30 Must Read Earth Day Picture Books for Kids
Earth Day, April 22nd, is a great opportunity to introduce children to important environmental concepts and inspire them to care for our planet. There are many wonderful books for kids that can help educate and engage them in environmental issues. Here's a list of some of the best Earth Day books for kids to read:
Teaching children about Earth Day is important for several reasons:
Environmental Awareness: Earth Day serves as an annual reminder to focus on environmental issues. Teaching children about Earth Day helps them become aware of the pressing environmental challenges our planet faces, such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Awareness is the first step toward addressing these issues.
Sense of Responsibility: Educating children about Earth Day instills in them a sense of responsibility for the planet. It encourages them to think about the impact of their actions on the environment and consider the consequences of their choices.
Stewardship: Teaching children about Earth Day promotes the concept of environmental stewardship. It encourages them to take care of the Earth and its resources, fostering a sense of guardianship and respect for the natural world.
Sustainability: Earth Day emphasizes the importance of sustainable living and resource conservation. Teaching children about Earth Day helps them understand the value of conserving resources and reducing waste, which are essential principles for a more sustainable future.
Empowerment: When children learn about environmental issues and the actions they can take to make a difference, they feel empowered. They realize that even small changes in their behavior can contribute to positive environmental outcomes.
Critical Thinking: Earth Day education encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Children learn to ask questions, gather information, and develop solutions to environmental challenges. These skills are valuable not only for environmental issues but for various aspects of life.
Global Perspective: Earth Day often involves discussions about global interconnectivity and the impact of environmental issues on people worldwide. This global perspective can help children develop empathy, a sense of global citizenship, and an understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
Healthy Living: Many Earth Day initiatives promote healthier living practices, such as eating more sustainably, reducing exposure to toxins, and being physically active outdoors. Teaching children about these practices contributes to their overall well-being.
Respect for Nature: Earth Day education encourages children to develop a deep respect and love for nature. It fosters an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the natural world, which can lead to a lifelong connection with the environment.
Policy Advocacy: As children grow and become more aware of environmental issues, they may become future advocates for environmental policies and initiatives. Education about Earth Day can inspire them to take active roles in promoting positive change.
In summary, teaching children about Earth Day is vital for raising environmentally aware, responsible, and empowered individuals who can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. It helps instill values and behaviors that can lead to a healthier planet and a better quality of life for generations to come.
30 Must Read Earth Day Picture Books for Kids
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What is the Best Earth Day Book for Kids?
There are so many amazing titles to choose from when looking for an Earth Day book for children, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be The Water Protectors.
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .
It’s an Earth Day book like none other with moving words and stunning illustrations that creates a discussion and will be read over and over again.
30 Earth Day Books for Young Children
The Girl Who Spoke To the Moon
A sweet bedtime story that will inspire children to protect the Earth and encourage others to do the same. This Earth Day book for young children will inspire budding Earth Day enthusiasts and be a bookshelf favorite.
When Sofia dreams of visiting the Moon one night, she discovers people are hurting the Earth! With the Moon as her guide, Sofia learns how we can work together to make Earth feel better.
With rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, this sweet, environmentally friendly story is a gentle lesson and clear reminder of the importance of caring for our planet. Previously published as Sofia's Dream, this updated edition includes bonus back matter about pollution and the simple steps we can take to protect the Earth!
What Does it Mean to be Green?
Being green means...
Turning off the water while you brush your teeth
Only turning on the lights when you need them
Picking up trash that isn't yours
In this empowering book, a young boy and girl discover amazing facts (like how our food travels an average of 1,500 miles to be on our plate!) and explore all the different ways they―and we―can help protect the Earth's most precious resources to save the planet and live "green" lifestyles. We love this Earth Day children’s book title and read it often throughout the year!
Trees Make Perfect Pets
An endearing and environmentally friendly story about a girl's unlikely best friend...a tree! Abigail is determined to get the perfect pet. So she chooses Fido. He keeps her cool from the sun, stays where she tells him, and even gives her air to breathe. That's because Fido is a tree!
Abigail and Fido are such a sweet pair and we love this environmentally friendly children’s book that would be perfect for a Earth Day classroom lesson or read!
A Dolphin’s Wish
Dive under the sea with a family of dolphins and discover the dangers of plastic pollution.
Every year, huge amounts of plastic end up in our oceans. Luckily, there's something we can do to change that! Follow along as Daddy Dolphin and his son show readers what we're doing wrong, then be inspired to take action and make a difference!
Featuring charming rhymes, bold illustrations, and educational back matter, this beautiful ocean tale offers readers a peek into life under the sea. This book is perfect for anyone who cares about our planet and wants to learn more about how children can make a impact long after Earth Day is over.
