Nurturing young minds with sustainable storytelling

Senior Product Manager

Maxine Spence

“We have decades of experienceÌýcreating levelled readers that build ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ confidence. WithÌýGreen Sparks, we wanted to harness thatÌýexpertiseÌýtoÌýaddressÌýone of the biggest themes in education today: sustainability.“

As educators and publishers, we know that childrenÌýstartÌýmakingÌýsense of the worldÌýaround themÌýlong before they can fully articulateÌýhowÌýthey feel about it.ÌýMany children today experience anxiety around issues like climate change and the state of the world.ÌýIt becameÌýincreasinglyÌýclear to me that we needed a new kind of resource: one that would inform, empower, and inspireÌýchildren, rather than overwhelmÌýthem.Ìý

ThisÌýneedÌýled to the creation ofÌý, our new strand for international schools, designed for readers agedÌýfourÌýtoÌýseven. Our goal was simple, but ambitious: to introduce sustainabilityÌýto young readersÌýthrough engaging storytelling, rich non-fiction, andÌýage‑appropriate concepts.ÌýWhat makes thisÌýseries unique isÌýthe alignmentÌýofÌýitsÌý42Ìýcarefully levelled booksÌýwith the .ÌýAll the books areÌýdedicated to helping children understand and care about their world.

At OUP, we have decades of experienceÌýcreating levelled readers that build ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ confidence. WithÌýGreen Sparks, we wanted to harness thatÌýexpertiseÌýtoÌýaddressÌýone of the biggest themes in education today: sustainability.

The seriesÌýis underpinned by ourÌýÌýsystem,Ìýwhich incrementally increases theÌýlevel of challengeÌýand allows children to experience ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ success by accessing a textÌýat the right level for them.ÌýThe Green Sparks series isÌýprimarily phonically decodable,Ìýbecause research shows that systematic synthetic phonics is the most effective way of teaching young learners to read.ÌýÌýWe alsoÌýintroducedÌýÌýsomeÌýtopic wordsÌýearlierÌýthanÌýwe would usually, where they were essential forÌýunderstanding;ÌýsustainabilityÌýterms like “wasteâ€�Ìýand “floodâ€�Ìýwere carefully selectedÌýto ensure that childrenÌýcomprehendÌýcore concepts.Ìý

Before we started this project, thereÌýwasÌýaÌýlackÌýof resources that introducedÌýtheÌýUN SDGs in a way young learners canÌýunderstand and engage with. There were no levelled readers supporting this topicÌýand certainly none that integrated phonics, global citizenship, and environmental education.ÌýGreen SparksÌýfills that gap. Although it complements the , we designed it to be adaptable. Schools anywhere in the world, following any curriculum, can use it for ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ practice, inquiry‑led learning, or cross‑curricular projects.Ìý

A question I’m often asked is how we translate complex global goals into something meaningful for young learners. Fiction plays a particularly important role in this series. Stories help children explore challenges and emotions at a safe distance: a journey through a forest can spark conversations about habitats. Fiction lets readers step into someone else’s experience with empathy and imagination. At the same time, we knew non‑fiction was essential, not only for knowledge building, but because many young readers are naturally drawn to facts, diagrams, and real‑world imagery. The interplay between narrative and information is one of the series’ greatest strengths.Ìý

In additionÌýto the clear progression andÌýlevellingÌýforÌýevery book, we provideÌýsupportive teacher materials, such asÌýguided activities, prompts, and cross‑curricular suggestions to help adults scaffold understanding. Whether a child is ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ independently or exploring a text with a teacher, the structure ensures that concepts are introduced gently but purposefully.Ìý

We were also determined to reflect the global nature of sustainability. The authors contributing toÌýGreen SparksÌýcome from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds, helping us present an authentically international viewpoint. Some books focus on local, everyday experiences while others explore larger global issues, from protecting coral reefs to supporting communities after an earthquake. This balance helps children understand both the worldwide scale of sustainability and the role they can play in their own communities.Ìý

When children understand their world, they care about it. My hope is thatÌýGreen SparksÌýnot only builds ÓÈÎïÊÓÆµ fluency but nurtures a generation of young global citizens who feel empowered rather than overwhelmed by the challenges ahead.Ìý

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