Author Kimberly Haidinger and illustrator Luna Hansen inspire kids to take climate action through their two children’s books.

By Melissa Cole

Kimberly Haidinger and her daughter, Luna Hansen, are celebrating one year as published authors and illustrators. The mother-daughter duo launched two books, the first, “A Kids Guide to Climate Activism,” and the second, “A Kids Guide to Economic Activism for the Climate.”

Luna, now a ninth grader at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, spent two years living in Denmark with her family. During their time abroad, she and her mother noticed a dramatic difference in daily life, with sustainability at the forefront of nearly every aspect of Danish culture.

“Danish people live very sustainably. Garbage is separated into what feels like 15 different containers, and almost all food waste from homes is composted. It’s also a dark place because it’s so far north, so you have these tiny little children biking miles to school with their lights on in the dark.” Kimberly goes on to say, “They really make it work because they have the infrastructure- biking lanes, recycling systems, government support”

When the family moved back, they knew they wanted to implement some of the Danish lifestyle here, particularly the “reuse, recycle, rethink” mindset. They wanted to be smarter and more intentional about what they bought and throw away less. More importantly, they wanted to share what they had learned with others.

Mom Kimberly Haidinger started writing notes, which eventually turned into a book. And when she needed illustrations to go along with her words, she knew just who to ask.

“So I remember going downstairs, and Luna was sitting at her little homework perch. I asked her, ‘Do you think you might draw some pictures for me? Would you be willing to do the illustrations?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, of course.’”

Luna was excited but also a little nervous. “I’d never really done illustrations for something before. It had mostly just been doing art at camp or for fun. Then it became a new challenge, having to create art for very specific things.”

The books both proudly display Luna Hansen’s artwork. She actually created many of the pieces on a very large scale and then scanned them to a smaller size to fit the pages of the book. Some are paintings, others are mosaics, and some are a mix of newspaper and magazine clippings, and fabric. Materials that might normally be considered trash are instead repurposed into colorful artwork. Her favorites include a multicolored bunny made from paper collage pieces and a dog mosaic modeled after her own family dog.

The idea in the books is that with small, simple changes, we can all make an impact. Individual behaviors and habits, when done together, can add up to meaningful change. Being an activist means being passionate enough to take action, but it doesn’t have to be extreme. Small actions matter. Both books are filled with vocabulary and a full glossary of what the terms mean, and are appropriate for kids in elementary through middle school. 

The three themes woven throughout the books are: eliminating food waste from garbage by composting it, eating more plant-based foods, and reducing the use of single-use items. 

When visiting places like Starbucks or other coffee shops, Luna Hansen and Kimberly Haidinger make a point of bringing their own reusable cups. During school visits and community workshops, they encourage others to do the same.

They’ll recommend, “If you’re going to Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, bring your own cup and ask them to fill it up.” Many people respond with surprise, saying they didn’t realize that was possible.

The duo also suggests that adding more plant-based foods into daily life can benefit the environment by lowering the carbon footprint. As they explain, “We’re not suggesting that people have to become vegans or vegetarians, because people can get really upset when they think you’re trying to take their meat away from them. But the idea is eating less of it,” while incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and nuts into everyday meals.

Luna also spreads awareness whenever she’s with her friends, especially when it comes to littering. If she sees someone throw something on the ground, she’ll always ask them to pick it up. She and her classmates recently went on a school trip hiking up a mountain, where one of those moments stood out.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so beautiful.’ These kids were playing catch with a rubber ball, and one was standing near the edge of the mountain when the ball went over. I was thinking, that’s littering. But then he just said, ‘It’s okay, I have another one.’ That mindset really stuck with me because they don’t think about the impact it could have.”

If you want to learn more or purchase the books, Kimberly Haidinger and Luna Hansen will be at Barnes & Noble in Blue Back Square on May 31 from 1 to 4 p.m., with signed copies available. They’ll also have climate quizzes and advice on how kids can turn their own interests into real-world advocacy. If you can’t make the event, you can also order the books on their website, or through your favorite independent book stores. 

Luna is proud of her work and hopes it can inspire other kids to pursue what they’re passionate about.

“I feel like a lot of kids get inspired by the illustrations and by the fact that I’m a young person illustrating a book. Hopefully that shows kids that no matter how young they are, they can still do what they want to do.” 

The duo is also working on a third book to add to the series, which will focus on kindness and being a good neighbor. 

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