A kid wearing a gray hoodie, jeans, and sneakers splashes through a mud puddle outside on a gray day. Science communication is strengthened when we use creative approaches. Art is such a powerful tool for this, especially when communicating to kids. Last year, I met Dave Schneider, a climate scientist who studies ice sheets and climate systems, work very similar to my own . He recently published a children’s book titled Goodnight Fossil Fuels! that’s specifically about climate change and fossil fuel accountability . The book was co-written and illustrated by environmental educator and artist Kira Davis. It stars a penguin who teams up with scientists to help solve the problem of how fossil fuels are harming the climate system and features colorful watercolor artwork. I interviewed Dave and Kira about their book and the importance of collaborations between scientists and artists to advance science communication. Dr. Shaina Sadai: Dave, your bio describes you as “a climate scientist, writer and outdoor explorer” with an inner compass that pointed you to writing children’s books. Can you elaborate on that inner compass, and what motivated you to write this book in particular? Dr. Dave Schneider: There were three things that intersected for me. The first is that a few years ago I was shopping for holiday gifts for my nephews, and I came across a children’s book section in a toy store. I checked out the science books, and there were some interesting titles but literally nothing about climate change. I mean, you would think that if children’s climate books exist, you would find them in Boulder, Colorado, the city with the most climate scientists per capita in the world. I found a few titles, but they were all about as engaging as a textbook. There was nothing that’d grab a […]