Harriet Shugarman - How to Talk to Your Kids about Climate Change: Turning Angst Into Action

Praise for How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change

In her illuminating new book How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Harriet Shugarman provides a comprehensive description of the climate crisis, how to communicate it to the children in your life, and how you can work together to be part of its solutions. Its work like this book that makes me so incredibly inspired by, and proud of, our global network of Climate Reality Leaders.

Al Gore

With all the love and wisdom of a true mother, Harriet takes you by the hand and fearlessly leads you to face the stark truth about climate change. Once there she doesnt let go, but rather uses that love to encourage us to step forward and become part of the solution. Harriets vast experience, knowledge, and care for our planet and our humanity, vibrates through every page, giving us all the tools we need to arm ourselves and our children who are literally facing the fight for their future.

Linus Roache, Golden Globe-nominated actor, and climate activist

This book is essential reading. As the global climate emergency imperils our present and future lives, climate education is vitally important. Read this insightful guide to why and how we can talk climate with kids!

Raffi Cavoukian, C.M., O.B.C., singer, author,
Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring

Raising kids in a world made uncertain by climate change is a challenging task. Read Harriet Shugarmans book, How to Talk to Your Kids about Climate Change, to learn how we can speak to our children about climate change in a way that conveys urgency but maintains agency in the battle to preserve a hospitable future for us and them.

Michael E. Mann, distinguished Professor,
Penn State University,
co-author, The Madhouse Effect

How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change is a precious and necessary book delivered at the perfect moment. Harriet Shugarman skillfully guides us through this most perilous time by helping us to look squarely at the climate crisis while simultaneously showing us how to navigate through the fire. Her words are all at once fierce and soothing, responding to many questions parents around the world seek to answer as their children look them in the eye.

Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director,
Womens Earth and Climate Action
Network (WECAN) International

This book will sustain you in your commitment to protect, empower, and support your children to act at this defining moment of our planetary history. Indeed, taking action, together as a family, is the antidote to fear and demoralization.

Lynne Cherry, founder, Young Voices for the Planet,
producer, Young Voices for the Planet films,
author and Illustrator, The Great Kapok Tree, A River Ran Wild,
co-author, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate

As a mother, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change lifts up my spirit, at the same time as it reminds me that our children are demanding the truth about our climate emergency, and that they are looking to us to help them understand the realities we are facing and the role they can play. Harriet Shugarman has written a must-read guide for parents at all stages of climate knowledge. I trust her to help me find new ways to talk to my children, to tell them the truth, and to empower them to move forward in positive ways. You should too! After reading this book, when your kids ask you about the climate crisis and what they can do about it, you will know what to say.

Maya van Rossum, Leader, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network,
Founder, the national Green Amendment For The Generations movement,
author, The Green Amendment

Harriet is an iconic leader and founding member of the climate and parenting nexus. Her book expertly navigates the complexities of climate science, solutions, and the emotions that come with facing our global climate crisis. Parents and non-parents alike will greatly benefit from Harriets personal journey exploring the hopes, fears, and realities of the state of our planet.

Tara DePorte, founder, The Human Impacts Institute

Shugarman reminds us that we cant know how it will all turn out. Yet, we can find ways of not being alone and ways to navigate this climate emergency. There are steps parents can take to cope, and more importantly, cultivate perseverance in their children.

Lindsay Coulter, David Suzukis Queen of Green

From the brutal realities of the mounting threat of climate disruption comes this extraordinary workbrilliantly conceived and full of the inspiring messages we all need to hear in these fateful times. How to Talk to your Kids about Climate Change acknowledges our vulnerabilitbut expertly redirects us to the connections we must make with Mother Earth to restore her life-giving bounty. Sustaining the resolve to do this requires steely commitment to the job aheadand to infusing the effort with purpose, love, and authenticity. Harriet has brought us a clear-eyed plan to navigate the journey. Keep this guide at your sidein her hands even the most treacherous shoals can become opportunities.

Lise Van Susteren, M.D. Board Certified:
General and Forensic Psychiatry

With five grandsons, I appreciate Harriet Shugarmans honest and sensitive advice to parents and grandparents. Harriet has led the way outreaching to parents. We must unite to end carbon pollution while helping our children prepare for the changes already baked into the climate system. Harriet shows the way.

Larry J. Schweiger, author, Climate Crisis and Corrupt Politics and
Last Chance, former President National Wildlife Federation

As we live our climate emergency, the impacts of the crisis are not being felt equally. Being a parent is a delicate dance preparing and at the same time protecting our children. I speak honestly with my son about climate change and show him through my actions how we all have a role to play. In How to Talk to Your Kids about Climate Change, Harriet shares messages of hope, the importance of telling the truth, of taking action, of climate justice, and of facing our fears head on. Read this book.

Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain,
Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations

How to Talk to
Your Kids
About Climate Change

TURNING ANGST INTO ACTION

Harriet Shugarman

Copyright 2020 by Harriet Shugarman. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh. Cover image: iStock

Printed in Canada. First printing May, 2020.

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below. To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to

New Society Publishers

P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada

(250) 247-9737

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Title: How to talk to your kids about climate change : turning angst into action / Harriet Shugarman.

Names: Shugarman, Harriet, 1961 author.

Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 2020017536X | Canadiana (ebook) 20200175378 | ISBN 9780865719361 (softcover) | ISBN 9781550927290 (PDF) | ISBN 9781771423250 (EPUB)