Earth Day Books for Kids: What to Read in 2025
April 22nd is International Earth Day—a time to celebrate the beauty of our planet and reflect on how we can protect it, both now and for future generations. Whether you’re a teacher looking to support your lesson plan or a parent hoping to start a meaningful conversation at home, books are one of the most powerful tools we have to talk about the environment with children.
In this list, I’ve gathered some of my favorite Earth Day books for kids: a mix of classic titles, recent gems, and even a couple of unexpected picks. Some are poetic and lyrical, others packed with facts, and many are based on real people and events. All of them offer thoughtful ways to explore big ideas—sustainability, biodiversity, activism, climate justice—through age-appropriate storytelling.
These picture books about the environment aren’t just for Earth Day. They can be revisited all year long as part of science units, read-alouds, or quiet weekend reflections.
Let’s take a look at 18 Earth Day
books that educate, inspire, and remind us that every action—no matter how small—can help shape a greener future.
Read also:
18 Inspiring Earth Day Books About the Environment, Sustainability, and Our Planet
Table of Contents
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Books about Trees, Forests, and the Life of Plants
These Earth Day books center on trees, rainforests, and the interconnectedness of plant life.
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
By Lynne Cherry
One day, a man exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. As he sleeps, the rainforest’s residents—frogs, snakes, birds, even a child from the Yanomamo tribe—whisper in his ear about the vital importance of the tree and the interconnectedness of all life in the forest.
This story has become a classic of children’s literature, and rightly so. The illustrations are lush and vivid, drawing young readers in immediately, while the message resonates with children as old as middle schoolers. It’s a fantastic entry point to discuss rainforests, deforestation, and how every creature plays a part in Earth’s delicate balance.
Be a Tree!
By Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Felicita Sala
This poetic and joyful picture book invites children to imagine themselves as trees—rooted, resilient, and connected to others. Through lyrical text and Felicita Sala’s warm, earthy illustrations, readers explore how trees live, communicate, and support life around them.
The book works beautifully as both a read-aloud and a quiet reflection piece. It’s an invitation to observe, care, and consider how deeply trees support our ecosystems—and how we can be like trees: grounded, generous, and strong together.
Felicita Sala is one of my favourite illustrators; you can check out her work here as well:
The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever
By H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
This inspiring biography tells the story of Kate Sessions, a pioneering horticulturist who helped transform San Diego from a desert town into a lush, green city.
With a clear, engaging narrative and vibrant illustrations, The Tree Lady is a powerful introduction to how science, activism, and perseverance can reshape the places we live. It opens the door to meaningful discussions about urban green spaces, public gardens, and women in science.
- Used Book in Good Condition
Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees
By Franck Prévot, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty
Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her incredible work in environmental conservation and women’s empowerment in Kenya. Through her Green Belt Movement, she helped plant more than 30 million trees.
This book is a stunning tribute to her life and legacy. The richly patterned illustrations bring the story alive, and the text is both educational and deeply moving. It’s a wonderful way to introduce kids to a real-life environmental hero—and to show that environmentalism can be a form of peace-building and resistance.
Green
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger
At first glance, Green appears simple—each page has just a few words. But on closer look, it’s full of clever cutouts, visual surprises, and artistic detail. Each spread presents a different shade of green—forest green, sea green, lime green—inviting readers to explore both language and color through the lens of nature.
This book is quietly brilliant. It’s a meditative, sensory experience that young children and adults alike will enjoy, and it’s a creative way to begin talking about the variety and richness of the natural world.
Stories That Help Raise Kind, Brave, Empathetic Kids
Download your free EQ Bookshelf — a printable guide with age-by-age book recommendations to support your child’s emotional growth through the power of stories.
Books about Oceans, Water, and Marine Life
These Earth Day picture books about the environment explore oceans, migration, the water cycle, and the fragile ecosystems that sustain life beneath the waves.
Earth’s Incredible Oceans
By Jess French
A fantastic non-fiction book that introduces children to the wonders of the underwater world—from coral reefs and mangroves to whales and sea slugs. Written by a conservationist and vet, this book stands out for its clear, engaging language and beautifully detailed illustrations.
It works well across a wide age range. Younger children will enjoy looking at the pictures and naming animals, while older readers will find interesting facts and explanations about how marine ecosystems function and why they’re under threat.
