April is Earth Month

Books for all ages about Earth Day, nature, conservation, recycling, and sustainability. Borrow or request one from your SCLS branch today.

Updated March 31, 2026
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The (almost) zero waste guide : 100+ tips for reducing your waste without changing your life
Mannarino, Melanie
Paper Book
Cut back on waste, reduce your carbon footprint, and live more sustainably with these 100 (almost) zero-waste tips In a perfect world, we would all be able to fit a year's worth of waste in a mason jar. But for most of us​,​ doing so can be immensely...
101 tips for a zero-waste kitchen
Kellogg, Kathryn
Paper Book
Kathryn Kellogg is taking her accessible tips for a zero-waste lifestyle and focusing on the heart of the house. Our kitchens can produce a shocking amount of waste and, even though food scraps may seem harmless, they can't properly decompose in a landfill. What's more: wasting food can strain...
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...
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
New York Times Bestseller * Now a Netflix film starring and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor! 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...
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...
The carbon footprint of everything
Berners-Lee, Mike
Paper Book
"I can't remember the last time I read a book that was more fascinating and useful and enjoyable."--Bill Bryson Reduce your carbon footprint and understand the issue with this "up-to-date life guide for carbon-conscious readers."--Kirkus ...
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...
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...
Daisy rewilds
McNamara, Margaret
Paper Book
A young, curious, science-loving environmentalist named Daisy proves to her community the importance of conservation in this whimsical and hopeful story. Daisy was born with a green thumb. As an infant, she composted her own baby food. As a toddler, she slept on a bed of leaves....
The Earth Book
Parr, Todd
Paper Book
This sweet homage to our beautiful planet from New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr is the perfect simple introduction to environmental protection and conservation. With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling,...
Every day is Earth Day /
Lamoreaux, Michelle
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 : a craft book
Ross, Kathy
Paper Book
Even young children can make the easy projects in these books, using materials that are readily available. Colorful step-by-step illustrations accompany each craft.
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...
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....
History smashers : Earth Day and the environment
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
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!
The homeowner's energy handbook : your guide to getting off the grid
Scheckel, Paul.
Paper Book
Are you looking for creative ways to lower your energy costs, generate more of your own power, or become less reliant on the grid? Paul Scheckel offers practical advice for taking matters into your own hands. Explaining the fundamentals of solar, wind, water, and biofuel energy production,...
Jayden's impossible garden
Mangal, Me?lina
Paper Book
Jayden and a new friend bring nature to the city in this timeless story about a community garden Amidst all the buildings, people, and traffic in his neighborhood, Jayden sees nature everywhere: the squirrels scrounging, the cardinals calling, and the dandelions growing. But Mama...
Just Grace goes green
Harper, Charise Mericle.
Paper Book
Grace can do a lot of things...but can she save the planet???? Or at the very least, can she help her best friend Mimi get her favorite stuffed animal back? Lots of exciting things are happening to Grace and her friends. Most exciting of all, Mimi's older cousin Gwen is coming to stay with...
The last plastic straw : a plastic problem and finding ways to fix it
Romito, Dee
Paper Book
Learn how and why a useful, 5000-year-old invention has become a threat to our planet--and what you can do about it--in this history of the simple straw. From reeds used by ancient Sumerians to bendy straws in World War II hospitals, people have changed the straw to fit their...
Living bridges : the hidden world of India's woven trees
Acharya, Sandhya
Paper Book
A boy learns how to care for and weave the roots of the living tree bridges in his village in India in this narrative nonfiction picture book that "offers young readers insight into a positive way to sustain the environment" (School Library Journal, starred review). In the...
Living without plastic : more than 100 easy swaps for home, travel, dining, holidays, and beyond
Allen, Brigette
Paper Book
"An eye-opening guide on how to lessen one's dependence on plastics. . . . This is a clarion, convincing wake-up call to the scope of the global plastic problem and what readers can do about it.  --Publishers Weekly Embrace a plastic-free lifestyle with...
