This is the first science-backed educational book for children aged 7 to 10 that addresses the harmful effects of smoking and vaping on both health and the environment. Through interactive activities and illustrations, it helps children understand the consequences of tobacco use and encourages healthier, more conscious choices.

Endorsed by leading public health and tobacco control experts in Belgium and abroad, the book is designed for use at home and in schools. It includes a practical guide for teachers and can support a range of educational goals: introducing health and science topics, and encouraging discussions on self-esteem, peer pressure, and environmental protection. 

"Healthy Kids, Healthy Planet is first and foremost a fun book! The beautiful illustrations encourage further reading, and the limited text per page makes it digestible for children. The combination of cigarettes/vapes, environment, and health ties several important topics together. Marília Breite has created a visually appealing book and a fantastic tool to help towards a smoke-free generation. Highly recommended!"

Dr. Guido Van Hal, professor of social epidemiology at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, and a leading expert in public health and tobacco control.

"A great initiative. This book takes a different approach to raising awareness about the consequences of smoking. Educational and innovative, it helps facilitate conversations with children about smoking, the environment, and health."

Smoking Cessation Team, UZ Leuven.

Research confirms that school-based prevention programmes, even brief interventions, can significantly improve knowledge about smoking and vaping, strengthen resistance to peer pressure, and reduce the likelihood of tobacco use. Evidence also shows that preventive efforts are most effective when introduced in early childhood and reinforced over several years, allowing children to build lasting awareness and decision-making skills.

In Belgium, the public health burden of smoking remains severe. Sciensano estimates around 9,000 tobacco-related deaths each year. However, a more recent analysis by Professor Filip Lardon of the University of Antwerp suggests this number is likely too low. He estimates that smoking causes two deaths every hour in Belgium, amounting to more than 15,000 deaths per year when including conditions that are often underreported, such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

In Flanders, cigarette butts remain the most commonly found form of litter. According to data collected by OVAM, they make up approximately 41 per cent of all visible waste in public spaces. In 2023 alone, nearly 93 per cent of recorded littering offences involved cigarette ends. These filters are made from cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that does not fully degrade. Over time, they release harmful substances such as nicotine, arsenic, and heavy metals into the soil and water. This not only damages local ecosystems but also increases the environmental and financial burden on cities.

The structure of Healthy Kids, Healthy Planet is shaped by a constructivist view of learning, where understanding grows through concrete interaction with the world (Piaget 1952). The book begins with the child’s breath, lungs, and movement, and gradually extends outward to environmental damage caused by tobacco. It ends by offering tools for engagement: observation, documentation, and simple acts of public expression. This movement from the sensory to the systemic reflects how children build meaning when anchored in what they see and feel.

The material aligns with key areas in World Orientation, including biology, environmental systems, and sustainability. It contributes to Health Education by addressing the effects of smoking and vaping in a language suitable for young learners. In Ethics and Citizenship, it raises questions about care, responsibility, and the role of individuals in shared spaces. The environmental focus ties into Geography and Science, while the narrative structure lends itself to Language Development through description, conversation, and vocabulary building. These dimensions reflect both the cross-curricular goals of Flemish education and the competencies promoted by UNICEF, especially in global citizenship, environmental awareness, and the well-being of the child.

Piaget, J. (1952). The Origins of Intelligence in Children. New York: International Universities Press

UNICEF (2020). Learning for Sustainability and Global Citizenship Education: A Framework for Primary and Lower Secondary Education. Geneva: UNICEF

Vlaamse overheid (2023). Eindtermen Lager Onderwijs. Brussels: Departement Onderwijs en Vorming