Earth Day Book Lists for Kids Ages Birth - 17.

This book list includes boardbooks, picture books, easy readers, chapter books, novels and nonfiction books focusing on conservation, climate change, and nature appreciation. All the books are available through the Sussex County Library System.

Updated February 7, 2026
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101 ways to help the Earth with Dr Seuss's Lorax
Paul, Miranda
Paper Book
Simple suggestions for helping the planet that kids can do themselves--ideal for nurturing a love of nature and for celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax! Encourage children to be eco-friendly with the fun, easy ideas in this guidebook--and a little...
Along the Tapajós
Vilela, Fernando
Paper Book
A USBBY Outstanding International Book An Amazon Best Book of 2019 in the Ages 6-8 category A Junior Library Guild Selection A Capitol Choices Book Cauã and Inaê are a brother and sister who live in a small community along the Tapajós River in...
The aquanaut
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
Dive in to this whimsically adventurous graphic novel from Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award Winner Dan Santat! Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia's world is turned upside down when an...
Awesome Earth : concrete poems celebrate caves, canyons, and other fascinating landforms
Graham, Joan Bransfield
Paper Book
Fun, accessible concrete poems and bold, vibrant artwork celebrate the many shapes and forms of our planet Earth. Perfect for National Poetry Month and Earth Day! The Earth's crust shakes, water swells, lava flows, and glaciers advance. In this ingenious picture book, the...
Berry song
Goade, Michaela
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book! An Indie Bestseller! Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders. On...
The boy who harnessed the wind
Kamkwamba, William
Paper Book
Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, this is a gripping memoir of survival and perseverance about the heroic young inventor who brought electricity to his Malawian village. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his...
Bruce saves the planet
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
From unwitting mother to unwitting . . . environmental activist? Save the planet with #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins's beloved Mother Bruce. Bruce was a bear who liked to be by himself. But that wasn't easy for him, as mother...
Can you hear the trees talking? : discovering the hidden life of the forest
Wohlleben, Peter
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE AAAS/SUBARU PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE BOOKS BASED ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES  This interactive and illustrated book for kids aged 8-10 introduces the wonderful science of the...
Change starts with us
Beer, Sophie
Paper Book
This vibrant board book by the creator of Love Makes a Family and Kindness Makes Us Strong celebrates small acts of green living that make a big impact on the environment. Change starts with planting trees. It starts with turning off faucets, and reusing and...
Compost stew : an A to Z recipe for the earth
Siddals, Mary McKenna.
Paper Book
Teach kids to compost and help them develop life-long habits to protect the Earth. From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book perfect for Earth Day! Kids everywhere are seeking knowledge...
Controlled burn
Downing, Erin Soderberg
Paper Book
From acclaimed middle-grade and chapter-book author, Erin Soderberg Downing, Controlled Burn is a story that blends family, friendship, fire, and the rocky path toward healing our deepest fears. Twelve-year-old Maia's parents say she's lucky she noticed something as early as she did...
The curious garden
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
This New York Times bestselling modern classic explores the perennial topic of environmentalism in an urban world, from the creator of The Wild Robot and Mr. Tiger Goes Wild One boy's quest for a greener world... one garden at a time. While out...
Curious George plants a tree
Perez, Monica.
Paper Book
George loves to go to the science museum. So, when he finds out that the museum is planning a "Green Day" dedicated to recycling and planting trees, and George is curious and wants to help out! But little monkeys eager to help can sometimes become little monkeys getting into trouble. When George...
Dear Earth
Otter, Isabel
Paper Book
This inspiring picture book celebrates the wonders of our world and reminds us that if we all work together to spread the message that Earth is special and worth saving, we can keep our planet beautiful for many years to come. The message that Earth is special and worth saving is...
Earth Day
DVD
Earth Day
Manley, Erika S.
Paper Book
In Earth Day, young readers will learn about this holiday and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique holiday. A labeled diagram offers readers ways to help Earth on this holiday and every day, while...
Earth Day
McNamara, Margaret
Paper Book
The Robin Hill School first graders celebrate Earth Day in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read in the Robin Hill School series! The kids in Mrs. Connor's class are celebrating Earth Day, and everyone has lots of ideas on how to save the Earth--except Emma. She's worried her ideas aren't...
