Celebrate Earth Day with Some Kidlit! Earth Day is a reminder to take care of our planet. We can celebrate, take action, and even read books in appreciation of Earth. We’ve compiled a small list below of books you can read to your kiddos in honor of Earth Day this year!
Nell Plants A Tree by Anne Wynter
It all starts with a little girl, Nell, who plants a seed. Nell Plants A Tree by Anne Wynter is a beautiful picture book that “shows how one little girl’s careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family.” This book is a perfect read for Earth Day!
Planting Hope by Phillip Hoelzel
This gorgeous picture book bio is about Brazilian photojournalist, humanitarian and environmental advocate Sebastião Salgado, and his journey with Leila to rebuild the rainforest he once grew up in. Through art and activism, they would show that everyone was responsible for caring for the planet and that hope endures if we take action. Snag you a copy here.
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming
This award-winning book follows Apis, a honeybee, as she embarks on her journey through life. From emerging through her wax cap cell to beginning her life as an adventurer in search of nectar to bring back to her hive. Bees are a detrimental part of society. Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming is a must-read for Earth day!
Home Is… by Hannah Barnaby
Home Is… by Hannah Barnaby is a picture book with lyrical rhyming text that will have young readers thinking about home in a whole new way. Find out what makes a home home in this intriguing exploration of the places creatures call home.
Jumper A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan
Does your little one love spiders? This vibrant nonfiction picture book, Jumper, by Jessica Lanan brings readers into the world and hidden life of a backyard jumping spider.
“What if you were small as a bean,
Could walk on the walls and ceiling,
Sense vibrations through your elbows,
And jump five times your body length?
That is Jumper’s world.“
Animals In Surprising Shades by Susan Johnston Taylor
Animals In Surprising Shades is a perfect picture book to read to the kiddos on Earth day. It follows all of Earth’s the colorful creatures through poetry. “Learn why the Blue-footed Booby puts on a special dance or how the Picasso Bug uses its masterful chemical defense against predators. Explore simple and fun poetic forms like the tanka, haiku, and quatrain. Just be sure to take good notes! An interactive component rewards practicing poets seeking to challenge themselves further.”
Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough by Hayley Rocco
This inspiring and accessible picture book biography by Hayley Rocco follows beloved naturalist, broadcaster, and documentarian David Attenborough. “This is the story of David Attenborough. It’s also the story of our planet, which has changed rapidly over the course of one person’s lifetime, and a clarion call for us to do our part to bring back the wild places and protect the creatures who call Earth home.”
Have any recommendations you’d like to add? We’d love to hear them. Comment below!