Picture books are an amazing way to learn about the world and can be an invaluable tool for introducing children to abstract concepts such as the meaning of Earth Day. This inspirational kids Earth Day books list is compiled of 18 titles that introduce the planet, encourage the enjoyment of nature, and share positive human impacts on nature. By reading some of these books to your students you are supplementing your science instruction with children’s literature. This technique can help generate interest and motivation, provide context, encourage communication, and connect science information in real-world context (Mahzoon-Hagheghi, 2018, 41). Read this kids Earth Day books list to get some amazing titles to introduce the global observance day to your students!

Picture Books About the Earth

Our Planet! There’s No Place Like Earth by Stacy McAnulty

Reading age: Preschool – 3rd grade (4-8 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-2, 3-ESS2-2, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS2-1

Stacy McAnulty shares interesting facts about our unique planet, Earth, in this picture book. The author personifies the Earth and gives it a chance to explain all of its awesome features. Some of these features include the ocean, the land, the plants, the animals, and the atmosphere. She also spends time talking about the impact of humans on the Earth and ideas for people to help solve these problems.

My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan

Reading age: Preschool – Kindergarten (3-5 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3

Patricia MacLachlan portrays the Earth as a person and her experiences interacting with her inhabitants. Through peek-a-boo windows, the Earth sees animals waking from winter, small animals, big animals, animals in the tundra, animals in the ocean, and more. MacLachlan also shares the Earth’s influence on the weather such as rain and wind. The Earth experiences the ebb and flow of the seasons within the lovely illustrations by David Diaz, giving your students a look at what the Earth experiences throughout the year.

Only One by Deborah Hopkinson

Reading age: Preschool – 3rd (4-8 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-2, 3-ESS2-2, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS2-1

Deborah Hopkinson introduces the universe and our amazing planet in this engaging picture book. Names are given to galaxies, stars, planets, and moons in an effort to give context to our place in space. Special characteristics that Hopkinson points out about Earth include the atmosphere, the continents, the oceans, animals, plants and more. She reminds the readers that although each of us humans is unique and diverse, we all are part of this one planet and we have a responsibility to help care for it.

I Am Earth by Rebecca and James McDonald

Reading age: Preschool – 1st grade (2-6 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3

Rebecca and James McDonald introduce characteristics of the Earth in this picture book from the perspective of our home planet. Beginning with its geology, the Earth talks about its temperature on the inside and outside. The Earth also brings up its role in space including orbiting around the sun, rotating on its axis, tilting toward and away from the sun which creates the seasons, and more. Toward the end of the story, the Earth explains how people can help take care of it to continue to support life.

The Earth Book by Todd Parr

Reading age: Preschool – Kindergarten (2-5 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-3

Todd Parr empowers early childhood learners to take care of the Earth with easy to implement green practices. Some of these practices include using both sides of the paper, bringing reusable bags to the store, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth, using less water for baths, taking the school bus, riding a bike, and more. For every two green practices Parr gives a reason the practices are helpful to the Earth, all in relatable terms for early childhood readers. The book ends with an encouraging message from the author in an effort to make children feel like they can make a difference.

Picture Books About Enjoying Nature

Thinking of Nature by Amy Mucci

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 2-LS4-1

Amy Mucci uses rhyme and rhythm to introduce the wonder of nature. She engages all senses with her words and uses visualization to encourage children to imagine the nature around them. Mucci moves children through fields of flowers, mountains, the sky, forests, and oceans. She also validates each child’s unique visualization through multiple questions about each ecosystem, allowing each child to feel special and at ease. This mindfulness book ends with statements to encourage children to explore and be present in the moment when they are outside in nature. By cultivating a love of nature with your students first, there will be a respect that will fuel their desire to help protect it.

Outside In by Deborah Underwood

Reading age: Preschool – 3rd grade (3-7 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 2-LS4-1

Deborah Underwood introduces the idea that people used to be a part of nature but that relationship has become interrupted in modern times. She shares examples of how nature reminds us that it is there including flashes at the window, colors of the sunset, shadows on the floor, singing birds, the smells of flowers, the food that we eat, how plants make clothes, and more. The story concludes with the beckoning of nature and the child’s answer to explore, an encouragement to young readers to get outside.

The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

Reading age: Preschool – 1st grade (2-6 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-1

Paul Showers defines a “listening walk” for children in this picture book about patience and awareness. The main character describes a listening walk as one where she walks without talking and she listens for a variety of sounds. She describes sounds she hears such as her dog’s nails on the sidewalk, lawn mowers, sprinklers, bicycles, jackhammers, the quiet of the park, and more with the use of onomatopoeia words. This interactive book can be used to encourage your students to be in the moment as they spend time outside, building an appreciation and respect for nature.

I Hear You, Forest by Kallie George

Reading age: Preschool – 2nd grade (3-7 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): 1-PS4-1, 2-LS4-1

Kallie George shares the experiences of a young girl as she explores the forest with open ears and an open heart. She hears things like the creaking of the trees, the rustling of the leaves, the croaking of the frogs, the trickling of the stream, the nibbling of the squirrels, and more. This book can encourage your students to listen closely and appreciate the amazing things that are happening around them in their schoolyard, local green space, or park. Building that awareness and appreciation is a great stepping stone toward stewardship.