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...
Martha go, go, goes green! /
Meddaugh, Susan
Paper Book
Wagstaff City's Go Green Go-Cart Race is one week away, and Martha (the talking dog) and Helen decide to build a solar-powered go-cart. T. D. and Alice build a wind-powered go-cart, and it looks like Ronald and Reginald's is powered by goldfish--is that even possible? Based on the PBS series...
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...
No new things : a radically simple 30-day guide to saving money, the planet, and your sanity
Piper, Ashlee
Paper Book
From award-winning sustainability expert Ashlee Piper, a witty, no-nonsense guide to regaining control over your time, consumerist impulses, and financial and mental wellness For nearly two years, Ashlee Piper challenged herself to buy nothing new. And in the process, she got...
No one is too small to make a difference
Thunberg, Greta
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times bestseller by Time's 2019 Person of the Year "Greta Thunberg is already one of our planet's greatest advocates." --Barack Obama "A powerhouse compendium of [Greta's] greatest hits." --Teen Vogue The groundbreaking...
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,...
Over and under the wetland
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Discover the hidden magic of the Everglades in this fascinating and beautiful exploration of the wetland habitat from the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under...
PlantYou: scrappy cooking : 140+ plant-based zero-waste recipes that are good for you, your wallet, and the planet
Bodrug, Carleigh
Paper Book
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! Save money, reduce food waste, and eat healthier than you ever have before with this groundbreaking cookbook from New York Times bestselling author and social media sensation, Carleigh Bodrug. 
The power of trees : how ancient forests can save us if we let them
Wohlleben, Peter
Paper Book
"Another love letter from Wohlleben to the green world... makes the case for how we should allow forests throughout the world to regrow and in the process help heal not only the climate but us, as well."--Lydia Millet, Oprah Daily An illuminating manifesto on...
Remodelista : the low-impact home : a sourcebook for stylish, eco-conscious living
Guralnick, Margot
Paper Book
"Easy ideas . . . . The kind of guidebook we reference again and again. . . with recommendations for every single room in the house." --Real Simple   Learn how to make planet-friendly choices at home with the design experts of...
The secret wisdom of nature : trees, animals, and the extraordinary balance of all living things : stories from science and observation
Wohlleben, Peter
Paper Book
Did you know that trees can influence the rotation of the earth? Or that earthworms control wild boar populations? The natural world is a web of intricate connections, many of which have gone unnoticed to many of us... Until now, that we can read the new book of Peter Wohlleben.
Simply living well : a guide to creating a natural, low-waste home
Watkins, Julia
Paper Book
Recipes, DIY projects, and inspiration for a beautiful and low-waste life, from the creator of @simply.living.well on Instagram In this timely and motivational guide, author Julia Watkins shares rituals, recipes, and projects for living simply and sustainably at home. For every area...
Simply sustainable : moving toward plastic-free, low-waste living
Cameron, Lily
Paper Book
Break your plastic habit with simple, actionable steps and jumpstart your journey toward a minimal, beautiful, low-waste home. "Simply Sustainable guides you through the why and how of zero-waste, while emphasizing the importance of finding the sweet spot between...
Taking on the plastics crisis
Testa, Hannah
Paper Book
"Taking on the Plastics Crisis delivers straightforward advise for getting involved in the global movement to eliminate single-use plastics." -- Booklist, Starred Review "Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change."--Kirkus...
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 eating the Earth : the race to fix our food system and save our climate
Grunwald, Michael
Paper Book
From the author of New York Times bestseller The New New Deal, a groundbreaking piece of reportage from the trenches of the next climate war: the fight to fix our food system. Humanity has cleared a land mass the size of Asia plus Europe to grow food, and our food...
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...
The wild world handbook : how adventurers, artists, scientists--and you--can protect earth's habitats
Debbink, Andrea
Paper Book
Packed with real-life tales of adventure, breathtaking illustrations, and hands-on STEAM activities, this handbook is an inspiring guide for the next generation of climate activists, conservationists, and nature lovers. The wonder of the natural world surrounds us-from the Amazon...

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