Author Page

How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action: AWARD WINNER 

 2020 Indies Finalist for the Foreword Review Book of the Year Award 

  2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award Winner, Book of the Year

2020 Nautilus Book of the Year Winner, "Better Books for A Better World"

About the Book: Building grit and hope in the face of the climate emergency

With catastrophic global warming already baked into the climate system, today's children face a future entirely unlike that of their parents. Yet how can we maintain hope and make a difference in the face of overwhelming evidence of the climate crisis?

Help is at hand. Written by Harriet Shugarman – the Climate Mama and trusted advisor to parents – How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change provides tools and strategies for parents to explain the climate emergency to their children and galvanize positive action. Coverage includes:

  • The unvarnished realities of the climate emergency, where we are at, and how we got here
  • Strategies for talking to kids of different ages about the climate crisis, including advice from engaged parents on the ground
  • How to maintain our own hope and that of our children
  • A list of practical actions families can take to tackle the climate change crisis
  • Ideas for helping children follow their passions in pursuit of a livable, just, and sustainable world.

A lifeline for parents who are feeling overwhelmed with fear and grief, this book provides both hope and practical ways to engage children in pursuit of a better world that is still possible.

About the Author: Harriet Shugarman is Executive Director of ClimateMama, professor of Climate Change and Society and World Sustainability, and a mentor and leader with the Climate Reality Project. She is a nationally recognized influencer, connector, and trusted messenger for parents on solutions to our climate crisis. A recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award,Harriet has been praised by Al Gore as “an outstanding Climate Reality Leader who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to her role as a climate communicator and activist.” Learn more about Harriet here.

2024  Author Events:  

Empowering our Children’s Future through Education in Civics, Climate Change and Experiential Learning", Luncheon Speaker, League of Women Voters Annual Luncheon, In person/public April 19th, 2024

Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation, 2024 Annual, Student Symposium, Keynote Speaker, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry,  NY, In person/Private, April 17th, 2024

Climate Reality NYC Training, Javits Center, New York, NY Inperson/private, April 12th, 2024 

Communicating Climate Change with Young People, Keynote Speaker, St Lawerence University, Canton, NY, In person/public. March 7th, 2024

Ecopsychepedia Launch Event, Online/Public, February 29th, 2024

Climate Reality, LIM College, New York, NY, In person/private, February 8th, 2024 

Climate Reality, LIM College, New York, NY, Online/private February 7th, 2024 

Van Leer Foundation, Early Childhood Matters, Journal Launch Event,  Online, public, January 30th, 2024

Coping with Climate Anxiety: Climate Resliency and Education Task Force, NY Society for Ethical Culture, In person/public, January 5th, 2024

2023  Author Events:

Talking about the Climate Crisis &  Walking the Walk on Solutions, Keynote Speaker, New Jersey Organic Waste Mangement Summit, October 18th, 2023 (in person/public)

Sustainability Connect: Providing new perspectives and knowledge regarding how we can speak with
kids about the realities of climate change, Bank of America, June 16, 2023 (online/private)

Talking Climate with Our Kids, NYC Climate Families, Greenpoint Public Library, June 6th, 2023 (in person/public)  

K-5 Climate Education Conference, Keynote Speaker, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ June 1st, 2023 (in person/public)

 Teaching our Children About the Climate Crisis, Featured Speaker, Peri Bumi, May 20th, 2023 Jakarta, Indonesia (online/private) 

Transforming Eco-Anxiety Into Hope, Orange County CA, Miami/Dade PTA Florida, May 18th, 2023 (online/public)

Courageous Conversations: Talking Climate Emotions with Kids, Climate Mental Health Network, Global, May 10th, 2023 (online/public)

Every Day is Earth Day, Talking Climate Change, Bedford 2030, April 27th, 2023 (in person/public) 

Earth Day: Managing Big Feelings About Climate Change, PBS Southern California, April 20th, 2023  (online/public) 

Media/Press:

Van Leer Foundation, Parenting through despair with hope for our climate future, Early Childhood Matters Journal, January 2024. 

