://www.africanstorybook.org
Book Dash. (2024). Open Books for Young African Readers. https://bookdash.org
Centre for Earth Works Nigeria. (2022). Children’s Green Library Project. https://earthworksafrica.org
Kenya National Library Service. (2022). Green Corners Initiative. https://www.knls.ac.ke
University of Cape Town Libraries. (2023). Green Campus Partnership. https://www.lib.uct.ac.za
University of Ibadan Library. (2022). Sustainability and Community Engagement Program. https://library.ui.edu.ng
University of Edinburgh Library. (2023). Nature and Knowledge Exhibit. https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services
Humboldt University Library. (2023). Green Literacy Week. https://www.ub.hu-berlin.de
Cornell University Library. (2023). Earth Month Literacy Programs. https://library.cornell.edu
University of British Columbia. (2023). Sustainable Library Operations. https://sustain.ubc.ca
Recommended Green Children’s Books by African and Nigerian Authors
Title
Author
Description
A Tree for the Future
Ugo Anidi (Nigeria)
A story about community tree planting and care. Available via African Storybook.
Saving Tobi
Farida Ado (Nigeria)
A tortoise teaches children about the dangers of plastic pollution.
Nuzo’s Plastic Problem
Ngozi Ugochukwu (Nigeria)
Set in Lagos, a schoolgirl campaigns against plastic waste.
The Adventures of Dada the Farmer
Chinenye Chukwuogo (Nigeria)
Focuses on sustainable farming and environmental care.
One Plastic Bag
Miranda Paul (based on a true story from Gambia)
Inspires recycling and female empowerment in Africa.
Wangari’s Trees of Peace
Jeanette Winter
A tribute to Kenya’s Wangari Maathai and her Green Belt Movement.
The Rainy Day
Book Dash (South Africa)
Teaches water conservation through a child’s perspective.
Let’s Have an Inside Day
Book Dash (South Africa)
Promotes environmental awareness through indoor nature activities.
All Book Dash titles are available free at https://bookdash.org, and African Storybook resources can be found at https://www.africanstorybook.org.
References
African Storybook. (2023). Children’s Books about the Environment. https://www.africanstorybook.org
Book Dash. (2024). Open Books for Young African Readers. https://bookdash.org
Centre for Earth Works Nigeria. (2022). Children’s Green Library Project. https://earthworksafrica.org
Kenya National Library Service. (2022). Green Corners Initiative. https://www.knls.ac.ke
University of Cape Town Libraries. (2023). Green Campus Partnership. https://www.lib.uct.ac.za
University of Ibadan Library. (2022). Sustainability and Community Engagement Program. https://library.ui.edu.ng
University of Edinburgh Library. (2023). Nature and Knowledge Exhibit. https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services
Humboldt University Library. (2023). Green Literacy Week. https://www.ub.hu-berlin.de
Cornell University Library. (2023). Earth Month Literacy Programs. https://library.cornell.edu
University of British Columbia. (2023). Sustainable Library Operations. https://sustain.ubc.ca