2nd & 3rd Grade

Berkeley Unified School District is committed to developing the climate literacy of its students. On November 3, 2021, the BUSD Board of Education passed the BUSD Climate Literacy Resolution, which is dedicated to educating students about the causes of climate change, its potential for harm, actions needed to ensure a livable future, and the intersections of race and environmental justice as a civil rights issue. 


These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent books published recently designed to educate and empower students to be leaders in the climate justice movement.


All of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries or through Berkeley Public Library as a physical and/or digital book. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

Climate Change and Extreme Weatherby Isaac Kerry
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022
Climate Change Migrantsby Isaac Kerry
Genre: Nonfiction
Published: 2022
Emperor of the Ice: How a Changing Climate Affects a Penguin Colonyby Nicola Davies
Genre: NonfictionFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2023
Great Carrier Reefby  Jessica Stremer
Genre: NonfictionFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2023
Kids Who Are Saving the Planetby  Laurie Calkhoven
Genre: NonfictionFormat: Chapter Book
Published: 2020
The Last Straw: Kids Vs. Plasticsby Susan Hood
Genre: PoetryFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2021
The Last Tiger: A Story of Hopeby  Becky Davies
Genre: Animal FictionFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2022
Old Enough to Save the Planetby  Loll Kirby
Genre: Collective BiographyFormat: Illustrated Nonfiction
Published: 2020
The Snow Manby  Jonah Winter
Genre: NonfictionFormat:  Picture Book
Published: 2023
The Story of Climate Change: A first book about how you can help save our planetby  Catherine Barr and Steve Williams
Genre: NonfictionFormat: Illustrated Nonfiction
Published: 2021
Surviving the Wild: Rainbow the Koalaby  Remy Lai
Genre: Animal Fiction (based on true events)Format: Graphic Novel
Published: 2022
To Change a Planetby Christina Soontornvant
Genre: PoetryFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2022
We Are Water Protectorsby Carole Lindstrom
Genre: Activism FictionFormat: Picture Book
Published: 2020
Audiobook available
Yasmin the Recyclerby Saadi Faruqi
Genre: FictionFormat: Chapter Book
Published: 2021

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores: 

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.