Earth Day Books Worth Reading

Each year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. It gives us a chance to assess our habits and make sure we’re doing our part to take care of the world we share.

By teaching children to be observant caretakers of their community, they can grow into conscientious adults who are mindful about being stewards of our planet and its natural resources. Reading books about nature, animals, protecting habitats, growing food, and more is a great place to start.

Our Education Team recommends checking out these books—perfect for inspiring the budding imaginations and interests of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

INFANTS

City Bugs by Antonia Banyard A real-life photography book showing children that nature and bugs can be found in many different places and a variety of environments.

TODDLERS AND TWOS

Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre A real-life photography book that highlights the natural beauty of Earth through simple, poetic text paired with images showing colors, textures, seasons, etc.

Wings, Waves, & Webs: Patterns in Nature by Robin Mitchell Cranfield A unique book that gives us a closer look at the unique patterns found in nature, from the dots on a ladybug’s back to the spiral design of a snail’s shell.

Nature Spy Guide by Shelley Rotner A real-life photography book that inspires children to use their senses to safely explore the outdoors. There’s so much to discover!

PRESCHOOLERS

Nature is an Artist by Jennifer Lavallee A picture book that fosters curiosity and creativity through art-inspired ideas found in the natural world. You may want to have art supplies nearby when reading this one!

What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery Join several child scientists as they explore the outdoors and find treasures. This book introduces readers to sorting, classifying, and observing, which are important parts of scientific discovery.

The Secret Signs of Nature by Craig Caudill Let nature be your guide. A book about navigating many landscapes through the power of simple observation and investigation.

A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis This award-winning picture book shows the lifecycle of a sunflower—from tiny seed to radiant bloom reaching for the sun.

Tidy by Emily Gravett Pete the Badger likes everything to be very neat and organized. This sweet character means well, but quickly realizes what happens when you tidy the forest a bit too much.

The World in Our Backyard by Jami Gigot The world is full of wonder! This story encourages imaginative play using outdoor environments and simple tools to create epic adventures without leaving home.