Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination

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John Morrill
Director

Department Resources

Planet-Friendly Pages: Books for Every Reader

Post written by Emily Bohr, Outreach Specialist, OEEC and Fairfax County Public Library’s Technical Operations Team
 
August 9 is Book Lovers Day! In celebration, the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination team wants to appreciate the power of books with you! One of the most important topics is the impact of climate change and the need for solutions and collective action. We never miss an opportunity to promote the Fairfax County Public Library and there are many books available that explore these important topics in engaging and accessible ways. 

collage of book covers featured in the blog

In this post, we'll take a closer look at small sample of the climate-focused books available to Fairfax County residents of all ages. Whether you're an adult looking for sustainable opportunities in everyday life, a young adult who craves knowledge about those who are leading the climate movement, or a child who is just starting to show an interest in the environment, we have the book for you! 
 
Sign up for a FREE library card for Fairfax County Public Library! You can apply online or in person at your favorite branch location.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Change Is in the Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us

Author: Debbie Levy

The Earth is facing a climate crisis that it can't fight on its own. Luckily, the Earth has another important power: the power of people! And people have the power to change, protect, innovate, and invent. Thanks to the power of nature and the ingenuity of people, change is in the air!

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Good Food, Bad Waste: Let's Eat for the Planet

Author: Erin Silver

Around the world, a billion tons of food gets thrown away every year, even while hundreds of millions of people go hungry. A lot of what we don't eat ends up rotting in landfills, which creates methane and contributes to the climate crisis. The good new is that many governments, communities and individuals — like you — are working hard to tackle this giant problem.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Ancient Ice : What Glaciers Reveal About Climate Change

Author: Golriz Golkar

Glaciers have been around for a long time. Many formed at the end of the last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. Since then, they have shaped Earth's landscape, helped cool the planet, and provided living things with fresh water — all while weathering changes in Earth's climate. Studying glaciers can tell us a lot about how Earth's climate has shifted over time, how human activities are impacting the climate, and what might occur in the future. Packed with information, vibrant photos, and hands-on activities, this book helps students learn about glaciers, how they're changing, and what that might mean for the planet's future.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Climate Is Just the Start

Author: Mikaela Loach

Climate is Just the Start is a hopeful and empowering guide for kids on how to STOP climate change and START building a better world — from rising-star activist Mikaela Loach. It's easy to see news about the climate crisis and feel powerless to stop it. But there's another way of looking at things. Mikaela offers an inspiring and optimistic road map toward a brighter future for everyone! Using stories from her life and work, Mikaela explains the climate crisis and how it connects with other social issues.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Green Homes

Author: Felicia Brown

Small changes over the years — from smarter light bulbs to energy-efficient appliances — have made our homes more environmentally friendly. In recent years we have learned how to make alternative energies and Earth-friendly building methods and materials a reality. Today we understand how to build green homes — dwellings that have zero negative impact on the environment. Green Homes will show you how.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

How to Change Everything: The Young Human's Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other

Author: Naomi Klein

An empowering, engaging young readers guide to understanding and battling climate change from the expert and bestselling author of This Changes Everything and On Fire, Naomi Klein. Warmer temperatures. Fires in the Amazon. Superstorms. These are just some of the effects of climate change that we are already experiencing. The good news is that we can all do something about it. A movement is already underway to combat not only the environmental effects of climate change but also to fight for climate justice and make a fair and livable future possible for everyone.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Climate in Crisis : Changing Coastlines, Severe Storms, and Damaging Drought

Author: Carla Mooney

Readers 12 to 15 discover how climate change is affecting the human population — from extreme weather and rising coastlines to new migration patterns and disease — through real-life stories and a deep examination of the science driving the phenomenon.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

The Uninhabitable Earth (Adapted for Young Adults): Life After Warming

Author: David Wallace-Wells

An exploration of the devastating effects of global warming — how the future will look to those living through it as well as a direct overview and an impassioned and hopeful call to action to change the trajectory while there is still time. Adapted for young adults.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Girls Who Green the World: Thirty-Four Rebel Women Out to Save Our Planet

Author: Diana Kapp

Learn about the modern environmental movement featuring 34 inspiring women working to save our planet. Part biography, part guidebook to the contemporary environmental movement, this book is the perfect gift for future and current activists and changemakers! 

