Efforts to communicate with children about climate change and ecological themes often emphasize environmental threats, especially in polar regions. For some children, however, this approach can backfire, as they try to avoid continued exposure to problems they cannot solve, such as the threats to polar bears. Another innovative approach is to promote the development of environmental empathy and literacy through the use of narrative. Dr. McKnight will discuss the use of narrative in the Schoolyard Book series produced by the LTER Network program to encourage children to learn about animals and habitats that they may not have the opportunity to see or visit.