7 Fantastic Earth Day Books

Are you looking for Earth Day Books that are interesting, well-written and perfect for starting a conversation with your child? These seven books are all winners both on Earth Day and all year round.

When it comes to any topical sort of book list like Earth Day Books, my number one criteria is that it’s a good book.

I don’t want it to be “a good Earth Day book,” I want it to be a well-written, beautifully illustrated book that is a great jumping off point for a discussion about Earth Day (or whatever the topic is), rather than something that was written to fill a market need and isn’t actually very well-written or has any sort of child-appeal. They tend to be preachy and didactic and zero fun to read or to listen to.

Just say no to those kinds of books.

Each of these books are ones that we love and have read many times and that are great books no matter why you pick them up, but they also happen to lend themselves to interesting and thoughtful conversations about the environment and are perfect for Earth Day.

(If you think I feel pretty strongly about this . . . you would be right. I do not want to read any “Spongebob Squarepants Recycles” books. I just made this title up but now I’m afraid to look on Amazon for fear that it’s an actual book).

Earth Day Books for Preschoolers and Elementary Schoolers

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Liam’s city is a gray as they come, but one day, during a quiet walk, Liam stumbles on an abandoned garden and with a lot of work, he slowly turns it into an oasis that changes the whole city. This book is MAGICAL.

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed A City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Katherine Olivia Sessions grew up in Northern California surrounded by trees and never imagined her life without them. But when she took a teaching job in dry San Diego more than 100 years ago, that’s exactly what she found. So she took it upon herself to turn San Diego into the lush oasis we now think of it as.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
This is one of my all-time favorite picture books. On each page, there is a different shade of green, with a tiny cut-out that peeks onto the next page. The environmental message that appears toward the end is subtle and delightful. I think Ella and I read this at least 100 times together in 2011.

Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White
This book BLEW me away the first time I read it. It goes through various endangered species and talks about the ways humans can make a difference in their survival, both in a positive or negative way. Full review here.

All the Water In the World by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
Water is everywhere, from the kitchen and bathroom to the gutter and lake. But where is all that water coming from and where does it go? Accompanied by stunning watercolor-like images, this is a fun and fascinating read and a perfect pick for Earth Day.

Big Tree Down by Laurie Lawlor

In this neighborhood, Big Tree is a landmark. Children gather to play under it and it’s the site of many block parties and games. But then a big storm knocks it down, taking the power lines with it, and Big Tree has to be removed. The neighborhood gathers together to care for each other and then plant a new Little Tree in the place where Big Tree once lived.

On Meadowview Street by Henry Cole
When Caroline’s family moves to Meadowview Street, she’s surprised and dejected to find no meadow or view. But is it possible that she can be the one to bring both of those to her front yard?