Earth Day
Sabelko, Rebecca
Paper Book
On Earth Day, we care for the Earth! This title for readers who are just starting out introduces the holiday through simple, predictable text and bright photos. Young students will learn when Earth Day is, why people celebrate, and some ways people enjoy the day. A facts page reinforces the text,...
The Earth gives more
Fliess, Sue
Paper Book
Enjoy nature in every season--and take care of it. From leaves falling to become fertilizer, to raindrops helping to bring plants to life in the spring, the cycle of every season has something to enjoy. While delighting in all nature has to offer, we need...
Every day is Earth Day
Kids can learn to care for and celebrate the Earth and all its wonders with fun PBS Kids stories. Arthur helps Prunella prepare for the school's Earth Day fair. When the Fuzzytown Park gets covered in garbage, Carl learns that trash is a collection you don't keep.
Every day is Earth Day
Brown, Jordan
Paper Book
Join Jet Propulsion and his friends as they celebrate Earth in this Level 2 Ready-to-Read based on a popular episode of PBS's hit show Ready Jet Go! When Jet learns that humans celebrate Earth Day, he can't help but wonder, why can't every day be Earth Day? After he...
Every day is Earth Day
O'Connor, Jane.
Paper Book
Fancy Nancy fans of all ages will love this sweet story about learning to respect both the Earth and your family, in this I Can Read story from New York Times bestselling team Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser! Learning to respect the environment is no small task, especially if you...
Fatima's great outdoors
Tariq, Ambreen
Paper Book
An immigrant family embarks on their first camping trip in the Midwest in this lively picture book by Ambreen Tariq, outdoors activist and founder of @BrownPeopleCamping Fatima Khazi is excited for the weekend. Her family is headed to a local state park for their first camping...
Giving tree
Silverstein, Shel.
Paper Book
Shel Silverstein's best-selling classic THE GIVING TREE has grown! Now available for the first time in an enlarged 7 1/2 x 10 edition that enhances the depth and beauty of this beloved tale. 'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.' So begins a story of unforgettable...
The great kapok tree : a tale of the Amazon rain forest
Cherry, Lynne.
Paper Book
A modern fable with an urgent message for young environmentalists. "Spectacular." (School Library Journal) Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this gorgeous picture book about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree....
The Great Lakes :
Rosenstock, Barb
Paper Book
A stunning picture book about the five largest lakes in North America - how they formed, the importance of their abundant freshwater, and how they've become a national treasure - in the latest book from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box. A SCHOOL...
Here we are : notes for living on planet Earth
Jeffers, Oliver
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller A TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year A NPR Best Book of 2017 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2017 "Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of Jeffers's candy-colored...
History smashers : Earth Day and the environment
Messner, Kate
Myths! Lies! Recycling scams? Discover the real story behind the first Earth Day celebration and some of the biggest US climate catastrophes--and their solutions! Don't miss the award-winning History Smashers series as they get to the truth on the biggest environmental fibs!
How to help the Earth /
Rabe, Tish
Paper Book
What can you do to help the Earth? Plenty! The Lorax will show you how!
If bees disappeared
Williams, Lily
Paper Book
What would happen if bees disappeared? Find out in this fourth book from Lily Williams in the award-winning If Animals Disappeared Series that imagines the consequences of a world without bees. The rolling hills and lush climate of Kent, England are home to many creatures.
If you find a fawn : a what-to-do for wild wanderers
Gillis, Kellie DuBay
Paper Book
When you wander in the wild, you might find . . . a baby animal. Would you know what to do? Perfect for nature lovers and curious kids, If You Find a Fawn pairs instructive text with lush illustrations for a beautiful picture book adventure. When we find...
Listen to the language of the trees tree ecology and communication
Kelley, Tera
Paper Book
This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest. The well-researched details about trees' own social network will help readers see that the natural world's survival depends on staying connected and helping others-just like us!
Little land
Sudyka, Diana
Paper Book
Inspire a love of nature in young readers with this gorgeous, simple guide--and learn how, through millennia of transformations, life and land have always found a way to begin anew, for nature-loving fans of Kate Messner's Over and Under series.  Do you know...
Look for the Lorax
Rabe, Tish.
