There are enough great books about our natural world to keep your class reading all year long, but Earth Day, April 22, is a great excuse to dive into a big pile of books. From animals, plants, and ecosystems to environmental change, conservation, and notable environmentalists, there are so many topics related to our environment that are important to explore with students. Below are our favorite Earth Day books for kids.
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You are reading: Earth day read aloud books
books about animals
1. this is the nest that robin built by denise fleming (prek-1)
This text from a classic early childhood author shows how a robin prepares its nest for the arrival of its young. this is a perfect addition to a bird study or as a standalone read aloud.
2. a mammal is an animal by lizzy rockwell (prek-1)
This introduction to the Animal Classes features the simple text and illustrations for which the Rockwell family is best known. we love how the book ends with an interracial human (and therefore mammalian) family, with mom nursing a baby.
3. hi hi by brendan wenzel (prek-2)
deceptively simple but packed with discussion opportunities. each set of animals shown on these pages is linked in some way. some share traits, such as color. others share characteristics and behaviors. the reverse names each creature and also lists its endangered species status.
4. Chase the Moon, Little Turtle: A Hatchling’s Audacious Race to the Sea by Kelly Jordan (K-4)
Baby sea turtles’ journey from sand nest to open ocean has to be one of the shortest, but most harrowing, journeys in nature. This poetic story is short enough for little ones, but can be appreciated on many levels, and also gives kids great practice making inferences based on the pictures.
5. nature song: a first animal book by nicola davies (k-5)
This book has so many beautiful poems and illustrations that celebrate the animal kingdom. just try and decide which ones to share with students! From descriptions of different species to animal odes and behaviors, this is one of those Earth Day books for kids that has the potential to tie into the curriculum.
6& 7. the book of bees and the book of bats by charlotte milner (1-5)
With their captivating tone and fascinating facts, these Earth Day books for children increase students’ awareness of the role specific animals play in our environment through a question-and-answer format. Not a bee or bat enthusiast? you could be after reading these! if you love charlotte milner’s style, check out the sea book and the jungle book too.
8. a place to raise a family : poems about creatures that build by david l. harrison (1-5)
We love earth day books for kids that combine a unique angle on a topic with great vocabulary and informational content. This winning poetry collection describes the building habits of different species, from prairie dogs to paper wasps. back matter includes more information to help you answer your students’ questions.
9. animals by numbers: a book of infographics by steve jenkins (2-6)
For students interested in numerical data, this book is a treasure trove. steve jenkins supplements the standard stats with lots of “wow!” and “disgusting!” made to keep students interested. there are many charts, graphs and other visual features. students can also practice different ways of gathering information from a nonfiction text.
10. butterfly for a king by susan l. roth (2-6)
This story of Hawaii’s state insect, the kamehameha butterfly, introduces many important insights: how the insect came to Hawaii, its life cycle, its place in the ecosystem there, and how citizen science efforts and experts have played a key role. in support of the population.
11. jenni desmond’s elephant (2-6)
In addition to being packed with interesting information about the world’s largest land mammal, this title gets major points for being an excellent guidebook for nonfiction reading and writing. furthermore, it portrays a boy of color committed to scientific learning. Are you looking for similar earth day books for kids? check out the polar bear and the blue whale by the same author.
12. beauty and the beak: how science, technology and a 3d printed beak rescued a bald eagle by deborah lee rose and jane veltkamp (3-6)
The title captures the incredible story the book tells. It starts with lots of information and stunning photos of America’s most iconic bird. It also tells about the tragic hunting event that destroyed the beak of a young eagle and how a creative and dedicated raptor biologist took up the cause of the bird.
13. follow those zebras: solving a migration mystery by sandra markle (3-6)
How does an entire herd of zebras disappear? Informational text guru Sandra Markle takes readers on a team of scientists’ journey to solve a fascinating mystery. help students make connections between animal behavior, ecosystem characteristics, and environmental challenges such as climate change.
books about plants
14. the bulldozer and the flower by joseph kuefler (prek-1)
is a classic building story with a naturalistic twist. all other vehicles are busy building a monotonous and concrete city. But Digger goes to great lengths to protect a lone wildflower that grows on the site. even when another team hastily excavates the flower, the flower’s impact on the landscape remains, showing the enduring power of living things.
