During a recent episode of the Plantbased Business Hour, Elysabeth Alfano sat down with former lawyer-turned-author, Christine Mott. A passionate advocate for animal welfare and the author of a new children’s book, Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight, Christine’s work highlights a critical theme that resonates with those involved in food system transformation away from animal agriculture: shaping the future through early education in empathy and ethics.
The power of early education in compassion
Christine shared her motivation behind choosing a children’s book format, emphasizing the powerful, long-term impact of teaching compassion to the next generation. She spoke candidly about the challenges of addressing serious societal issues—violence toward animals, environmental degradation, and systemic injustices—in ways that are accessible and engaging for young minds. Christine explained that while these issues can feel overwhelming, planting seeds of kindness through relatable storytelling can set off a domino effect, building a society more attuned to ethical considerations.
Balancing messaging and engagement in children’s literature
Her thoughtful approach also recognized the delicate balance required in children’s literature. As a mother herself, Christine knows firsthand the importance of creating stories that are not only morally instructive but also joyful and appealing for children and adults alike. She recounted her own experiences with well-intentioned but emotionally heavy children’s books that, despite having important messages, ultimately failed to engage because they left young readers feeling sad or frightened.
Mott explains this further in a clip from the interview here:
Planting seeds instead of preaching
With Free Bird, Christine sought to avoid that pitfall by creating a narrative that gently introduces concepts of animal sentience and interconnectedness. Rather than “hitting someone over the head” with messaging, she focused on “planting a seed,” fostering curiosity and compassion that can grow over time. Her strategy parallels a critical philosophy to our sector: change is most enduring when it stems from positive engagement rather than confrontation.
Aligning ethical education with ethical investing
I see Christine’s work as emblematic of the broader movement toward conscious consumerism and responsible innovation. Just as early education can foster ethical decision-making in future generations, today’s investments in sustainable, plant-based, and cruelty-free businesses lay the foundation for a more thriving and compassionate economy tomorrow.
Building a future where compassion and commerce thrive together
Christine’s message underscores why I believe impact investing is not just good for the planet and animals, but also smart for long-term financial growth. As consumers—and investors—increasingly demand companies that reflect their values, the market will reward businesses that align with the principles of kindness, empathy, and sustainability.
If you would like to go to a live book reading with Christine Mott, see the schedule here.
Listen to the full audio podcast here. Watch the full video interview here.
Elysabeth Alfano is a consultant to multi-national companies focused on sustainability and an advisor to C-Suite interested in understanding the growth of whitespaces in the shifting food industry. She is also the host of the podcast, The Plantbased Business Hour on iTunes and vegconomist.
