Books to Love the Earth

Our planet is a beautiful, magical place. As our children move through their young lives at a different pace and with different eyes than we have as adults, they often remind us to notice all the small and special things. Whether it be a ladybug on their bedroom wall or the way leaves make shadows on the lawn, we get to appreciate earth in a new way. This book list is meant to open their world even further. Our planet is facing challenges for sure, but we believe that encouraging our children to love all that it is, as well as teaching them how to care for it, is perhaps the greatest step we can take to take care of the biosphere.

Click the book's linked title to view the book on Amazon or visit your local library. These titles are sure to be a hit.

The Earth Book by Todd Parr

Parr’s work may seem familiar because his simple text and bold illustrations are loved by young children everywhere. The Earth Book is no exception and provides children with ideas about how small changes can add up to make a big impact in caring for our planet.

Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

The sweet book is great for toddlers, primary-aged children, and even younger elementary-aged children. It gives a view underground and teaches how worms contribute to creating healthy soil, which, in turn, nourishes plants. The text includes terminology that children will be interested to learn, and the paper cut out illustrations are perfect for this particular book!

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

A man enters the rainforest with the intention of cutting down a large Kapok tree. Exhausted, he rests against its trunk and falls asleep. While he sleeps, he is visited by a range of rainforest inhabitants who whisper into his ear and give him a different view of this sacred place. He awakens a changed man and walks carefully out of the forest.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

As a girl, Isatou noticed a plastic bag floating past her while she walked. It’s novelty was beautiful to her, but as time went on and the discarded bags began to pile up around her village, it was clear that their beauty was overshadowed by their wasteful ugliness. When local goats began ingesting the bags and dying, Isatou took action. She and other local women found a way to turn the bags into something beautiful, giving the plastic a new purpose.

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Wangari Maathai is an environmentalist we can all look up to. Her work with the women of Kenya led to the reforestation and revitalization of a country and community. Proof that one person really can affect measurable change, this story of Maathai’s life is perfect for young children. The gorgeous illustrations add to the story’s appeal as well.

The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor

Sometimes it’s hard for children to understand why their parents do the things they do. In The Table Where Rich People Sit, one child simply cannot understand why her parents aren’t willing to work a little harder to earn money that will pull them out of poverty. Throughout the course of the story, the child realizes that perhaps there are different definitions of wealth, and that her family may be wealthy in the best possible way.

The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Kate Sessions grew up much like many children: fascinated by the world around her. Her love of trees carried on through adulthood, and when she found herself living in treeless San Diego, she decided to do something about it. Through careful research, hard work, and the support of her community, Kate managed to turn a desert town into a lush oasis.