The Many Shades of Green, Teach Your Children Well about Climate Change with Guest Harriet Shugarman, January 2023

US News and World Report, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, January 2023

Mental Health Commission of Canada, How to Help Your Child Cope with Mental Anxiety, November 2022

CleanTechnica, Climate Change Education Gains Momentum in Public Schools, November 2022

New York Times, Meet the Band of TV Animals That's Talking to Preschoolers About Climate,  October 2022

Yahoo, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, April 22nd, 2022

BBC, How Can We Help Kids Cope With Eco Anxiety, April 22nd, 2022

Parents, IGLive, Talking to Our Kids About Climate Change, April 21, 2022

Parents Magazine, How to Help A Child Dealing with Climate Anxiety, April 20th, 2022

Wired, Where Parents Get Help for Climate Anxiety, January 1st, 2022. 

The Ego Actus Theatre Company, Notable Books, November 2021

INews (UK), Climate Change For Kids: Experts Explain How to Talk to Children Abou the Crisis, November 3, 2021

Natural Awakenings Chicago, Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change, What They Need to Know From Those They Trust, October 2021

The Telegraph (UK),  Is your Child Terrified About Climate Change, Here's How to Talk to Them, September 25th, 2021 

This Book That Book, 15 Books to Read about Climate Change, April 22nd,  2021

Good Morning America/ABC News, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Interview with Harriet Shugarman, April 21st, 2021

Good Morning America, How to Help the Environment in the Best Way, According to Climate Experts, April 15th, 2021

Our Livable Future, Video discussion, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, March 11th, 2021

Science Moms, Recommended Resources, Books for Moms,  January 2021

Front Page Live, From Temper Tantrums to the Paris Accord, Books About Climate Change for You and Your Children, January 2021

Consortium Book Sales and Distribution, Book Club Guides, Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst into Action. 

Human Impacts Institute - NYC Climate Heroes, April 22nd, 2020

The GreenDivas Podcast - 50 Earth Days, April 21st, 2020

Parents - How to Explain Climate Change to Your Child, March 9, 2020

BreezoMeter - Ask the Expert, Q&A with Harriet Shugarman of ClimateMama - January 16, 2020

REI - How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, December 6, 2019

Care - How to Talk About Climate Change with Your Kids, November 1, 2019

Global News - How to Talk to Your Kids Without Scaring Them, October 2, 2019

Find more press links here.

Reviews: 

Treehugger 2/23/21: This thoughtful guide helps parents with a tough topic, while inspiring action. Shugarman's passion shines through the entire book. This is a subject in which she has decades of experience, vast knowledge, and strong opinions. There is no doubt that parents will come away feeling empowered to speak the truth to their children and to strive to equip them with tools to fight in years to come. It's the least we as parents can do for them. Read the Treehugger review in it's entirety here. 

Booklist (American Library Association) 5/15/20: Climate activist Shugarman, who blogs as “Climate Mama,” has written a pointedly apolitical title aimed at easing the climate change conversation between parents and children...Parents and parenting groups will find much to share here, and Shugarman includes resources and notes for book clubs. Read the Booklist review in its entirety here. 

Library Journal (where libraries go to get trusted recommendations about what to purchase) 5/1/20: VERDICT, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, is a helpful tome on a crucial topic filled with scientific facts, this volume will be useful to both parents and teachers. Read the Library Journal review in its entirety here.

Forward Reviews (helping booksellers and librarians discover great books from indie presses) 5/5/20:  How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change is an inspiring toolkit for helping families, communities, and the planet. Clear and persuasive, the book communicates complex issues and the urgency of acting with a mix of passion, diplomacy, and steel-eyed determination....Read the Forward Review in its entirety here. 

Praise for the book:

"Raising kids in a world made uncertain by climate change is a challenging task. Read Harriet Shugarman’s 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 and co-author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial is Threatening our Planet, Destroying our Politics, and Driving us Crazy.

