Caring for the Planet: Books for Kids
As the climate crisis deepens, it is important to give children the knowledge and tools needed for caring for the planet. The books below strike the difficult balance of conveying the urgency of the crisis while also sharing hopeful steps we can all take to solve it. The books below range from board books to denser scientific material, all presented in in age appropriate ways that empower children of all ages to take action. While most of the books in this list are non-fiction, there are several fiction books as well.
Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of some of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Caring for the Planet: Books for Kids
Inspire the next generation of climate activists with these books about caring for the planet!
This beautiful board book is a wonderful way to introduce concepts of community and stewardship to very young readers. Using illustrations of diverse communities around the world, the book makes clear how we much we rely on our environment and each other. In simple language, it gives examples of instances where we can help take care of our planet, affecting the lives of people we may never meet, just as they affect ours.
Buy We Share This Earth on Amazon or Bookshop
This is a charming book that drives home the reciprocal relationship between humans and the planet we inhabit. This love letter from Earth invites the reader to enjoy all the bounty that nature provides, from the oceans to the forests. But it also reminds us that we have to help take care of the Earth and make our voices heard when we see it being mistreated. The rhyming text and evocative illustrations will fill young readers will wonder at the vastness of the Earth and the incredible diversity of what it offers to us. At the same time, they will feel empowered, knowing that they also can make a difference in caring for the planet that cares for us.
Buy Love, the Earth on Amazon or Bookshop
This fable about a girl who wanted to make her village’s gray mountain green again encourages children to realize just what a difference one person can make. The girl begins to plant seeds on the mountain, learning from painful trial and error how to care for the plants and help them withstand the sun, and rain, and scavenging birds. Slowly, her efforts yield results, but even more importantly, she inspires others to do the same. Eventually, when she is an old woman, the mountain is covered with lush greenery, reminding children of the power of persistence and determination.
Buy The Girl Who Planted Trees on Amazon or Bookshop
This lovely story shows how all living things are connected. Tree, Sun, Rain, Wind, and even the smallest creatures contribute to a thriving ecosystem. When Fire comes sweeping through, it seems like all is lost, but, surprisingly, even Fire has a role to play. Slowly, everything starts small again and grows together, until the ecosystem is thriving again. This deceptively simple story teaches children how each part of an ecosystem is an important piece of the puzzle, helping children understand that our own actions, as small as they might seem to us, can either help or hurt this web of interconnected creatures.
Buy Everyone Starts Small on Amazon or Bookshop
Ever wonder why green is such an important color among plants? This picture book is packed with information about the history and science of plant life, but all presented in an engaging, easily accessible way. Readers learn about the importance of photosynthesis and how the evolution of plant life supported the eventual explosion of life on earth. They also learn about how humans have disrupted this process by burning fossil fuels and releasing extraordinary amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. The book also shows clearly how human actions such as deforestation have made it difficult for plants to restore the balance, showing that now, more than ever, plants need our help! A great explanation of why we should care about plants as well as a call to action to protect them.
Buy Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet on Amazon or Bookshop
This wordless book is a parable about caring for others, drawing on the Biblical story of Noah. A construction robot named NOA finds himself building his own ark full of animals when he attempts to save the animals of an abandoned zoo from the flood that has ravaged the land. As the sea level continues to rise, NOA calculates how to build a boat that can carry all of the animals to safety then painstakingly builds it. Will their boat survive the waves and storms, as they search for a new home? A beautiful adventure book that will get children thinking about the rewards of helping others, as well as thinking about the consequences of the devastating changes taking place in our planet.
Buy The Last Zookeeper on Amazon or Bookshop
Ever wonder what goes into making a house eco-friendly? This book follows the journey of one family as they seek to have a house that is truly kind to the environment, while also meeting their own needs. Yes, there are solar panels, but they also have to think about what materials are used in constructing the house, how it will be heated, what happens to rainwater runoff, and so on. I love that the characters are so diverse, with a Black female architect and a female head of construction. A great book for any child interested in architecture or curious about how people are reimagining daily living to help us be kinder to the planet.