Paper Book
Look out for the Lorax! Dr. Seuss's lovable grump makes his Step into Reading debut in this wonderland adventure through hills of green where the Truffula trees sway. Through easy words and simple sentences, the youngest readers will discover the Lorax's paradise, from singing Swomee-Swans to...
The Lorax
Seuss, Dr.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Celebrate Earth Day with Dr. Seuss and the Lorax in this classic picture book about sustainability and protecting the environment! I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. Dr. Seuss's beloved story teaches kids to treat the...
Love, the Earth
Stickley, Frances
Paper Book
With vibrant artwork and an affecting poetic text narrated by the Earth, this magnificent ode to our planet serves as a call to action. I am the Earth. All yours to share. The mountains and the Arctic air. . . . And now you're here, so...
Make your mark, make a difference : a kid's guide to standing up for people, animals, and the planet
Galat, Joan Marie
Paper Book
Take the first steps into activism with this comprehensive middle grade guide that empowers readers to choose and become knowledgeable in a cause they are most passionate to reform, and to create meaningful change through learning what's already been accomplished--and what can still be done....
Mother of sharks
Ma?rquez, Melissa Cristina
Paper Book
Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree and globally renowned shark scientist Melissa Cristina Marquez teams up with award-winning illustrator Devin Elle Kurtz to create an informative, powerful picture book. With lyrical writing and gorgeous art, this moving story explores Melissa's personal journey...
My friend Earth
MacLachlan, Patricia
Paper Book
Perfect for Earth Day--and every day!--this spectacular picture book is a valentine to our wonderful planet from the Newbery Award-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall. Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals...
Nate the Great and the Earth Day robot /
Sharmat, Andrew
Paper Book
Join the world's greatest detective, Nate the Great, as he solves the mystery of the missing Earth Day robot in this long-running chapter book series that's a favorite for beginner readers! WILL THIS CASE ROLL AWAY? The Earth Day Fair is days away, but Nate's...
The natural genius of ants
Culley, Betty
Paper Book
A summer ant farm grows into a learning experience for the entire family in this lyrical coming-of-age story from the award-winning author of Down to Earth. "Endearingly executed, this gentle tale will see readers applauding as they reach the end." -Booklist,...
The ocean calls : a haenyeo mermaid story
Cho, Tina M.
Paper Book
A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world. Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast...
One plastic bag : Isatou Ceesay and the recycling women of the Gambia
Paul, Miranda
Paper Book
Discover the inspiring true story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman who started a recycling movement to combat the pollution caused by plastic bags in her community. For years, plastic bags were a cheap and convenient option for carrying goods in Njau, Gambia. However, when these...
Our planet! : there's no place like Earth
McAnulty, Stacy
Paper Book
From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth is a nonfiction picture book about the Earth, told from the perspective of Earth herself. Meet Earth. Planet Awesome! And your awesome home! Actually, Earth is home to...
Penguins don't wear sweaters!
Tamura, Marikka
Paper Book
Now available in board book, this charmingly told story celebrates penguins and preserving their environment. You may have seen the cute pictures of penguins wearing sweaters--but did you know why they were wearing them? Find the answer in this colorful, kid-friendly book. ...
The planet we call home
Isaac, Aimee
Paper Book
A lyrical and loving ode to Planet Earth and the ways in which its many features are interconnected--to each other and to us--told in the cumulative style of "This Is the House that Jack Built." This is our Earth, the planet we call home. These...
Plastic, ahoy! : investigating the great Pacific garbage patch
Newman, Patricia
Paper Book
Plastic: it's used to make everything from drink bottles and bags to toys and toothbrushes. But what happens when it ends up where it doesn't belong--like in the Pacific Ocean? How does it affect ocean life? Is it dangerous? And exactly how much is out there? A team of...
The pout-pout fish cleans up the ocean
Diesen, Deborah
Paper Book
A major motion picture based on the books coming soon! Turn little pouts into big smiles in this splashy adventure where Mr. Fish, the star of the New York Times bestselling The Pout-Pout Fish series, discovers how to take care of the ocean. "The...
The raven mother
Huson, Brett D.
Paper Book
★ Starred selection for CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens 2023! Hoarders. Scavengers. Clever foragers. Bringers of new life. Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)'s Mothers of Xsan...
Rocket says clean up!
Bryon, Nathan
Paper Book
Plucky science-lover Rocket returns in another inspiring picture book about getting a community to notice the world around them, and, in this book, to CLEAN UP! their shoreline. Rocket, is off to the islands to visit her grandparents. Her family loves nothing better than...
Summer people
Hosey, Sara
Paper Book
Christmas thought her ADHD was a liability. Turns out, it is a superpower. Seventeen-year-old Christmas Miller is looking forward to a summer of sunbathing and waterskiing at her home in Sweet Lake with Lexi, the one friend who gets her completely, ADHD and all. But the day of...
Thank you, Earth : a love letter to our planet
Sayre, April Pulley
Paper Book
Winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature "A splendid marriage of poetry and photography." --School Library Journal (starred review) Acclaimed children's book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre's love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and...
Throw an Earth Day party
Leaf, Christina
Paper Book
Let's celebrate Earth! This fun title offers Earth-friendly crafts and recipes to celebrate our planet with an Earth Day party. Step-by-step instructions help readers prepare food, drinks, and decorations, while short introductions offer information about the projects. Eco-conscious readers will be...
The tree and the river
Becker, Aaron
Paper Book
A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind--and our impact on the natural world--from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form In an alternate past--or possible future--a mighty tree stands on the banks of a winding river, bearing silent witness to the flow of...
The tree lady :
Hopkins, H. Joseph
Paper Book
Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens. Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she'd live in a place without trees. After all,...
Trees
Julivert, Angels.
Paper Book
Designed to look like a naturalist's notebook, this is a comprehensive look at trees. * Handy guides
Up in the garden and down in the dirt
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
In this exuberant and lyrical addition to the award-winning Over and Under series, emerging readers will delight in discovering the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt. From the author-illustrator team behind...
We are water protectors
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
From author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade comes a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal winning picture book that honors Indigenous-led movements across the world. Powerfully written and gorgeously illustrated, We Are Water Protectors,...
What a waste
French, Jess
Paper Book
In this informative book on recycling for children, you will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling. This educational book will teach young...
What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change
Tam Wu, Karen
Humans create mountains of garbage, but did you know you can use that waste to help the planet? You can heat your house with poop, make coffee with filtered pee and blow your nose with your cereal box. People around the world are finding creative ways to transform food scraps, invasive...
What to Do When the News Scares You, Revised Edition: A Kid's Guide to Understanding Current Events (Revised)
Toner, Jacqueline B.
Paper Book
Can kids feel safe when the news feels scary? Yes--and this workbook helps them understand what's going on and how to cope. From natural disasters and climate change to violence and conflict, today's news can be overwhelming--especially for kids. But scary headlines don't have to lead to...
When Cloud became a cloud /
Hodgson, Rob
Paper Book
Meet Cloud! Follow along as she moves, transforms, precipitates, and more in this charming and humorous portrayal of the water cycle. The lifecycle of our protagonist, Cloud, is delightfully and sparsely narrated in nine short chapters that follow the stages of the water cycle....
Why does it rain? : weather with the very hungry caterpillar
Carle, Eric
Paper Book
Learn why it rains with the help of The Very Hungry Caterpillar! In this nonfiction story, young readers can discover what rain is and why it falls. The miracles of nature come to life in this early-learning series centered around weather, featuring simple text and Eric Carle's...
Why does plastic hurt the planet?
Gifford, Clive
Paper Book
A unique and beautiful approach to understanding the plastic problem with practical actions to help protect the planet. Every single minute, a dump-truck's worth of plastic is emptied into the ocean, trashing beaches, killing wildlife, making food supplies dangerous,...
Wildoak
Harrington, C. C.
Paper Book
When the fates of a snow leopard, a child, and an ancient forest collide, the unimaginable can happen. Perfect for fans of Pax and The One and Only Ivan. A great gift for nature and animal lovers. **Winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Book Award!** *...
Wonder walkers
Archer, Micha
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor winner! Micha Archer's gorgeous, detailed collages give readers a fresh outlook on the splendors of nature. When two curious kids embark on a "wonder walk," they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have...
The wondrous workings of planet Earth : understanding our world and its ecosystems
Ignotofsky, Rachel
Paper Book
An illustrated tour of the planet exploring ecosystems large and small, from reefs, deserts, and rainforests to a single drop of water-from the New York Times bestselling author of Women in Science. Making earth science accessible and entertaining through art, maps,...

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