People Who Hugged the Trees, The

Reach for this book when your child expresses feelings of powerlessness in the face of big problems or asks how one small person can stand up to authority. This beautifully told folktale from India follows Amrita, a girl who loves the trees in her desert village and eventually leads her community in a peaceful protest to save them from a king's axe-wielding soldiers. It is an ideal choice for teaching environmental stewardship and the history of the Chipko movement. The story highlights themes of bravery, collective action, and the vital connection between nature and human survival. Most appropriate for children ages 5 to 9, it provides a gentle but firm model for how to stand up for one's beliefs with dignity and resilience.