Buy The Mellons Build an Eco-House on Amazon or Bookshop
This is the strange – and horrifying – true story about a cat infamous for driving a previously unknown species of bird into extinction. In the late 19th century, when an Englishman was offered the chance to run a lighthouse on an island in New Zealand, he thought nothing of bringing his cat with him. In fact, the cat was key to helping the man discover a new species of bird that lived on the island. Yet, within a relatively short period of time, the industrious cat ate so many of the Stephens Island wrens that they quickly became extinct. With its quirky vintage illustrations, this book helps teach children about unintended consequences of our actions and the dangers of introducing non-native species into new environments.
Buy Tibbles the Cat on Amazon or Bookshop
Ayla loves her tropical island home, especially visiting the coral reef that surrounds it. When she notices that the fish are abandoning the reef, which has become less healthy, she and her marine biologist mother work to solve the problem. Emphasizing the importance of careful observation and patience, this story shows what a difference one person can make in restoring balance in their local environment. Written by a marine biologist, it includes back matter on coral reefs and the coral nurseries that are working to save them.
Buy The Ocean Gardener on Amazon or Bookshop
This picture book biography of the beloved naturalist David Attenborough traces his lifelong love of the natural world but also his growing concern about how he has seen it change over the years. It helps a younger generation appreciate how his curiosity about wild places and ability to convey that enthusiasm to others made him into a popular and passionate advocate for the Earth’s creatures. It shows clearly how the loss of wild places has led to a decline in the health of our planet, affecting all who inhabit it. Yet it is a hopeful book, presenting solutions to every problem and inspiring us each to do our part to rewild our planet.
Buy Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough on Amazon or Bookshop
This thoughtful volume is the book you didn’t know your child needed. It speaks to the worry and hopelessness that many people feel about the climate crisis and the future of the planet. With so much disturbing news, how can we stay informed without being overwhelmed? This book offers comfort (step into your feelings!) as well as practical advice (it’s okay to turn off the news!) to help young eco-activists maintain hope as they work for change. For example, the book suggests seeking out positive stories to counterbalance the negative news and to connect with a community of like-minded individuals who are also taking action. I love that there is a book that speaks to this specific set of anxieties, especially as the climate crisis deepens. While this book focus on eco-anxiety, many of the principles could be applied to other crises that young people may be passionate about, such as poverty or homelessness. A much needed book that adults could benefit from as well!
Buy How to Manage Your Eco-Anxiety: An Empowering Guide for Young People on Amazon or Bookshop
Caring for the planet can involve complex topics and concepts, yet this lovely book does a great job of giving an overview and explaining terms like biodiversity, and ecological footprint. In part, it is a call to question the disconnectedness of modern life from nature, calling on children to think about what elements are needed to sustain life (air, water, sunlight) and which are not (social media, technology). Above all, it pushes us to learn from humanity’s mistakes in order to bring ourselves back into harmony with nature, restoring the delicate balance of life on the planet. It ends on a hopeful note, which practical ideas of what we each can do make a difference.
Buy Nature: Why We Need to Care for Our Planet on Amazon or Bookshop
This engaging, fact-filled book puts kids firmly in charge of the conversation, giving them the knowledge and tools to help adults understand why climate change is such an dire issue. They are armed with responses to all of the usual questions, such as, How do we know global warming is real? Is it really so bad if the polar ice caps melt? Isn’t it too late to make a difference? Kids will feel empowered to take the lead in what is an increasingly urgent conversation and, more importantly, take action, giving lots of practical ideas as well as inspirational stories from around the world.
Buy How to Teach Grown-Ups About Climate Change: The cutting-edge science of our changing planet on Amazon or Bookshop
This is a fascinating look at the species that have been lost (mostly due to humans) and what we can do to prevent further extinctions. In addition to reviewing a variety of individual cases, it also demonstrates general trends and causes, as well as initiatives to protect vulnerable species. It even includes some surprises, like species that were believed to have been extinct but which have been discovered again in the wild! Accompanied by gorgeous, incredibly detailed scientific illustrations, this is perfect book for inspiring young animal lovers and climate activists to recognize the danger of not caring for the planet and its creatures.
Buy Extinctopedia: Discover what we have lost, what is at risk, and how we can preserve the diversity of our fragile planet on Amazon or Bookshop
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