Secrets of Our Earth: Shine a Light Book
In Secrets of Our Earth, we’ll journey to the polar lands, dive beneath the ocean waves and explore rain forests and deserts to see the wonders of our beautiful planet. This book is so much fun for kids of all ages and great for Earth Day lessons.
Shine a flashlight behind the page or hold it up to the light to reveal what is hidden in and around each landscape and discover a world of amazing surprises.
Series: Shine-A-Light
Shine a flashlight behind the page or hold it to the light to reveal what is hidden in and around different places and things. Discover a world of great surprises!
What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet
Did you know that every single plastic toothbrush ever made still exists? Or that there is a floating mass of trash larger than the USA drifting around the Pacific Ocean?
It is not all bad news though. While this is a knowledge book that explains where we are going wrong, What a Waste also shows what we are getting right! Discover plans to save our seas. How countries are implementing green projects worldwide, and how to turn waste into something useful. The tiniest everyday changes can make all the difference to ensure our beautiful planet stays lush and teeming with life.
Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration
This is a gentle and fun introduction to some basic Earth Day concepts, perfect for sharing with the youngest readers.
Join the sweet little yellow puppy as he helps the little girl take care of our green world. From planting seeds to cleaning up, Biscuit's celebration is an exciting adventure for Earth Day and for every day.
Earth Day, Birthday
It's April 22, and Lion and his friends want to plant trees, recycle bottles, and have fun on Earth Day. But not Monkey. He wants to celebrate his birthday. Can he convince the other animals that it really is his birthday? This is such a fun Earth Day book for the little readers in your life!
One Earth
Celebrate our planet and discover easy ways to take care of it with this picture book that's perfect for budding environmentalists and nature lovers.
Kids can count reasons to love the planet and ways to protect it in the pages of this conservation-themed book. Gentle verse reminds the reader of Earth's beauties--starting with "one wide sweeping sky, two honey bees" and continuing all the way to "ten fields to plow." The text then starts counting backwards, listing simple ways children can help, such as reducing waste and reusing items. The conclusion takes us back to number one with the book's key message: "One Earth so beautiful. Remember--only one." At once celebration and challenge, this book will encourage children to take better care of the planet.
Earth Day, Everyday
On Earth Day, we find ways to help the Earth. Trina plants trees with her class. She forms an Earth Day club with her friends. What can you do to make every day Earth Day? Do your part to be a planet protector! Discover how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and more with Tyler and Trina in the Planet Protectors series, part of the Cloverleaf Books™ collection.
Earth Day, Hooray!
Earth Day Hooray! is perfect for teaching place value to second, third, and fourth graders. Earth Day is on the way, and Ryan, Luke, and Carly have a plan. If they manage to collect and recycle 5,000 aluminum cans, they can make enough money to buy some beautiful flowers for nearby Gilroy Park. CAN they do it? Counting the cans gives Ryan, Luke, and Carly—along with readers—a lesson in place value. And facts about recycling throughout the story will help readers understand how important it is to take care of the earth.
Earth Ninja: A Children’s Book About Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing
Earth Ninja shows us how one little ninja can make a difference in the world by practicing three simple life habits. Find out what happens in this fun book about the impact we each have on the earth. Earth Ninja is a teacher’s top pick for Earth Day books for children!
I am Earth: An Earth Day Book for Kids
I Am Earth introduces kids to the basic concepts of Earth science while also encouraging the importance of taking care of our special planet through environmental awareness and sustainability. Keeping Earth a happy healthy place to live, is important for everyone big and small. In this Earth science book for beginners, kids learn what makes our planet so uniquely special and how people can work together to keep it a healthy home. I am Earth is the perfect book for ages 3-5 making it a great Earth Day book option for preschoolers.
Thank You Earth
Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community, perfect for classrooms and homeschooling. This nonfiction picture book is ideal for Earth Day and for celebrating the planet all year long. What a great picture book for Earth Day!
Save the Ocean
Celebrate Earth Day with this engaging children's book that teaches about plastic pollution! Can you help Agwe, the hungry sea turtle, and Save the Ocean?
With beautiful and charming illustrations, this is an exciting Earth Day children's book adults will love reading over and over again with their kids. Save the Ocean's heartwarming lesson of recycling and conservation will stay with the reader for a lifetime as they learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
This Class Can Save the Planet
Celebrate World Oceans Day with this engaging children's book that teaches about plastic pollution! Can you help Agwe, the hungry sea turtle, and Save the Ocean?
With beautiful and charming illustrations, this is an exciting Earth Day children's book adults will love reading over and over again with their kids. Save the Ocean's heartwarming lesson of recycling and conservation will stay with the reader for a lifetime as they learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Here We Are
#1 New York Times bestseller, A TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year, A NPR Best Book of 2017 and A Boston Globe Best Book of 2017
Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers' user's guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet's terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver's signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have Earth Day book for parents.