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Climate Champions: 15 Women Fighting for Your Future (Women of Power)

Author: Rachel Sarah

These 15 contemporary climate champions are on the frontlines of science to create a sustainable future on Earth. They are climate scientists, journalists, professors, academics, researchers, and policy makers from around the world who draft policies with real-world impact, run science labs to find new answers to old problems, and lead organizations at the forefront of change.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

ADULT BOOKS

The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street

Author: Mike Tidwell

Based in the DMV area! Author and activist Mike Tidwell decided to keep a record for a full year of the growing impacts of climate change on his one urban block right on the border with Washington, DC. A love letter to the magnificent oaks and other trees dying from record heat waves and bizarre rain, Tidwell's story depicts the neighborhood's battle to save the trees and combat climate change.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

The New Sustainable House: Planet-Friendly Home Design

Author: Penny Craswell

A showcase of twenty-five houses from across the globe offering creative solutions for planet-friendly home design. Designing with the environment in mind is not new. What is new is the increasing number of ways houses can be more sustainably built. With a fresh focus on design ingenuity and innovative technologies and materials, The New Sustainable House demonstrates that there is more to ecologically motivated construction than solar panels and water tanks.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Surviving Extreme Weather: The Complete Climate Change Preparedness Manual

Author: Mykel Hawke

The world has changed and impacts of global warming means weather events like extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes, and droughts are now being felt by all of us. In Surviving Extreme Weather, authors share their expert knowledge and personal experiences while offering valuable insights into the science behind our new weather and how to apply situational awareness, preparedness, and psychology to survive.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

101 Tips for a Zero-Waste Kitchen

Author: Kathryn Kellogg

In America, more than 20 percent of all food waste comes from residential kitchens. Here's how you can make a difference right now. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they don't eat. It's time to make better choices that can make your kitchen routines better for the planet, more manageable, and even more enjoyable.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

A Kind Life: Eat Plants, Buy Less, Slow Down—and Save the Planet

Author: Carina Wohlleben

What does it mean to live a kind life? In this inspiring book, a mother-of-two provides a blueprint for how she and her family adopted a plant-based lifestyle, sharing the eye-opening facts that convinced her they needed to make a change.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

At Home with Nature: A Guide to Sustainable, Natural Landscaping

Author: John Gidding

American homeowners will find thorough blueprints to reap these benefits and bring their dream garden to life. Complete with specific information for every U.S. bioregion, a glossary of native plants, illustrated yard renderings and photos, and detailed explanations of suburban codes, this book has examples and techniques to build responsible natural spaces.

LINK TO LIBRARY LISTING

Which book are you most interested in checking out? While you’re visiting your favorite library branch, consider checking out a Thermal Imaging Camera, a device that connects to your phone to allow you to see where you might have leaky outlets, drafty doors, or missing insulation in your home. Once you identify the problem areas, you can also check out a Conserve (Energy) Kit, a kit that includes tools and consumables to help you seal air leaks around doors and windows. Get these items and more from the Fairfax County Library of Things!

Looking for more books? Check out our past Book Lovers library reading lists!

headshot of woman wearing green shirt and dark hair
Emily Bohr has served as OEEC's outreach specialist since 2022, supporting the office’s communications and public outreach. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from George Mason University and recently completed NASA's Earth to Sky course, gaining a deeper knowledge of climate communication.library logo

 

The Technical Operations team of Fairfax County Public Library includes staff who select, catalog and process new titles for the library collection.

 

Climate Matters is the blog of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, where we share stories, insights and information related to climate change and environmental sustainability. Posts are written by knowledgeable and passionate OEEC staff members and guest authors. To read all blog posts, visit Climate Matters.

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