"With five grandsons, I appreciate Harriet Shugarman's 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 of "Climate Crisis and Corrupt Politics: Overcoming the Forces that Threaten Our Future" and "Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth" Former President National Wildlife Federation

"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 squarely look 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 world round seek to answer as their children look them in the eye. As the escalation of climate disruption quickly unfolds. this is the best of the kind of writing and inspiration we need for the challenging decade ahead." Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International

"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 in helping to save their future earth.  Harriet Shugarman has written a must-read guide for parents at all stages of climate knowledge. Harriet Shugarman has been working in the parent/climate space for more than a decade. 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, The Delaware Riverkeeper & Leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Founder of the national movement Green Amendment For The Generations and Author of "The Green Amendment, Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environment"

"With a reminder to “lead through examples of kindness, love and gratitude”, Harriet Shugarman weaves together a powerful tapestry of climate science information with profound and moving insights from parents helping their children cope with being on the front lines of climate change.  The book explores the existential threat that climate change presents to human survival on earth with threads of intergenerational justice, indigenous wisdom and environmental racism interwoven with hope, optimism, determination, inspiration from youth success stories, and a vision for systemic change. 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/Illustrator: The Great Kapok Tree & A River Ran Wild; How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate (with Gary Braasch)

Past Author Events:

2023

April 29th, Greenlight Finals, Judge, Katonah Public Library, Katonah, NY, Bedford 2030, in person/public) 

 April 27th, Climate Action Now Amabassadors, Featured Speaker, Bedford, NY, Bedford 2030 (in person/public) 

April 18th, Sustainability Seminar Series, Featured Speaker, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey (online/public)

March 21, Talking Climate Change, Residency Program,  University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (online/private) 

February, The Reality of the Climate Crisis, Featured Speaker, LIM College, New York, NY 

2022

September, How to Talk About Climate Change, Featured Speaker, International Youth Conference, Climate Week New York, NY

September,  The Reality of the Climate Crisis Featured Speaker, LIM College, New York, NY 

July 20th, Climate Change 101 & Talking About Climate Change, Climate Justice Ambassador Program, Newark NJ, Office of Sustainability 

April 27th, A Conversation with ClimateMama, Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter, Public (online)

April 26th, Expert Panel on Climate Change, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Private

April 21th, Green Week Keynote Speaker Event, Hopewell Valley Schools and Community Event, Climate Change Conversations, Public

April 20th, Parents.com, IGLive discussion, Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change, Public 

April 20th, Earth Day Climate Conversation, Let's Talk Solutions with Harriet Shugarman, Morristown Public Library, Public

March 25th, Interntional Youth Conference For Planet and People, Teaching Kids About Climate Action with Harriet Shugarman 2:15pm public

March 8th, Hot Mamas Podcast, Talking with Harriet Shugarman, California, public 

March 3rd, Turning Angst into Action: Talking to Our Children About the Climate Crisis, Concord Center for Parents and Teachers, Concord, Mass, (online) Public

February, Green TV, Interview with Author & Climate Mama, Harriet Shugarman, Quick Clips 1-6. 

January 26th, February 2 & 3rd, The Realty of the Climate Crisis and How We Speak About it, LIMM College, NYC, Private

January 15th, Legacy International, Mentor training talk, Private

January 6th,  Hope Act Thrive, Podcast. https://www.bethefuture.earth/podcast

2021

November : The Edge of Every Day, podcast https://www.talkradio.nyc/post/2021-11-22-the-earth-on-edge-the-climate-movement-with-harriet-shugarman

November 7th: COP26 Peoples Summit, How to Talk to Kids (and Parents) About Climate Change, Glasgow, Scotland - Hybrid Event

October 29th: Sustainability Summit, Keynote Address, Leffell School, Hartsdale, New York (private)

October 17th: Launch of For Our Kids Nova Scotia with a special book talk by Harriet Shugarman, author of How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate, Online, Nova Scotia Canada

September 20th: Together We Rise, The Power of Female Leadership to Help Solve the Climate Crisis, Ethical Culture Society, NYC (introduction of Harriet by Al Gore begins around the 1:30 mark) 

June 11th, Simple Steps for Protecting the Planet: Author Talk, RevelEleven, California, 11am ET. POSTPONED check back for future date (public)

June 4th, Climate Reality and ClimateMama, Say Smile, Queens, NY 2pm ET (public)

June 3rd, Author Talk, 350Fairax,  Fairfax County Va, 7:30pm 

May 8th, 5th Annual Virtual Mother's Day Climate Rally, Food & Water Watch/Mothers Out Front/NOVA Climate Coalition, 2-3pm ET

May 6th, Teachers College, Columbia University, Storytelling for Sustainability: A Conversation Climate Activism and Education through Storytelling,New York, 2-3pm (public)

April 24th Joys of the Sea, Charity Gala, Waterspirit, Harriet Shugarman, Distinguished Honoree, New Jersey 7pm ET (public) 