My Friend Earth
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book. Its enticing die-cut pages encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return. What an amazing diverse Earth Day book for kids of all ages to enjoy.
The Great Garden Escape
Join Sally Strawberry and Billy Blueberry on an extraordinary and interactive adventure through the garden! Best friends Sally and Billy are ready for a fun day in Fruit Garden! After sliding down Mango Mountain and flying over Cherry Cliff, they accidentally land in the mysterious Vegetable Garden. Children will love to solve the clues about vegetables and see which part of the garden they get to explore next! This unique tale, filled with delightful rhymes and vivid watercolor illustrations, is one kids will want to read over and over again!
The Earth Book
Featuring a circular die-cut Earth on the cover and printed entirely with recycled materials and nontoxic soy inks, this book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good - from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper, to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways.
Over and Under The Pond
A secret underwater world brought to life: In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond.
Fancy Nancy Every Day is Earth Day
A secret underwater world brought to life: In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond in this beautiful Earth Day book for children.
Earth Day Ready to Read
In the latest beginning reader from the bestselling, classroom-based Robin Hill School series the class celebrates Earth Day! My 2nd grader loves this Earth Day book for young readers and enjoys reading to his brothers.
The kids in Mrs. Connor's class are celebrating Earth Day, and everyone has lots of ideas on how to save the Earth...except Emma. Emma is worried that her ideas are not good enough. With the help of her dad and Mrs. Connor, Emma learns that her small ideas can have big results!
Look Out for Litter
Earth has a litter problem. How can you help? Join Trina to learn how little pieces of trash can become big problems. Find out safe ways to take care of litter. Do your part to be a planet protector! Discover how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and more with Tyler and Trina in the Planet Protectors series and is a perfect Earth Day picture book for kids.
How to Help the Earth by the Lorax
After explaining how the trash in a wastebasket ultimately ends up in a landfill or incinerator, the Lorax suggests realistic ways children can reduce waste, such as by carrying a lunch box, donating old clothes and toys, sharing magazines with friends, recycling cans and bottles, and using rechargeable batteries. He also explains how they can save energy around the home by turning off lights, taking shorter showers, donning sweaters to stay warm, and much, much more. All in all, this is a great introduction to helping the Earth and helping kids step into reading!
Holly Celebrates Earth Day
Whether Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall – Holly Celebrates them all. Holly loves a celebration, and all her days are Holly-Days. Holly eagerly awaits each Holly-Day and celebrates with enthusiasm and verve.
Holly Celebrates Earth Day is Book Three of the Holly Celebrates Series. In Holly Celebrates Earth Day, Holly explores flora and fauna around the globe. Holly will teach young children the importance of taking care of Earth in this awesome Earth Day book for kids.
The Berenstain Bears: Don’t Pollute Anymore
This classic Berenstain Bears story is a perfect way to teach children about caring for the planet! We love Berenstain Bears and this Earth Day classic is a huge hit for our home.
Come for a visit in Bear Country with this classic First Time Book® from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Brother is doing a report about endangered species, so he and Sister visit the museum to talk to Professor Actual Factual about what they can do to help save the environment. Includes over 50 bonus stickers!
I Can Save the Earth
Meet Max the Little Monster. He is a cute, furry green monster who is an environmental nightmare. Among other things, he leaves on all the lights, keeps his computer plugged in, blasts the TV, hoards his old toys and uses so much toilet paper it clogs the toilet until finally, his excessive ways cause a power outage. With no TV to watch, computer to play on, video games to play with, Max finds there is a whole big world outside that he can make a difference in the environment.
Kids can follow Max the Little Green Monster's journey to environmental awareness and learn tips on how they can become little green monsters themselves. A kid-friendly glossary of Earth Day terms is included in the back of the book.
We Are Water Protectors
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .
The Adventure of a Plastic Bottle
Learn about recycling from a new perspective! Peek into this diary of a plastic bottle as it goes on a journey from the refinery plant, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into it's new life...as a fleece jacket!
Told from the point of view of a free-spirited plastic bottle, kids can share in the daily experiences and inner thoughts of the bottle through his personal journal. The diary entries will be fun and humorous yet point out the ecological significance behind each product and the resources used to make it. Readers will never look at a plastic bottle the same way again!
Compost Stew
Kids everywhere are seeking knowledge about the environment and climate change. Not only is composting becoming more common in households and residential gardens, but many school gardens feature compost piles, too. But how do you start a compost pile? What’s safe to include? Perfect for an Earth Day focus or year-round reference, this inviting book provides all the answers for kids and families looking for simple, child-friendly ways to help the planet.
Do you and your family celebrate Earth Day and discuss how to make the Earth a better place? Share your favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day below!