This book also includes sections on how children can help protect the oceans—perfect for Earth Day or a science unit on water and ecosystems.
- French, Jess
- McElfatrick, Claire
The Ocean Gardener
By Clara Anganuzzi
“The Ocean Gardener” is a quiet, poetic story that celebrates the often invisible work of reef restoration. It follows a young girl as she tends to coral like a gardener tends to plants—caring, planting, and gently helping it grow back after damage.
The underwater setting is dreamy but grounded in real environmental issues. It’s not overly didactic but still manages to introduce ideas like biodiversity, conservation, and environmental care in a soft, almost meditative way.
The tone is calm and hopeful, and it works well as a conversation starter around the idea that helping the planet doesn’t always look loud or revolutionary—sometimes it’s patient, steady work.
All the Water in the World
By George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
This book introduces children to the water cycle, but does it in a way that’s far from dry or textbook-like. The poetic language and dynamic collage illustrations work together to show the movement, beauty, and importance of water in our lives.
The layout is clever—words curve and flow like streams, and the pages feel alive with motion. It’s a great way to introduce young kids to the idea that water is a finite and shared resource.
Ideal for preschool and early elementary, but older kids will still appreciate the message and visuals. If you’re looking for a lyrical read that still delivers a clear message about sustainability, this is a strong choice.
Springtime Storks: A Migration Love Story
By Carol Joy Munro, illustrated by Polly Noakes
This one might not scream “Earth Day” at first glance, but it’s a beautiful read about migration, connection, and nature’s rhythms. It follows two storks on their journey across continents to reunite and nest, introducing children to the challenges migratory birds face—from weather patterns to habitat loss.
The narrative is gentle and informative, with soft, painterly illustrations that match the pace of the story. It’s also a lovely way to talk about geography and animal behavior while reminding children how human activity affects even the most distant corners of the natural world.
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Books about Our Interconnected Planet
These books look at Earth as one big, connected system—celebrating how life unfolds across different continents, cultures, and ecosystems.
One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth
By Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jenni Desmond
This book takes readers on a journey around the world in a single day, showing what happens in different places as the Earth turns. From sunrise in the Arctic to nightfall in the rainforest, One World highlights the diversity of environments, animals, and human activities across the globe.
The concept is simple but powerful: while it may be daytime in one part of the world, somewhere else animals are hunting, sleeping, migrating, or hatching. It’s a great way to introduce the idea of time zones, but more importantly, it helps children grasp how interconnected our ecosystems are—and how small actions in one place can ripple across the globe.
The illustrations are detailed and gentle, and the text balances scientific facts with poetic observations. This is a thoughtful, global take on environmental awareness.
Round and Round Goes Mother Nature: 48 Stories of Life Cycles Around the World
By Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Margaux Samson Abadie
This beautifully illustrated collection offers short, accessible stories about life cycles—from coral spawning to mushrooms fruiting, birds molting, and trees shedding leaves. The book covers a wide range of animals, plants, and phenomena across different ecosystems and continents.
It’s one of those books that can be read straight through or dipped into gradually. Each page tells a miniature story, and the variety keeps it engaging. The tone is educational but not dry, and the design—colorful, layered, and inviting—makes it a visual treat.
Ideal for older picture book readers or as a classroom resource, this title works well as part of a broader Earth Day or science curriculum focusing on cycles and biodiversity.
- Dawnay, Gabby
- Samson Abadie, Margaux
Here We Are
By Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers wrote this book as a welcome letter to his newborn son, introducing him to the wonders of life on Earth. It’s less of a science book and more of a big-picture celebration of the planet—its people, animals, oceans, and skies.
The text is simple and conversational, and the tone is sincere, with just the right touch of humor. It doesn’t go deep into environmental issues, but it does encourage a sense of responsibility, kindness, and curiosity—toward both other people and the planet we live on.
A great starting point for early conversations about stewardship, empathy, and the Earth as a shared home.
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales
By Dawn Casey & Anne Wilson
Where does the Sun come from? Why is the sky so far away?
This book compiles seven folktales from different cultures to explore how people across the world have understood and honored the natural world. Each story is followed by a hands-on activity, such as building a miniature greenhouse or making a clay seed ball.