15. any farm by phyllis root (prek-2)
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if you’re looking for children’s earth day books with rhyming words, you’ll love this story. shows young children that being a gardener doesn’t mean having to live in a special place. “For a farm anywhere, here is everything you need: soil and sun, a little water, a seed.” the kids in the book make planting in old boxes, buckets, and discarded items seem completely doable. the way they turn a vacant lot into an orchard and neighborhood farm stand will make anyone nervous.
16. gardening gorilla: how to help nature take over the world by john seven (prek-3)
What starts out as a simple summary of how to make a “seed bomb” quickly becomes fantastic. garden gorilla imagines a world where everyone, even grumpy adults, plays outside among the plants. back matter takes the text back to the facts about the plantation. it also provides a summary of the (real) guerrilla gardening movement. this is a unique and fun read aloud. will definitely inspire class planting projects.
17. zee grows a tree by elizabeth rusch (prek-3)
We love, we love, we love this story of how a girl’s growth connects with the growth of her douglas fir tree, because hey, there’s nothing more concrete for kids than thinking about themselves! younger children love the story, and there are plenty of additional facts for older students.
18. kate who harnessed the wind by liz garton scanlon (prek-3)
When the wind keeps hitting her neighbor’s house on top of the hill, clever Kate comes up with a creative response. she loads her cart with saplings and comes to rescue him, cultivating a new friendship in the process. use this story to start a conversation about the many positive impacts of trees.
19. carmen lemniscates seeds (k-3)
Seeds have enormous potential, both scientifically and metaphorically. one pumpkin seed can produce a dozen new pumpkins, each with hundreds more seeds. an act of kindness can be the seed of infinite happiness. this title is as compact yet powerful as the seeds it celebrates.
20. seed school: grow amazing by joan holub (k-3)
This book manages to pack tons of information on seed and plant diversity into one nice package. the newest student in seed school can’t imagine what kind of plant it will grow into. the illustrations let your students in on the secret, but they’ll still enjoy their informative search for an identity.
21. the things i love about trees by chris butterworth (k-3)
This book masters the delicate balance between the poetic and the informative. muted watercolor and ink illustrations show a plum tree through the seasons of the year. the main text describes features the narrator loves, while the smaller text adds interesting facts. Simple ideas for games and activities involving trees at the end are the perfect finishing touch.
22. extracted from nature by helen ahpornsiri (1-4)
This book brings a new meaning to “natural beauty”. illustrations of various species of flora and fauna are made entirely of pressed flowers and leaves for a distinctive and captivating effect. give students plenty of time to pore over this one.
23. a seed is the beginning of melissa stewart (1-4)
Another solid title from national geographic kids, with its engaging unique vocabulary and top notch photography. This primer on plant life is a boon to any science unit.
24. the wisdom of trees: how trees work together to form a natural kingdom by lita judge (3-8)
What would the trees say if they could talk? This combination of poetry and informational text gets students thinking about the power of trees at all stages of their lives. will give students new ideas to consider on a walk in the woods.
25. let’s eat! sustainable food for a hungry planet by kimberley veness (3-8)
If you’re looking for Earth Day books for kids that teach about sustainable food, check out this title. presents historical and current perspectives on agriculture for middle grade students in an engaging format. With a good balance of photos, conceptual information, and memorable facts, this book will definitely get kids thinking about what’s on their plate. (don’t miss the rest of the orca tracks series too).
books to encourage environmental appreciation, learning, and advocacy
26. rocket says clean! by nathan bryon (prek-1)
When Rocket finds a turtle entangled in netting on the beach, he does exactly what successful environmental activists do: he takes action. rocket motivates those around her to help clean up the beach and protect nature, and will motivate the students too.
27. only a tree knows how to be a tree by mary murphy (prek-1)
Only a tree knows how to be a tree… and only a bird, a fish, the water and the earth know how to be themselves. this celebration of uniqueness could inspire yoga or book theater, student poetry, artwork, and more.