The Seeking Tree by Jodi Dee

Reading age: Kindergarten – 1st grade (5-6 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 3-LS4-4

Jodi Dee personifies a tree and its journey through time in this newly released (2023) picture book. This beautifully illustrated story begins in North Carolina in the past when settlers first came to the forest that the tree sprouts in. The tree talks to other trees around it about how people are changing over time but wonders when humans will sit beneath their leaves. The tree waits for hundreds of years until a little girl from the future pays it a visit and helps to share the importance of trees and how they should be planted again.

Picture Books About Positive Human Impact

Butterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies by Deborah Hopkinson

Reading age: Kindergarten – 3rd grade (5-8 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-3, 3-LS4-4, 5-ESS3-1

Deborah Hopkinson wrote this book about a little girl that moved from another country to the United States where she couldn’t speak or read English. She introduces a lot of information about the Monarch butterfly and their migration from Mexico to the northern United States. This lengthy book moves through the seasons and explains the special relationship between Monarch butterflies and the milkweed plants. The main character is empowered by the school librarian to get her class involved in creating a monarch way station; an environmental act accomplishable by a set of students.

Old Enough to Save the Planet by Loll Kirby

Reading age: 2nd grade – 7th grade (8-12 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3-1

Loll Kirby compiles stories of real children that helped make environmental changes across the world in this picture book about impact. Some movements included planting trees, changing from single use water bottles to reusable water bottles, planting mangrove trees to prevent erosion, writing a book to bring awareness and more. Children activists highlighted in this book ranged from ages 7 to 16, making this a very applicable and empowering book for your students.

Not for Me Please!: I Choose to Act Green by Maria Godsey

Reading age: Preschool – 2nd grade (2-7 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3

Maria Godsey wrote this book about a little boy named Luke who learns what happens with the litter that he makes and how he can make a difference. Through rhyme and rhythm, this story shows what can happen to trash and how it can negatively affect the Earth. He shares obtainable acts that can help the environment including picking up litter, recycling, turning off unused lights, turning off the faucet when not in use, using reusable containers, and more.

We Are All Connected by Gabi Garcia

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3

Gabi Garcia uses rhyme and rhythm to share the commonalities of all people on Earth, encouraging everyone to connect. She suggests easy ways that people can connect such as fist bumps, sharing thoughts, speaking up for others, and more. After reminding the readers that we are all connected by nature, Garcia introduces ways that we can work together to keep the Earth healthy such as keeping the water clean, planting trees, growing a garden, being friends with bees, and more.

The Mess That We Made by Michelle Lord

Reading age: Kindergarten – 2nd grade (5-7 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS4-1, 2-ESS1-1, 3-LS4-4

Michelle Lord uses the rhythm of the song “The House that Jack Built” to share the affects of water pollution caused by humans. Lovely illustrations bring to life the negative affects of water pollution such as the sea turtle swimming through a bunch of trash near a coral reef and how it gets tangled up in the litter. The end of the book empowers readers to help clean up the mess we made in order to save the ocean, plants, and animals.

What a Waste by Jess French

Reading age: Preschool – 3rd grade (4-8 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 2-PS1-4, 2-ESS1-1, 3-LS4-4, 4-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3-1

Jess French shares a lot of incredible and mind blowing facts about how much waste is created each year and the negative affects that this waste has on the Earth and its inhabitants. She defines pollution and shares about different kinds including air, soil, water, noise, and light pollution. French also introduces Earth’s resources, both renewable and non-renewable, how they are used, and how to protect them. This is a long book stuffed full of amazing information and a lot of different ideas to help protect the Earth.

The Day the Trash Came Out to Play by David M. Beadle

Reading age: 1st – 3rd grade (6-8 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3

David M. Beadle uses rhyme and rhythm to describe a day that a little boy littered. Beadle gave the piece of litter a personality and when other trash in garbage cans and dumpsters saw that it was riding the wind, they came out to play. The streets and nature in the town were covered with litter and everyone decided to work together to clean up the mess. They also decided to make a recycling center to better take care of the waste.

The Plastic Problem by Aubre Andrus

Reading age: 3rd grade – 7th grade (9-12 years)

Related Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): K-ESS3-3, 2-PS1-4, 2-ESS1-1, 3-LS4-4, 5-ESS3-1

Aubre Andrus shares a lot of information about plastic and ways to reduce waste in this informational book. They begin with an introduction to what plastic is, plastic throughout history, and where it can be found. Then she dives into what problems can come with plastic including the polluting of the oceans, how it contributes to heating up the planet, how it is challenging to recycle, and how people overuse it because it’s convenient. She then provides accessible and attainable ways that people can help to reduce their waste and save the Earth.

In a nutshell

Hopefully after reading this kids Earth Day books list you have found a wonderful book (or two or three…) to read with your class for this worldwide observance day. Enjoy this impactful day and how it can empower your students to make a difference! To create stewards of our Earth they must first be introduced to the wonder and beauty of it. After there is a respect and appreciation for nature, then the desire to protect it can be cultivated. Thank you for helping make our future brighter by teaching our future advocates!

Works Cited

Mahzoon-Hagheghi, M.; Yebra, R.; Johnson, R. (2018). Fostering a Greater Understanding of Science in the Classroom Through Children’s Literature. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 6(1), 41-50. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1183979.pdf

Have amazing kids Earth Day books that weren’t listed? Include your favorites in the comments!

Check out this podcast episode for unique ways to teach with books!

Looking for another article about Earth Day to help you plan activities to go along with your kids Earth Day books? Check this one out!

“A List of Earth Day Activities Elementary Students Will Love This Year”

Earth Day Picture Books

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