The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales takes a more spiritual and mythological approach to environmentalism, reminding us how deeply our ancestors felt connected to the Earth. The tales are engaging, the illustrations are rich and full of movement, and the extras—cultural notes and activities—make this an excellent choice for classroom or home use.
It’s a longer read and probably best suited for slightly older kids (ages 6+), but it’s incredibly rewarding. Also worth mentioning: Barefoot Books is committed to sustainable publishing practices and prints with vegetable inks on responsibly sourced paper.
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Earth Day Books about Taking Action and Environmental Heroes
These books tell the stories of real people (and fictional ones) who stood up for the environment, made difficult choices, and proved that even small actions can lead to real change.
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
By Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
In Njau, Gambia, discarded plastic bags piled up—blocking roads, choking livestock, and creating a health hazard. Then Isatou Ceesay had an idea. One Plastic Bag tells the true story of how she and a group of local women started collecting, washing, and crocheting the bags into purses, launching a recycling movement that changed their community.
The book is powerful without being heavy-handed. It offers a fantastic real-world example of grassroots environmental activism, and also highlights the role of women and local knowledge in sustainability. It’s perfect for Earth Day, but also for conversations about gender, innovation, and how individual choices matter.
The collage-style illustrations are rich in texture and include actual recycled materials—another thoughtful touch that reinforces the message.
- Paul, Miranda
- Zunon, Elizabeth
Not for Me, Please!: I Choose to Act Green
By Maria Godsey, illustrated by Christoph J. Kellner
We all talk about the importance of sustainability, but what does that actually look like for a child? This book answers that question with concrete examples. Through the story of a boy who begins to question everyday choices—plastic straws, food waste, long showers—Not for Me, Please! shows how even kids can take action.
The message is clear, and the tone stays empowering rather than preachy. It’s a useful conversation starter for families and classrooms alike, and it gives kids a sense of agency that’s often missing from environmental discussions.
It’s best for younger readers (ages 4–7), but the impact can go beyond that age range if used as part of a larger discussion or project.
Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World
By Laurie Lawlor, illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Most people know Rachel Carson as the author of Silent Spring, the groundbreaking book that helped launch the modern environmental movement. But this picture book focuses on her earlier life—her love of nature, her dedication to science, and how she became a powerful voice for the planet.
The illustrations are gentle and realistic, and the storytelling is clear and respectful of both young readers and Carson’s legacy. This book doesn’t simplify her achievements but makes them understandable, showing how her curiosity and perseverance changed public awareness about pesticides and pollution.
A strong pick for kids who are interested in science, writing, or activism—and for showing that one determined person really can change the world.
Don’t Let Them Disappear
By Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Gianna Marino
This is more of a catalogue than a narrative story, but it’s an engaging one. Each page introduces a different endangered species—from the giant panda to the vaquita—and shares what makes them unique, why they matter, and what’s threatening their survival.
The tone is direct and informative, and while it doesn’t shy away from difficult facts, it stays hopeful and age-appropriate. The watercolor illustrations are full of movement and personality, helping children connect with the animals being described.
Ideal for browsing, classroom displays, or as a jumping-off point for student-led projects on endangered animals.
- Clinton, Chelsea
- Marino, Gianna
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🌟 Bonus Read: For Older Kids and Advanced Readers
Margherita Dolce Vita
By Stefano Benni, translated by Antony Shugaar
This one breaks the pattern a bit—Margherita Dolce Vita isn’t a picture book, and it’s not technically a children’s environmental book either. But I’ve included it here because it’s sharp, funny, satirical, and has a lot to say about consumerism, suburban development, and the slow erasure of green spaces.
Fifteen-year-old Margherita lives on the outskirts of town, in a slightly wild, slightly magical space that still feels free and full of life. Then a mysterious black cube appears next door—modern, sterile, and full of secrets—and everything begins to change. What follows is a surreal and often hilarious commentary on our modern lives, wrapped in a coming-of-age story that’s full of heart.
This is one of those rare books that manages to be both absurd and deeply insightful. The environmental message is there, but it’s woven into a larger critique of unchecked development, soulless progress, and the emptiness that follows when we cut ourselves off from nature.
It’s best suited for older readers—middle schoolers and up—and also makes for a fascinating read for adults. If you’re looking for something different, something to hand to a kid who’s maybe a bit too cool for picture books but not quite ready for dry nonfiction, this is it.