April 24th, YEA, Earth Day Live: Environmental Justice, San Diego, CA, 6-8pm ET (public)

April 22nd, r(E)volutionary Women Podcast, Tes Silverman

April 21st, Mount St. Marys College, Teacher Training Talking Climate, New York, 4-6pm (private)

April 19th, Metlife, Author Talk (private) 

April 14th  Education Summit, Center for Sustainability and Climate Education, Duchess County BOCES, Poughkeepsie, NY 

April 10th, 3rd Annual New York State, Climate Reality Leader Retreat, New York 12:45pm (private)

April 9th, Bagida-waad Alliance, A Conversation about Talking to Our Kids About Climate Change, Facebook live (public) 

April 8th, Biden Outshines Trudeau on ClimateBelow 2C Time 4 Action Web Series,  Ottawa, Canada 1pm ET (public)

April 7th,  Solve Climate by 2030, Climate Solutions for New Jersey, Ramapo College of New Jeresy, 6-8pm

April 6th, How to Talk to Your Children About the Most Difficult Conversation Ever, The Poetry of Perdicament Podcast, Oregon

March 18th, New York City Drawdown, Author Talk, 7-8pm ET (public) 

March 9th, Ideas on the Verge: A Conversation with Author Harriet Shugarman, Verge Permaculture, Alberta, Canada noon-1pm ET. 

March 4th, Book Talk and Author event, Livable Climate, Montana 6-7:30pm ET (public)

March 1st, Climate Reality Project Fingerlakes Chapter, Book Talk (private) 

February 25th, Climate Action Pursuit, Second Nature, Building Adult Allyship & an Intergenerational Climate Movement (registration required)

February 13th, Hudson River Radio, Many Shades of Green, With Harriet Shugarman, 11:30am  

February 7th, Sunday Platform, Talking to Our Kids About Climate Change,  New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York, NY 11:00am-12:30pm

 February 5, Author Talk: Our Climate Crisis, Turning Angst into Action, Osher at Johns Hopkins University, Columbia, MD, 11am - noon 

January 30th, Environmental Workshop  - Your Climate Story, Impacts in Isolation Conference, 4pm ET (by Youth for Youth)

January 28th, Book Club talk, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Parents for Future UK, 8pmET

January 28th,  Author TalkWestchester Jewish Council, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Westchester, NY 8:15-9:15pm

January 26th, Book talk and Teacher Training, Climate Reality New Jersey Gateway Chapter, 7:30pm

January 21st, Book Club discussion, Parents for Future UK, United Kingdom, 3pm 

January 17th,  Auhor Talk, Redbank Public Library, Redbank, New Jersey, 7:00-8:O0 pm

 January 13th, Book Talk and Education discussion, Dorr Center at Horace Mann (private)

January 6th, Author Talk, Parents for Future UK, instagram Live, United Kingdom, 1-2pm

Please let us know if you want more information on any of these events. All events are open to the public for registration unless labeled as (private) For previous events, please check ClimateMama Press Page.

2020 

November 23rd, SPOTLIGHT ON: TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, The Climate Reality Project, Panel Discussion (virtual) 1pm

October 20th, Harriet Shugarman: Author ‘How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change: Turning Angst into Action’, Executive Director ClimateMama, 2020 NYC Climate Hero, Life Apres with Sylvia Beckerman (Podcast) 

October 17th, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Heartfullness Institute, India (Webinar Public)

October 15th, Book Talk: How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change - Event Our Youngest Childern, Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD (Private)

October 13th, Book Talk, Larry Rifkin's America Trends podcast: Climate Change Takes a Backseat to Other Crises and a Backhand From the Federal Government (podcast)

October 11th, 24 Hours of Reality: CLIMATE CHANGE: SO MUCH KIDS NEED TO KNOW; SO CHALLENGING TO TELL THEM, Orange Environment (Open to the Public) 

September 29th, Fall Sustainability Seminar Series, Author Talk, Stevens University, Hoboken, New Jersey (Open to the Public)

September 26th,  Climate Author Series,  Climate Psychology Alliance North America, How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change (Open to public, New York, NY) 

September 24th, United Nations 75 and the Reality of Climate Change, NGO Committee on Sustainable Development - New York (public) 

