Young Planet Readers Program

Read. Present. Graduate.
Building tomorrow’s sustainability leaders, one book at a time.

Young Planet Readers is a special reading program at the ESG Reference Center designed to help children discover ESG and Sustainability through age-appropriate books, develop a regular reading habit, and become confident young communicators.

Children choose sustainability books, read at their own pace, track their progress through our reading levels, and celebrate their achievements through presentations and graduation certificates.

A Special Place for Young Readers

Our Young Planet Readers program is designed for three age groups:
Kindergarten

Ages 5–6

Books introduce children to nature, simple environmental stewardship, and everyday actions that can help the planet.

Elementary School

Ages 7–10

Books introduce real-world sustainability, environmental science, climate solutions, and collective action.

Middle School

Ages 11–14

Books explore more advanced sustainability topics, climate change, ESG concepts, environmental issues, policy, and young people taking action.

150 Young Readers Books

The Young Planet Readers collection is being developed to include approximately 150 sustainability and ESG-related children’s books

Multiple copies of each selected title are available at the ESG Reference Center.
Books are organized by age group and reading level, making it easier for children to choose titles that match their age, interests, and reading development.

Three Reading Levels

Each age group has three progression levels:

LEVEL I

Start Your Planet Reading Journey

Introductory books designed to build interest, confidence, and a foundation in sustainability.

LEVEL II

Explore More

Books introduce broader sustainability concepts and encourage children to think more deeply about environmental and social issues.

LEVEL III

Become a Planet Leader

More advanced books encourage independent thinking, deeper understanding, and discussion of sustainability challenges and solutions.

How Young Planet Readers Works

1

Join Young Planet Readers

Choose a Young Planet Readers book pass.

2

Select Your Books

Choose age-appropriate sustainability books from the available collection.

Books can be selected during one visit or multiple visits.

3

Read & Track Your Progress

Read your selected books and keep track of your progress in your Young Planet Readers Passport.

4

Reach Your Reading Milestone

After completing 5 books at a level, you reach the graduation milestone for that level.

5

Prepare Your Presentation

Young readers prepare a short presentation about the books they have read and what they have learned.

6

Share What You Learned

Each young reader gives a 5-minute presentation to a friendly audience of parents and other young readers in the same age group.

7

Graduate to the Next Level

After completing the presentation, the young reader receives a Young Planet Readers Certificate of Completion and progresses to the next level.

Your Young Planet Readers Passport

Each child receives a Young Planet Readers Passport to track and celebrate their reading journey.
Every Book
Each time a child selects and completes a book, their progress is recorded in the Passport.
Every 5 Books
Every 5 completed books marks a reading-level milestone.
The child then participates in the Young Planet Readers graduation process.
Three Levels
Children can continue progressing through:
Level I → Level II → Level III
The Passport provides a visible record of their reading progress and achievements.

Young Planet Readers Book Passes

5-Book Pass — $60
Complete One Reading Level
  • 5 sustainability books
  • Books can be selected in one visit or across multiple visits
  • Designed around the 5-book reading-level milestone
  • Young Planet Readers Passport received
  • 5-book presentation and graduation opportunity
  • Certificate of Completion upon completing the milestone

5-Minute Young Planet Readers Presentation

Completing five books is more than finishing a reading requirement.
It is an opportunity for each child to share what they discovered, what they learned, and what they would like to explore next.
At the completion of five books, each young reader gives a 5-minute presentation to a friendly audience of parents and other young readers in the same age group.
The Presentation
My Books
Which five books did I read?

My Favorite Lesson
Which book did I like most, and what did I learn from it?

What I Learned
What new idea about our planet, sustainability, or the environment did I discover?

My Next Green Step
What would I like to learn next? What is one thing I might do differently at home or in my community?

One Friendly Question
A parent or another young reader may ask one short question.

Presentations by Age Group

Kindergarten — Show & Tell
Young children can bring their favorite book, share a favorite illustration, and explain what they learned from the story.
Elementary School — Eco-Poster
Children can create a simple poster highlighting lessons or ideas they learned from their five books.
Middle School — 3-Slide Pitch
Older students can prepare a short presentation about an ESG or sustainability issue they learned about, along with a possible solution or action they could take.

Young Planet Readers Graduation

Graduation is a celebration of reading, learning presentation skills, and achievement.
A typical graduation group can include 5–10 young readers from the same age group.

Each child:
  • Completes five books.
  • Prepares their presentation.
  • Gives their 5-minute presentation.
  • Receives their Certificate of Completion.
  • Is recognized as a Certified Young Planet Reader for that level.
  • Has their achievement recognized on our Young Planet Readers Hall of Fame.

Young Planet Readers Hall of Fame

Our Kids’ Corner will feature a special Young Planet Readers Hall of Fame.
Three dedicated displays will recognize young readers as they complete their reading-level milestones.
The Seedling Society

Kindergarten
Our youngest readers growing big ideas for the planet!

The Eco-Explorers Circle

Elementary School
Discovering solutions and leading the green team.

The Sustainability Guardians

Middle School
Our advanced readers driving real change for tomorrow.
Each display provides space for 20 young readers’ names.
When a young reader graduates, their name is added to the appropriate Hall of Fame list.

Our Kids’ Corner

The ESG Reference Center provides a dedicated Kids’ Corner designed for young readers.
The space includes:
  • Low-level bookcases with no sharp edges
  • Comfortable floor mats
  • Age-appropriate sustainability books
  • A child-friendly reading environment
  • Dedicated space for young readers to explore independently

Parents can bring a stroller, as there is a secure, railing-protected space outside the Kids’ Corner entrance for stroller parking.

A Place for Parents Too

Young Planet Readers browse designed to make it easier for parents to enjoy their time at the ESG Reference Center while their children read and learn.
While children read age-appropriate sustainability books in the Kids’ Corner, parents can use a nearby workstation to read professional books on:
  • ESG
  • Sustainability
  • Climate change
  • Responsible business
  • Sustainable finance
  • Corporate governance
  • Other professional sustainability topics
This makes the Reference Center a place where children can learn while parents can read and work, and explore sustainability topics.

Convenient for Families

Open 7 Days a Week
9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Free Parking
Convenient free parking is available for visitors.
Princeton Junction

The ESG Reference Center is located one block east ( West Windsor side) from Princeton Junction station.

Princeton University Connection
Princeton University visitors can use the free campus bus service to reach the station, with the Princeton University Dinky train also providing a connection from the campus to Princeton Junction.

A Reading Program With a Purpose

Young Planet Readers is more than a children’s book program.
It encourages children to:
Read
Discover books about our planet and sustainability.
Learn
Understand environmental and sustainability ideas at an age-appropriate level.
Think
Develop their own ideas about problems and possible solutions.
Speak
Build confidence by sharing what they have learned.
Graduate
Celebrate their achievements and progress to the next reading level.
Lead
Develop the knowledge and confidence to grow into tomorrow’s sustainability leaders.

Start Your Young Planet Readers Journey

5 Books — $60
Read. Learn. Present. Graduate.
Complete one 5-book reading milestone and celebrate your achievement.

Read More. Explore More. Grow Your Planet Knowledge.
Continue reading and progress through multiple reading levels as you complete your reading milestones.
Young Planet Readers
Read. Present. Graduate.

Building tomorrow’s sustainability leaders, one book at a time.