Idori: Empowering children and parents to face climate change in a positive way
At a time when teaching kids about sustainability can feel overwhelming, Idori is offering families a hopeful alternative. Last month, Idori officially announced the launch of its first product, Benjy the Treehopper, an eco-friendly children’s book and plush toy designed to help young kids learn about deforestation, sustainability, and conservation in a fun and meaningful way.
Benjy the Treehopper introduces children ages 3 to 8 to environmental stewardship through storytelling rather than fear. The story follows Benjy the Treehopper, a gentle forest-loving character who helps children understand why trees matter and how small, everyday actions like using less paper or caring for plants can make a real difference. Paired with a soft, huggable plush toy, the experience turns abstract environmental concepts into something tangible, comforting, and memorable.
Idori was founded by Noah Sorin, a former nature-based preschool teacher who spent years working directly with young children outdoors. Through that experience, he saw how powerfully children learn through imagination, routine, and emotional connection. He also recognized a major gap. Many parents and educators wanted to talk about sustainability but lacked tools that felt developmentally appropriate and positive. Benjy the Treehopper was created to meet that need by blending play and learning in a way that builds confidence rather than anxiety.
At the core of Idori’s approach is its five-step educational framework: Gratitude, Learning, Action, Reflection, and Advocacy. Children begin by developing gratitude for the natural world, then build age-appropriate knowledge through story. They are encouraged to take simple actions, reflect on their choices, and eventually advocate for the planet in ways that feel empowering and achievable. This framework ensures that sustainability is not just understood, but practiced and internalized.
Since its inception, Idori has raised over $70,000 through a combination of pitch competitions, grants, bootstrapping, and a Kickstarter campaign to launch its first eco-friendly character. That early support has already translated into real-world impact, with over 500 books being donated to children across the country. Benjy the Treehopper has been introduced in classrooms and shared in homes, where children are proudly teaching their families about recycling, conserving resources, and protecting forests.
What sets Benjy the Treehopper apart is its focus on behavior as much as awareness. The bamboo-printed children’s book and organic cotton plush toy are thoughtfully crafted with natural materials to spark meaningful conversations between children and parents, turning storytime into a shared moment of learning and action. Families report that children quickly form an emotional bond with Benjy, making lessons about caring for the planet feel personal and exciting.
The launch of Benjy the Treehopper marks the first step in Idori’s broader mission to make sustainability education accessible, joyful, and rooted in early childhood development. Idori is also in the process of launching their first ambassador program, where high school and college student volunteers lead a 10-week afterschool program for prek-3rd grade students.
In a world where environmental news can often feel heavy, Idori’s work offers something essential: hope. Benjy the Treehopper shows that teaching kids about the planet does not have to start with fear and anxiety. It can start with gratitude, a story, a plush friend, and the belief that even small hands can help protect something as big as a forest.
