The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Wunderman Thompson Australia have launched a new children’s book The Birds & The Bees, encouraging kids to chat to their parents about climate change.
The book launch is part of UNDP’s “Don’t Choose Extinction” campaign that began last month with a video of a dinosaur addressing the UN.
The Birds & The Bees is a playful spin on a certain uncomfortable talk that parents have with their kids, however it shows a stark reality that kids these days will have to live in the climate change induced world that previous generations made for them.
The book helps kids talk with their parents about what greenhouse gases are doing to Earth and how a conversation can lead to a brighter future for the birds, the bees, and every one of us
The campaign has been developed in light of the the fact that today’s children will be more impacted by climate change than any other generation.
A recent UNICEF report found that nearly every child around the world is at risk of at least one climate change event today and approximately one billion children are at ‘extremely high risk’ experiencing three or four climate disasters simultaneously.
Co-authors for the book and associate creative directors from Wunderman Thompson Australia, Jack Elliot and Lochie Newham, said: “The birds and the bees has always been a famously difficult conversation for parents but talking about the future of our planet can be even harder.
“We wanted to not just create an engaging story, but a tool for kids to make their voices heard. After all, people might not care for politicians or scientists, but they do care about their kids.”
Chief creative officer at Wunderman Thompson, João Braga, added: “We want to give people all the tools we possibly can to help them have this conversation and smash every excuse around fossil fuel subsidies.
“From a digital ecosystem to an Alexa skill to this lovely little book that will hopefully get thousands of kids and their parents talking about the birds and bees.”
The book is illustrated by Serbian artist Anđela Janković, and will be turned into two audiobooks voiced by Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Melanie Zanetti from the children’s show Bluey.
Zanetti added: “Like Bluey, this book is a children’s story with a message for adults too. On the show we cover some of life’s big topics with kids, and climate change is certainly one of the biggest in today’s world – and one that I’m incredibly passionate about.”
The book will be available in 6 languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese) and is available to pre-order from the UNDP shop.
CREDITS
Agency: Wunderman Thompson Australia
Client: United Nations Development Programme; Boaz Paldi, Rebecca Webb, Gabriela Goldman
Illustrator: Anđela Janković
Chief Creative Officer: João Braga
Associate Creative Director: Jack Elliott
Associate Creative Director: Lochie Newham
Operations Director Australia/Client Lead: Paulina Embart
Chief Technology Officer: Martin Beecroft
Senior Engagement Manager: Anna Parker
Senior Integrated Producer: Emma Donaldson
Studio Integrated Designer: Jimi Ayling
PR & Communications: Edelle Gettings
UX/UI Director: Travis Weerts
Technical Director: Marcus Collier
Talent Management: Josh Vines
Audiobook voice: Melanie Zanetti
Audiobook voice: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Recording studio: Prime Rib Productions, Los Angeles
Sound design: Front of House, Melbourne
