Our Favorite Earth Day Books for Early Childhood
Looking for some good books this Earth Day to read with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners? We’ve rounded up our favorite picture books to read on Earth Day. They’re a great way to learn about planet Earth for young children.
What To Look For in Earth Day Books
For young children, Earth Day doesn’t always makes sense when it comes to climate change, environmental protection, or some of the bigger ideas, but what they can understand is plants, gardens, cleaning up, and growing things. If you can find simpler books about trees, growing vegetables, or cleaning up garbage, that would be great for this age. The best ways to talk and read about Earth Day is with the smaller things that kids already understand.
Our Favorite Earth Day Books
Our favorite books for little readers tend to be the simpler ones, and many can be found at your local library. The books don’t all say they’re about Earth Day, but they are focused on different aspects of the natural world like plants, recycling, nature, and care of the Earth on a smaller level.
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The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
This one is a big hit with young readers and anyone on their first Earth Day reading. This colorful book is all about taking care of the trees, but in a way that little kids find interesting. We even have some crafts to go along with the book here.
You can find the book here.
The Earth Book by Todd Parr
Here’s a very simple and easy to understand book about the Earth! It’s all about the small changes we can all make to help the Earth. The colorful illustrations are perfect for little learners, and it’s a great introduction to Earth Day.
You can find the book here.
Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue! by Sherri Duskey Rinker
This book is part of the construction site series that my grandson loves, and it helps children learn about the importance of throwing away garbage. This is one way they can all help take care of our planet.
You can find the book here.
Dino-Earth Day by Lisa Wheeler
Another one we love to read on Earth Day is this one with the dinosaurs! It’s the perfect book if you have a child interested in dinosaurs like we do.
You can find the book here.
Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root
This is a good picture book about starting your own garden! There’s lots of wonderful things in the book about plants, growing food, and doing it with your friends. It’s a good book that doesn’t actually say Earth Day but helps little kids with those ideas.
You can find the book here.
Great Carrier Reef by Jessica Stremer
Earth Day is a great time to start learning about water, the oceans, and coral reefs! As these are all topics that benefit from our care and attention, bring out a book like this for the kids. And this one in particular even includes the idea of recycling to help make a reef!
You can find the book here.
One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Bernard Booth
We love a book about a big tree for Earth Day, and this book gives a closer look at the life cycle of the tree. And young children can learn all the different ways that trees help their environment, both while alive and after they fall.
You can find the book here.
Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson
Here’s a great book that’s the perfect way to introduce planting and growing plants to young children. It’s a beautiful picture book about all the different flowers that will grow from just a little seed. Last year, we read the book before we planted our own flowers on Earth Day.
You can find the book here.
Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul
If you’re looking for a nonfiction book that is still good for little kids, try this one about the water cycle. There’s tons of interesting facts and teaches the importance of water.
You can find the book here.
One Earth by Eileen Spinelli
If you want a book all about the care of the planet, try this one about Earth! It’s written for Earth Day, and it is a little wordy for very young kids like toddlers. But its still a great option for older preschoolers and kindergarteners.
You can find the book here.
Earth Day with Young Children
Children in early childhood may not understand all the ideas we hear about on Earth Day, but you can start with the basics about the Earth and the environment. Focus on plants, water, and very basic care of Earth. Pick your favorite book from the list (or a few) from the list to read this Earth Day.
Combine with Earth Day Activities
Read one of our favorite books, and, then, try some of our Earth Day activities! They go great with the books and help children enforce what they learn about from the books. Check out our whole list here.
