About the Grant
In Fall 2025, Change is Simple successfully applied for and received a $100,000 grant from the EPA’s
Environmental Education Grant Program to support our climate and sustainability education in several Massachusetts school districts. As part of the program, Change is Simple awarded $25,000 as sub-awards to PTOs and other non-profits to support the creation of special climate and environment book collections in their respective schools. Change is Simple had the honor of implementing Climate Library Collections in 19 schools across the Revere, Salem, and Woburn public school districts thanks to a generous sub-award grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) valuing $25,000.
“We visit multiple times annually, delivering STEM-based environmental education lessons to every third, fourth, and fifth grader. Our organization hopes that the new library collections will supplement the work they do in the classroom to empower the next generation of climate leaders.”
Aligning with Our Mission
These Climate Library collections are a selection of multi-lingual children's picture books donated into the school's current library collection. These climate collections include titles such as 100 Ways to Save the Planet by Tom Jordan, Food for the Future by Mia Wenjen, and Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoíris by Linda Elovitz Marshall. The Climate Library collections cover a range of topics aimed at developing student's understanding and connection to our world, the depth of our environment, and the importance of caring for it!
Change is Simple’s Lead Educator & Program Coordinator Amelia and Lead Educator & Accessibility Coordinator Jess proudly pose with the librarians and members of the PTO at Goodyear Elementary School in Woburn next to their newly installed ‘Climate Library’.
“It was so inspiring and uplifting to see how each librarian chose to display the books in their climate library. They each did such a lovely job highlighting the different titles and the important topics they cover. The students we interacted with were also so thrilled to read these new books and their excitement was contagious!”
Change is Simple is dedicated to instilling lifelong social and environmental responsibility and by establishing Climate Libraries, students now have increased access to climate knowledge and reach beyond the lessons and programs our educators provide. With 60 new books in each school’s library, students can pursue climate information that interests them, further develop their understanding of the lessons Change is Simple teaches, and learn how they can work towards a climate conscious future. The books are not just non-fiction and informational — many of them are fictional narratives designed to instill empathy and allow students to relate to various climate and nature experiences. They were also selected based on their social-emotional and anti-bias themes. Many of our staff members helped deliver the book collections. When asked about the experience, our team had nothing but positive things to say:
Our Thanks
Climate Libraries have been made possible with special thanks to the EPA; Salem Education Foundation; the PTO’s of Malcolm White Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary School, and the Revere Public Schools; the school librarians; and Beantown Books. This exciting initiative and partnership could not have been completed without their help, and we trust that these books, selected with great thought and care, will be thoroughly enjoyed and learned from by our students for many years to come.