Picture books about poverty. Through fiction and non-fiction, readers can experience the world through the eyes of those struggling to make ends meet from day to day. Readers also witness families full of love and joy in spite of their circumstances, children showing compassion for those in poverty, and snippets of the struggles one faces without resources to access basic needs.

I’ve compiled a list of books that touch on hunger and food insecurity. The stories normalize and celebrate the work of soup kitchens and food pantries. Other books on this list remind readers that close friends and others in our community may struggle with having enough food even if they don’t appear to be in need. We each have the power to help those close to us gain access to wholesome and nutritious food.

The following list includes picture books about health and wellness. From healthy food to spreading germs to the importance of community health care, the stories share insights into why health matters and how each of us can play a part in having healthier communities for everyone.

The following list of picture books about education includes books that touch on why education is important and how it can help children and families open doors to new opportunities. Further, many of these stories highlight how education is not accessible to so many children around the world for a variety of reasons. Especially for those of us living in places where education is standard practice for all our children, these stories can offer humbling and meaningful reminders that we should not take education for granted.

The following list of picture books about gender equality highlight opportunities to advance gender equity, how women and girls sometimes have limited opportunities as a result of their gender, and also how gender equity can improve the quality of life for so many.

The following picture books about clean water focus primarily on protecting our water supplies to ensure we have sufficient clean water for everyone on the planet.

The list of picture books about energy includes non-fiction books about how energy and electricity work, inspiring stories about children who helped their local communities build novel renewable energy sources, and how electricity and energy can transform communities and open opportunities for prosperity.

The following list of picture books helps readers connect with those with a variety of different jobs and understand why it’s important to treat workers with respect and ensure workers are treated fairly and earn just wages. It’s also important to acknowledge that all work is valuable and people work to support their families in a variety of ways.

The following books highlight creative kids using innovation and science to solve problems in their worlds. Many of the books highlight that we don’t always get it right on our first try and we often have more success working as a team. But in all cases, we benefit from a diverse population providing input and effort toward strong and just industry, infrastructure, and innovation.

The following list of picture books about equality, inclusion, equal rights, migration, and refugees introduces readers to the variety of types of people in our world and the different circumstances under which many people live. These books can help readers gain perspective about their place in the world relative to others and the importance of welcoming those who are different from themselves.

The following picture books about sustainable cities and communities highlight many ways that readers can make their cities more sustainable and inclusive places to live. Readers see places that incorporate more natural elements, understand how towns and cities work together, how communities can work together to create more enjoyable spaces, and more.

This list of picture books about responsible production and consumption includes a host of titles that cover topics like reusing and recycling the things we already have, reducing our waste, and making more sustainable choices about what we buy and use.

The following list of picture books about climate change introduces and discusses topics like planting trees and deforestation, caring for the Earth in a variety of ways, how to be more environmentally-responsible at home, how climate change is impacting our world, and more.

The following books celebrate the mysteries of our oceans. They highlight how important our oceans are, how we can better care for them, and many of the amazing creatures that call our oceans and waterways home.

The following books highlight some of the amazing plants and animals that live on Planet Earth. As readers gain exposure to and learn more about life on land, they hopefully gain a stronger appreciation for living things and develop a desire to protect them.

The following picture books about peace, justice, and strong institutions highlight the benefits of these values and organizations as well as the consequences we may experience when these things are not in place or not functioning properly.

The following books highlight many different ways that we can work together to achieve success. As the saying goes, “many hands make for light work” and this is definitely true if we all work together to uplift marginalized groups and those in the most need of assistance around the globe.