FREE United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Coloring Poster
How do we encourage our children to take part in actions for social and environmental justice? How do we raise good global citizens? It can be hard to know what to say, how much to share, and when to get them involved in taking action for a better and more just world.
Coloring and picture books are great entry points to many difficult conversations with our kids. Read on to learn how to download a really neat free coloring poster that highlights each of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You’ll also find a picture book list to go along with each goal to help the kiddos in your life better understand this global framework of social and environmental justice.
Quickly Download The Coloring Poster
Love the poster and want to download it right away? Just drop your email address in the form below and you’ll receive an email with information to download it. When you sign up, you’ll be added to our Raising Global Kidizens community and receive regular emails with lots of tips and ideas about raising responsible global kidizens.
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What Are The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals?
In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collective framework for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The Sustainable Development Goals have broad intentions to end poverty and other deprivations while recognizing the need to simultaneously improve health and education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, and tackle climate change.
The goals are ambitious, broad, and call for action from every country in the world: rich, poor, and middle-income alike. Further, the successful pursuit of these goals requires the will and commitment of citizens of all ages, including us and our children. But with goals so massive, where do we start?
Books can be amazing resources to help introduce the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to children. Especially in recent years, so many authors and illustrators have created wonderful picture books that help put myriad issues addressed by the SDGs into context for children.
Books can help kids (and adults) better understand the world from other perspectives, introduce and examine difficult topics, and consider possibilities they might not be able to see in their own lives. In that way, books are a wonderful entry point to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Picture Books To Introduce Difficult Topics & Conversations
My boys are 7 and 9. They aren’t ready to tackle the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals head-on. Some children might be ready (kids mature at different ages), but my boys aren’t quite there yet. However, they are plenty old enough to start listening to and reading picture books that introduce them to the topics covered by the Sustainable Development Goals in a developmentally appropriate way. Picture books create a wonderful foundation for introduction to realities outside our own, topics that are hard to discuss, and new issues that parents or caregivers might not have the words to explain on our own.
To help introduce our children to the underlying issues and potential solutions the United Nations hopes to address with their 17 Sustainable Development Goals, I’ve created a really fun coloring chart and a picture book list aligned with each goal. Hopefully, the coloring page, which aligns with the SDGs, will encourage kids to read many of the books and learn more about the heavy issues behind each SDG.
For each goal, I will share at least six or seven (and sometimes many more) books that relate to the topic. Not every book addresses the goal directly. Especially with certain of the topics, this would be a bit too mature or complicated for our little ones to grasp.
But the books create a foundation for awareness of the issue and discussion related to both the problems and potential solutions. The books help normalize topics that might seem foreign or distant. Some of the books even begin to introduce solutions to challenges the goals seek to overcome in a variety of different ways.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Coloring Poster
Along with this list, I’ve collaborated with an amazing illustrator, Angela Lukanovich, to create a printable coloring sheet to track your progress through the reading lists or just to enjoy as you explore the UN SDGs. The printable coloring poster is available in both English and Spanish!
As you read various books, the gorgeous and fun illustrations can help connect your little social and environmental justice leaders to each UN Sustainable Development Goal and track their reading progress in tandem.
Color as you make your way through books related to different goals. Color the signs as you complete each reading list (or a part of each reading list). Or color the whole page right away because … who doesn’t love coloring?!
And this coloring page isn’t just for kids. I hope adults and kids alike enjoy coloring these amazing illustrations from Angela! My husband “borrowed” a copy on a regular letter-size printed page and colors instead of doodling when he’s on conference calls sometimes. So really, so many people might enjoy this in a variety of ways.
How To Download The Free Coloring Poster
To download the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals coloring poster, simply drop your email in the sign-up form below. You’ll be added to our email newsletter and receive information to download the coloring poster! Both the English and Spanish versions are available through the same download process.
If you sign up, be sure to check your Promotions or Spam email if you don’t get the confirmation email in a minute or two. Sometimes email providers send the email to a different folder where it can be harder to find.
How To Use The Coloring Poster
You can print it as a single page at home or use the single page file to print as a Blueprint or Architectural Print. Angela also created a set of pages you can print out at home and piece together to create a large print without a trip to the local print shop!
When you sign-up, you’ll receive access to a single file to print at home or as a coloring poster. You’ll also receive two sets of files (one in Letter Size and one in A4 Size), each of which can be printed on 18 sheets of paper taped or glued together to form an enormous coloring poster. Putting together the multiple sheets is like a little puzzle for your kids before they get to coloring!
If you’re a teacher, you’re more than welcome to use this in class. Feel free to share this with others* for personal use. I would love for as many children as possible to gain exposure to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and start asking how they can become activists for a more just and equitable society.
Upcycle Old Crayons to Color the Poster
Take your sustainability education initiative farther by upcycling old, broken crayons into new ones to bring the Sustainable Development Goals coloring poster to life.
Click here for simple, step-by-step instructions on how to create new coloring tools from old ones.
Share Your Coloring Poster and Favorite Books From the Picture Book Lists
Have a blast coloring it. Share it far and wide with friends and family. Tell them to download it too! If you’d be so kind, I would be thrilled if you could share it on social media and tag us @RaisingGlobalKidizens so we can see this coming to life in so many of your own homes and spaces.
United Nations Sustainable Development Picture Books Lists For Each Goal
Below you will find lists of books about each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I have been working on putting this project together for a while (checking out hundreds of books from the library to vet them all before I recommend them), and am so excited to share this with you. I hope you and your family love it!
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Picture Book Lists
Picture book lists aligned with each of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
No Poverty | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #1
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.
No Hunger | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2
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.
Good Health & Well-Being | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3
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.
Quality Education | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4
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.
Gender Equality | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5
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.
Clean Water & Sanitation | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6
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.
Affordable & Clean Energy | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7
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.
Decent Work + Economic Growth | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8
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.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #9
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.
Reduced Inequalities | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #10
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.
Sustainable Cities and Communities | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11
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.
Responsible Production & Consumption | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12
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.
Climate Action | Picture Book List for United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #13
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.
Life Below Water | Picture Book List For United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14
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.
Life on Land | United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #15
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.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #16
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.
Partnerships for Goals | United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #17
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.
* Please note permission is not granted for this coloring poster to be resold or used for commercial purposes. Please contact us with any questions related to reproduction for purposes other than personal use.
About The Author
Jen Panaro
Jen Panaro, a co-founder of Raising Global Kidizens, is a self-proclaimed composting nerd and an advocate for sustainable living for modern families. She’s also a serial library book borrower and a messy gardener.
As a mom to two boys, she is passionate about helping families be more responsible stewards to their communities and the planet. She also owns Honestly Modern, an online space focused on eco-friendly living for modern families.