Sepetmber 23rd, Legacy International's Global Viewpoints Forum, Turning Angst Into Action, Washington DC, (Open to the Public) 

September 23rd, Climate Change + Talking to Your Kids, Concord Local Government, Concord MA  (Open to the Public)

September 21st, Long Island Earth Day, Climate Action Now, NY Clmate, Justice, Environmental and Peace Groups (Public) 

September 21st & 24th Climate Reality, LIM College—Where Business Meets Fashion, New York, NY  (Private)

September 17th, Our Kids Climate, Talking to Your Kids About Climate, Global Audience (Public) 

July 30th, Book Talk and Q&A Tacoma and Thurston County Chapters Climate Realiy Project, Washington State (open to public)

July 29th, Author Conversation, Kansas Public Radio with Dan Skinner, Lawrence, Kansas. 

July 21st, Book Talk and Q&A, Green Street Radio with Doug and Patti Wood, WBAI.org, New York (public)

July 14th, Book Talk and Q&A, Manhattanville College, Purchase New York (private event)

June 18th, Author Interview, The RoundTable with host Joe Donahue, WAMC National Radio Productions. Nationally syndicated to over 500 NPR affiliate stations from  Canadian Border to Phily, NJ, Ct, Mass, NH, all of NY and Vermont (recorded live).

June 15th, Author Interview with host Geoffrey Riley, Jefferson Public Radio - Regionally Syndicated NPR Northern California & Oregon, The Jefferson Exchange  (recorded live). 

June 13th, Author Interview with host Bob Johnson, Second Saturday Magazine, WPKN Radio, Bridgeport CT (recorded live)

June 8th, Author Interview with host Jim Engster, WRKF Louisiana Radio Network, Louisiana and Mississippi, Regionally syndicated, (live)

June 7th, Author Interview & Climate Reality talk, Castskill & Hudson Valley Climate Reality Chapter  (live) 

June 4th, Author Interview with host Sylvia Beckerman, Sylvia & Me, Life Apres, National Podcast (pre-recorded)

June 4th, Author Interview, KCPW.org, Cool Science with Lynn Ware Peak, Park City, UT (pre-recorded)

June 3rd, Author Interview,  BREAKTIME, Conversation with host, Thomas Edward Rhenfeldt, WBEV Radio, Madison & Central WI (recorded live) 

June 2nd, Author Interview, KZFR, Ecotopia, with Steven & Susan Tchudi,  Central Valley, CA (recorded live)

May 28th, Author Interivew, WMPR/NPR, Conversations Live podcast with Cyrus Web, Jackson, Mississippi (lrecorded lieve)

May 27th, Author Inteview, ABC/Keel Radio, Strategies for Living, With David McMillan, Shreveport, Louisiana (recorded live, available now on Facebook

May 27th, Author Interview, IHub Radio, Conversations with Charlie Dyer, Desert Cities region, Southern California (recorded)

May 26th, Author Interview, WGVU Radio, The Morning Show with Shelley Irwin, NPR Affiliate Grand Rapids & Western Michigan 

May 26th, Author Interview, KUCI/NPR, Get the Funk Out with Jeaneane Bernstein, Orange County, California (recorded)

May 26th, Moderator for,  national screening of Eating Up Easter Teaneck Film Festival, Teaneck, NJ (online, public)  

May 25th, Author Interivew, MORNING EDITION, WOJB 88.9 FM with Eric Schubring, Northwestern WI (Live)

May 22nd & May 29th ,  Author Talk part 1,  Eaarth Feels Podcast  and part 2 (recorded live, public) 

May 22nd,  Author Talk & Interview KMALand Radio, Iowa/Nebraska/Missouri (recorded live, public)  

May 18th,  Author Talk, Wyckoff Public Library, Wyckoff, NJ (online, public)

May 18th, Mothers Against the Climate Crisis, The Cleo Institute, Florida (recorded live) 

May 13th, Discussion and Book Talk with Boston Climate Reality Chapter, Boston, MA (Zoom live online, public)

May 8th, Mothers Day Talk - Mothers Against the Climate Crisis, The CLEO Institute, Maimi, Florida (online, public) 

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To Purchase: New Society Publishers (audiobook and ebook versions also available)  IndieBound, Amazon, Barnes and Noble