28. this class can save the planet by stacy tornio (prek-4)
This encouraging and informative guide gives kids real-life ideas they can use right away to help the environment. For classrooms excited about doing their part to conserve resources and protect the earth, this is a go-to guide!
29. my friend earth by patricia maclachlan (prek-3)
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This new position of earth as friend instead of “mother” will captivate children. Gorgeous die-cut pages span seasons and continents as “our friend the earth” cares for the plants, animals, and land, asking its inhabitant to repay her kindness.
30. a stone stood still by brendan wenzel (prek-3)
Children are experts at being playful by nature. brendan wenzel does it again with this beautiful title that shows how the simplest object in nature, a stone, can be so many things, depending on how you look at it.
31. zonian rain forest by juana martinez-neal (k-3)
Zonia and her family are Ashaninka, members of the largest indigenous group in the Peruvian Amazon. Alarmed when she notices a deforested area in her beloved rainforest, she vows to act to protect her home. this beautiful book, by a caldecott honoree, opens many important discussions.
32. penguins don’t wear sweaters! by marikka tamura (k-3)
It starts out as a cute story about penguins dressed in fleece. but it becomes an opportunity to talk about the importance of seeking a fully informed perspective. The author’s note explains how the book was inspired: a photo of penguins in sweaters appeared on her social media, and the additional research she did to find out more about what is actually most helpful to penguins after a spill. oil.
33. here and now by julia denos (k-3)
encourage children to be present in their own “here and now” and appreciate the interconnectedness of experiences across the planet. This title is a beautiful addition to a general collection of mindfulness books, but a particularly poignant one for Earth Day.
34. thank you, earth: a love letter to our planet from april pulley sayre (k-6)
wow. just wow. the photographs and choice of words in this appreciation of the earth’s diverse beauty are powerful. It will be difficult to choose a favorite image, although you should certainly make students try. use the author’s note as a short nonfiction text for older students.
35. all colors of light by hiroshi osada (k-5)
Experience a storm and its brilliant aftermath with this quiet beauty of a book. is a unique introduction to an art lesson on color and light in nature.
36. the protectors of water by carole lindstrom (1-5)
This #ownvoices title is written in honor of the many tribal nations who oppose pipelines encroaching on their lands and waterways. Lyrical text and engaging illustrations give students plenty to think about and talk about. the “steward of the land and protector of the water” pledge included on the reverse is particularly perfect for setting earth day intentions.
37. wild world by angela mcallister (2-5)
Each poem in this collection artfully presents a collection of details about one of the earth’s habitats, from the rainforest to the interior. back matter delivers an urgent message about how human behavior threatens every place. it also gives suggestions for positive action.
38. mario and the hole in the sky: how a chemist saved our planet by elizabeth rusch (2-6)
Mario Molino, a Mexican-American chemist, changed the course of science and conservation by publicly highlighting the ozone crisis in the 1980s. In addition to introducing children to an important figure in environmental history, this is a great way to open up the discussion on current concerns about global warming.
39. what is a river by monika vaicenavičiene (2-6)
a river is a home, a meeting place, energy, flow and much more. this title will really get your class thinking and talking about features of the natural world in new ways. inviting students to write or “what is…” projects would be a fantastic follow-up!
40. All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Trouble With Stuff by Meghan McCarthy (3-5)
Once again, Meghan McCarthy takes a little-known story from history and turns it into an informative and engaging tale for children. When local landfills were running out of space, a barge full of garbage from New York traveled more than 6,000 miles in search of a landfill.
41. plastic: past, present and future by eun-ju kim (3-6)
The effective combination of real stories, facts and visual information will definitely build students’ prior knowledge about the impact of plastic on our environment. you’ll also want to extract sections to use as guidance texts for nonfiction or persuasive writing.
42. sea level rise: floods, climate change and our new world by keltie thomas (3-7)
Climate change is an important topic for students today. This book approaches it from a less common angle: sea level rise in places around the world. read all the examples or just some. you will help students learn the link between human behavior and climate change.
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Also, check out our list of meaningful Earth Day activities.
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