RESOURCES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT & NATURE
Looking for books about the environment for the children you love or teach? Trying to find books about themes ranging from planting a garden to environmental activism? We cannot begin to feature them all! But here are a few links to get started. If you know of a book site to suggest for this page, please contact us at rifnova@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you! Note: Please see a list of favorite books for the environment by Janice Perreault, RIF of NOVA liaison and librarian at Bailey's (lower) School for the Arts and Sciences. That can be found here.
Credit -- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; Author: Carole Lindstrom; Illustrator: Michaela Goade
We are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade, won the Caldecott Award in 2021. Inspired by the many indigenous-led movements across North America, the book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the earth's water from harm and corruption. Both author and illustrator are of Native American heritage. Lindstrom is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians; Goade is from the Raven moiety and Kiks.ádi Clan from Sitka, Alaska.
Winner of 2020 Best Book citations from NPR, the Washington Post, School Library Journal, and others, We Are Water Protectors has garnered many starred reviews. From Kirkus Reviews: “In this tribute to Native resilience, Indigenous author-and-illustrator team Lindstrom and Goade invite readers to stand up for environmental justice. An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected planet.” At this link, children can find an activity kit to become water protectors, too. |
Environmental awareness and activism • The Curious Reader, an online literary magazine, features a list of 21 books that teach children about the environment. • Greenmatters.com, a website about environmental issues, features a list of children's books with diverse authors and protagonists. Find that here. • A Mighty Girl has curated a selection of favorite children's books on the environment featuring Mighty Girls -- "perfect for Earth Day and every day!" • BookRiot, which bills itself as the largest independent editorial book site in North America, features a list of 10 inspiring books about the environment. • "Whether you're celebrating Earth Day or taking part in a youth climate strike, caring about the environment has never been cooler," says an article in Common Sense Media. Find its list of environment books for children here. • Little Feminist has curated its top six book picks featuring the environment and earth advocacy for toddlers to pre-teens. • Looking for picture books about environmental advocacy? Here's a good list from Honestly Modern, an online space all about eco-friendly living. • Children's Library Lady has curated a list of 37 "amazing" children's books that focus on different aspects of saving the planet from deforestation to plastic reduction to saving habitats. |
Credit -- Publisher: HarperCollins; Author: Susan Hood; Illustrator: Christiane Engel
• From Pan Macmillan Books: "We've selected the best kids books about the environment to help children learn about pollution, climate change, and the importance of looking after the natural world." That list of books for toddlers to age 12 is here.
• Brightly, a website geared to raising children who love to read, features a list of 11 middle grade books for "environmentally conscious" kids.
• Colours of Us has curated a list of 22 multicultural books to celebrate Earth Day. Find that here!
• Junior Magazine, a UK publication on child development, education, health, diet, and play, notes there is an uptick in environmental interest among children and young people and offers a good list of eco-conscious children's books.
• The Library of Congress shares a list of children's books that focus on endangered and threatened species. Find that here.
• Upparent has a list of its best children's books about protecting the environment. Upparent is an online resource for families to share information about activities, ideas, trends, and books for children.
• Brightly, a website geared to raising children who love to read, features a list of 11 middle grade books for "environmentally conscious" kids.
• Colours of Us has curated a list of 22 multicultural books to celebrate Earth Day. Find that here!
• Junior Magazine, a UK publication on child development, education, health, diet, and play, notes there is an uptick in environmental interest among children and young people and offers a good list of eco-conscious children's books.
• The Library of Congress shares a list of children's books that focus on endangered and threatened species. Find that here.
• Upparent has a list of its best children's books about protecting the environment. Upparent is an online resource for families to share information about activities, ideas, trends, and books for children.
Nature, gardening, and more
• Outdoor Families Magazine provides outdoor and adventure related content meant to inspire a connection to, participation in, and stewardship of the natural world. It offers a list of 34 nature books for kids.
• A Mighty Girl has curated a list of 35 books celebrating springtime and gardening. The site also offers a list of 30 books starring girls who love the great outdoors.
• Are your children interested in learning how to grow their own food? This list of books from Colours of Us has ideas from around the world!
• Run Wild My Child, a site geared to getting children outside into nature, has a list of 36 picture books about nature and the natural world, plus another list with more than 80 educational nature books, plus one more including 10 diverse nature books for kids.
• Backwoods Mama, another site encouraging children to go outside, features a list of over 100 nature books for children -- geared for babies to age 12.
• Find a list of 15 outdoor and nature books for young readers from She Explores.
• The Food Trust’s multicultural collection highlights children’s books that feature characters from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and many of the books are authored by writers of color. The list also includes a number of books that are either bilingual or written exclusively in Spanish. That list is here.
Cover image: Outdoor Families Magazine
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