Books can be an excellent tool to teach and inspire children. I’ve put together this list of books I think do a wonderful job of encouraging children’s curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for the world we live in.
Can I Recycle This? is an informative book that helps kids understand why recycling is important, how recycling works, and ways to make a positive environmental impact from a young age. I think this book would be an excellent addition to a field trip visiting a recycling center.
Nature’s Art Box gives simple instructions to make things like clothing dyes and clay using natural materials. There are directions for creating practical items like woven baskets, decorative items like seasonal wreaths, and whimsical items such as fairy houses. Throughout the book there are lessons about how these projects were used by people throughout the world many years ago. Doing these projects can entertain children for countless hours, and help kids feel connected to the peoples who came before them.
Lily’s Garden follows a young girl through a year in nature. She talks about how the Earth and the garden she grows change throughout the year. She talks about the joy nature brings her and the connection she feels with the people who taught her how to garden. It is a lovely story that any budding gardener will appreciate.
101 Ways to be an Eco Hero gives many simple ways kids can be more environmentally friendly. It focuses on different aspects of life that a child may be able to make changes in: from shorter showers, to upcycling materials for crafting, and so on.
The Big Book of Blooms (and others in the series) show the incredible variety that there is in our planet. It teaches about dozens of types of plants and their unique qualities: some are poisonous, some are medicinal, some are carnivorous, some are stinky, but all are important. It shows how wonderfully diverse nature can be.
I hope you and your children enjoy these books. If you’re looking for more eco-conscious reads for kids, be sure to check out my recommendations from 2022 and 2023.