SDG Book Club Mexico: a seed of hope and change for a better world

Mexico City, March 27, 2025 – For 11-year-old Iker, every book is a "different life" that can help foster empathy and counteract negative behaviors like bullying, while each Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) represents an opportunity to create positive change in the world, even through small actions.

The goal of the SDG Book Club is clear: to learn, inspire, imagine, and take action for a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable world for present and future generations.

The United Nations and partners launched on March 22 the first SDG Book Club Mexico Chapter Catalog, a selection of 104 book titles written in Spanish and Indigenous languages aimed at introducing children aged 3 to 12 to the 2030 Agenda. With this initiative, Mexico joins the global movement launched in 2019 to invite children to engage with the 17 SDGs, which seek to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure well-being for all.

"We believe in the power of reading as a pillar of children's holistic development and as a tool for self-discovery, dialogue, and empathy; for imagining solutions and alternative futures; for questioning and reflecting on our role in building a better world," said Carmen Morales, Director of the United Nations Information Center for Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, during the catalog presentation at FILIAZ, the Aztlán International Children and Youth Book Fair.

More books, less wars

"What is a River?", "The Mouse and the Mountain," "The Brilliant Juana Inés," "Reflections in Science," and "Tikuxi kaa/The Train" —written in Tu’un Savi/Mixtec and Spanish—, are some of the titles featured in the first SDG Book Club Mexico Chapter Catalog launched at FILIAZ. The event also included reading sessions with authors and literacy mediators for children. 

Among them was Iker, wearing a NASA t-shirt and reading "Kiko," another title from the catalog. A devoted reader, Iker has a clear favorite SDG: “My favorite Sustainable Development Goal is SDG 16—Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions—because lately, there have been more wars in the world,” he said.

At only 11 years of age, Iker demonstrates a deep understanding of the SDGs and their call to action. “The Sustainable Development Goals created by the UN are meant to address different global issues, like poverty, hunger, or quality education. The SDGs help countries and individuals join efforts, even through the smallest actions, to create big change,” he explained.

Seven-year-old Emilia also shared her thoughts on her favorite SDG: “The goal I like most is SDG 5 -Gender Equality- because many people of different genders are rejected. It's very sad,” she said.

The reading sessions during FILIAZ featured several authors, including Daniel Olmos, author of "Tengo un papá que corre," which addresses SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being; Soffi P. Guido, author of "Sonata," a story linked to SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities; Paulina Seguí and Paulina Vargas, authors of "Soy y pertenezco," connected to SDG 3; and Andrew Maltés, author of "Todos somos genios. Historias de los Nobel para niños y niñas," related to SDGs 4, 5, 13, and 16 —Quality Education, Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, respectively.

Additionally, UNICEF and UNESCO Mexico held interactive reading sessions of "Nara Sueña," a book from the "Cuentos que Cuidan" collection, focused on dialogue, and "José, cocinero del mundo," which aligns with SDG 1 No Poverty; SDG 2 Zero Hunger; SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

A fun tool for learning

The SDG Book Club Mexico Chapter was widely celebrated by the children’s literature publishing community. The event welcomed not only authors and illustrators but also editors, translators, proofreaders, and cultural managers.

“We are very happy to receive this recognition for our work. We celebrate this selection by the UN in Mexico. Literature must be a tool to reach children with important messages,” said Ixchel Delgado, editor of “Libros para Imaginar”, a publishing house that has nine titles in this first catalog. The selected books are: "Me encanta la tierra," "¿Dónde está mi hija?" "Kórima es compartir," "La valentía de Pancho/Jeen s’añe Pancho tinquian’an," "Lucas, el dinosaurio feliz," "Palabra y silencio," "Quioo’ ndyuaa tsjomya / Animales de mi tierra," "Río verde," and "Todos somos genios."

“Through reading, we can expand awareness, and children are the new generations who will teach their parents, uncles, and grandparents to develop this awareness. We believe in the power of books and storytelling!” emphasized writer Paulina Vargas, author of "Soy y pertenezco."

The SDG Book Club Mexico Chapter is an initiative led by the United Nations Information Center (CINU), UNESCO, and UNICEF, in partnership with the National Chamber of the Mexican Publishing Industry (CANIEM); the International Board on Books for Young People in Mexico (IBBY Mexico); the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL); the National Library of Mexico – UNAM; and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science, and Culture through its Mexico Office (OEI).

Consult and download the Catalog and discover the books from the SDG Book Club Mexico Chapter!

SDG Book Club Mexico website: www.clubdelecturaods.onu.org.mx

Mexico’s Book Catalog: https://lnk.bio/s/331f4

Photos: https://lnk.bio/s/d985e

📚📗👧 #ClubDeLecturaODS👦📘📚

Text and photos: Eloísa Farrera Hernández | Video: Luis Arroyo | United Nations Information Center for Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic