Earth Day Reads

Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. Celebrate our planet with some of the titles for children!

Updated April 17, 2023
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Eco Girl
Wilson-Max, Ken
Paper Book
In a tender celebration of family tradition, a little girl becomes an environmental steward to express her love for all things leafy and green. Eve loves living next to a forest because it means being close to her favorite baobab trees. Doing her best to imitate them, Eve...
Mermaid Kenzie : protector of the deeps
Sherman, Charlotte Watson
Paper Book
Kenzie turns her fierce love for the ocean into action, resourcefully cleaning up the beach after her mermaid-tail swimsuit tangles in floating plastic bags. When Kenzie slips on her mermaid tail, she becomes Mermaid Kenzie, protector of the deeps. One day as Kenzie snorkels...
To change a planet
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
One person. Small, quiet, insignificant. But when one person, and one person, and one person become many, they can change a...
The tantrum that saved the world
Herbert, Megan
Paper Book
"Illustrated in a cartoon-like style in watercolor paint and mixed media on paper, this picture book is an invitation for teachers and students to learn about the climate crisis and to be part of the solution." -School Library Journal An environmental...
Crab cake : turning the tide together
Tsurumi, Andrea
Paper Book
Kirkus Best Book / Publishers Weekly Best Book ★ "Readers come away with the idea that nourishing and supporting one another is the only way to change the world."-Kirkus, STARRED review ★ " [A] wholly original and moving affirmation of...
Hear the wind blow
Boyle, Doe
Paper Book
Chicago Public Library Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2021 The Best Children's Books of the Year 2022, Bank Street College STARRED REVIEW! "An artful blend of language, illustration, and science."--Kirkus Reviews starred review...
Cool Green: Amazing, Remarkable Trees: Amazing, Remarkable Trees
Delacre, Lulu.
Paper Book
A portrait of some of the world's most incredible trees, seen through the eyes of a landscaper who loves them--and his granddaughter who is beginning to understand why. Why am I in awe of trees? Trees are astounding! Let me share with you, mi niña,<...
Little Land
Sudyka, Diana
Paper Book
Do you know a little bit of land? It could be smaller than you expect. But its importance is bigger than you know. From the prehistoric past to the dramatic environmental change of right here and now, the land has countless stories to tell. You, too, are a part of the land. Listen, and you will...
The city tree
Boss, Shira
Paper Book
In this enchanting and informative picture book with environmental themes, a newly planted sidewalk tree transforms the neighborhood as residents nurture it through the seasons. Vibrantly illustrated and with extensive back matter, this is a lovely ode to how trees make cities-...
The perfect planet
Scieszka, Jon
Paper Book
This hilarious, visually groundbreaking read is the last book in a major series by children's literature legend Jon Scieszka. The book follows a final mission, where AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug must find a planet fit for human life after we've finally made Earth unlivable....
Rainbow the koala
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Planet Earth meets Narwhal and Jelly in this funny and suspenseful early reader graphic novel series featuring heroic animals surviving in the perilous wilderness! Inspired by true events, the book includes facts about climate change, koalas, and how kids can help protect the...
Two degrees
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz (Refugee; Ground Zero) is back, tackling the urgent topic of climate change in this breathtaking, action-packed novel that will keep readers turning pages while making...
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...
Lowriders to the rescue
Camper, Cathy
Paper Book
The next books in the acclaimed Lowriders series combines comics, Spanish, mixing cultures, science, superheroes, and first loves for an out-of-this-world graphic novel experience. A changing planet means new problems--and new friends--for nuestros amigos favoritos! ...
Saltwater secrets
Callaghan, Cindy
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Just Add Magic--now a hit streaming original series--comes a story of two sisters, one summer vacation, and one big mystery for them to solve. Stella and Josie live for their summers at the boardwalk--each one a carbon copy of the last. Josie...
The day the river caught fire : how the Cuyahoga River exploded and ignited the Earth Day movement
Wittenstein, Barry
Paper Book
Discover the true story of how a 1969 fire in one of the most polluted rivers in America sparked the national Earth Day movement in this nonfiction picture book by award-winning author Barry Wittenstein and beloved illustrator Jessie Hartland. After the Industrial Revolution in...
My big book of outdoors
Hopgood, Tim
Paper Book
Introduce little ones to the great outdoors with this beautifully illustrated treasury exploring the wonders of nature in four glorious seasons. From vibrant springtime flowers to sweet fruits on summer trees, from the falling of autumn leaves to snowdrops in winter, this ode to...
The gentle genius of trees
Bunting, Philip
Paper Book
Let trees teach you everything from how to branch out to how to stay rooted in this delightful blend of nonfiction and inspirational humor by author-illustrator Philip Bunting! What could we clever humans ever learn from trees? Find out when you take a stroll through the woods...
Eco kids self-sufficiency handbook : STEAM projects to help kids make a difference
Bridgewater, Alan
Paper Book
Everyone's interested in becoming more green these days--why should kids miss out on the fun? By cleverly combining creativity with eco-awareness, this timely book encourages children aged 7-14 to put down their mobile devices and get involved. From building a wind turbine and a go-kart to...
Can I recycle this? : a kid's guide to better recycling and how to reduce single-use plastics
Romer, Jennie
Paper Book
You probably know that you're supposed to recycle--but you may not know how or why. This adaptation of the successful adult book, written by a lawyer and sustainability expert, will answer all your recycling questions. Can I Recycle This? skips over...
Water! : why every drop counts and how you can start making waves to protect it
Gerry, Lisa
Paper Book
Did you know the water in your glass could be the same water the dinosaurs drank? Discover more incredible facts about Earth's water, the challenges facing it, and how your actions can help defend this precious resource. Dive in! No doubt about it, water is fascinating! It's also...
Spring after spring : how Rachel Carson inspired the environmental movement
Sisson, St©?phanie Roth
Paper Book
From Stephanie Roth Sisson, the creator ofStar Stuff,comes a picture book biography of Rachel Carson, the iconic environmentalist who fought to keep the sounds of nature from going silent. As a child, Rachel Carson lived by the rhythms of the natural world. Spring after...
Brains on! presents...road trip earth : explore our awesome planet, from core to shore and so much more
Bloom, Molly
Paper Book
The creators of the award-winning science podcast for kids, Brains On!, take readers on a humorous, highly illustrated, fact- and fun-filled journey through Earth--from the core, to the outer atmosphere, and everywhere in between. Perfect for STEM enthusiasts!
Emperor of the ice : how a changing climate affects a penguin colony
Davies, Nicola
Paper Book
Enter the dark Antarctic winter, where a pair of emperor penguins share the task of keeping their young one alive--and discover how fighting climate change is key to their survival. As harsh winter descends and other birds move toward warmth, lines of emperor penguins...
When the world runs dry : earth's water in crisis
Castaldo, Nancy F.
Paper Book
What would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science...
Mario and the hole in the sky : how a chemist saved our planet
Rusch, Elizabeth
Paper Book
The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster. Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As...
The leak : for the love of truth
Petty, Kate Reed
Paper Book
In this compelling middle-grade graphic novel The Leak, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town. Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange...

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