EARTH DAY BOOKS
Earth day is April 22nd. Celebrate it by reading some of the books below with your child. These books are great for discussing our planet and environmental issues. Reserve them from your local library, watch a YouTube video of them (links below), or you can purchase them from Amazon by clicking the links below (affiliate links). Books below are best for ages 2-9 years old.
1.) Earth Day: An Alphabet Book by Gary Kowalski (Age 2-5)
Children and adults will delight in Earth Day, a litany of gratitude that celebrates earth’s diverse species, from apricots to groundhogs to junebugs, from quahogs to zinnias, zucchini and zebras with bright and whimsical illustrations. In alphabetical order, the wonders of nature arise from the page, reminding readers that every day is a reason to give thanks and that miracles are as simple as ABC. Read Aloud Video
2.) The Earth Book By Todd Parr (Age 3-6)
With his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-friendly picture 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. Read Aloud Video
3.) Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddal (Age 3-7)
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. Read Aloud Video
4.) I Am Earth: An Earth Day Book for Kids by James McDonald (Age 3-7)
Learn with planet Earth as the guide! Children ages 3-5 will discover important facts about the planet they call home through entertaining images that preschoolers and kindergartners will want to read again and again. Imaginative illustrations and easy to follow facts make this an excellent book for young learners. Read Aloud Video
5.) 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh (Age 3-7)
Do you remember to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth? How about using both sides of the paper when writing and drawing? Bold, child-friendly illustrations and die-cut pages will draw even the youngest listeners to this gentle reminder of the easy, everyday ways we can be kinder to the earth. Read Aloud Video
6.) Don’t Throw That Away (a lift the flap book) by Lara Bergen(Age 4-6)
Follow an eco-conscious super hero as he teaches kids how to recycle and reuse common household items! The six large flaps throughout show that oridinary trash is really a treasure. From turning old clothes into fun costumes or an old box into a brand new car, kids will learn that saving the environment is super cool! Read Aloud Video
7.) The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches (Age 4-6)
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! Read Aloud Video
8.) The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling By Alison Inches (Age 4-6)
Peek into this diary of an aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a display on a bookshelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life…as a baseball bat! Read Aloud Video
9.) The Earth and I by Frank Asch (Age 4-7)
This story celebrates friendship that one child has with the Earth. They play together, listen to each other, and nourish each other. But when the Earth is sad, the child is sad–so he finds a way to make his friend, the Earth, happy. Read Aloud Video
10.) Why Should I Recycle? By Jen Green (Age 4-7)
What if everybody threw away old bottles and newspapers, littering the world with glass and plastic and tin cans that should be recycled and made into new products? Mr. Jones is a teacher who sets a good example for kids by separating his trash for recycling. When he takes them on a class trip to a recycling plant they learn the value of recycling. Read Aloud Video
11.) Biscuit’s Earth Day Celebration by Alyssa Capucilli (Age 4-8)
We love Biscuit books at our house. Join Biscuit as he helps 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! Read Aloud Video
12.) How to Help the Earth-by the Lorax By Tish Rabe (Age 5-8)
After explaining how the trash in a waste basket 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! Read Aloud Video
13.) Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard (Age 5-8)
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. These nonfiction picture books feature kid-friendly text and illustrations to make learning fun! Read Aloud Video
14.) The Lorax By Dr. Seuss (Age 5-9)
Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others. Experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference. The Lorax Movie – Read Aloud Video
15.) Where Do Garbage Trucks Go?: And Other Questions About Trash and Recycling by Ben Richmond (Age 6+)
What is a landfill? What makes some garbage dangerous? Why it is good to recycle—and can we recycle water? Kids see the garbage truck all the time—but this entertaining and educational book will tell them what it does and where it goes, along with other facts about the trash we create and how it affects the environment. Read Aloud Video
16.) Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (Age 6-8)
Perfect for Earth Day on April 22, but important for teaching environmental lessons year around! Michael Recycle tells the adventures of a young superhero whose power allows him to teach people about recycling. Read Aloud Video
Happy Reading!
MAT Create 