19 great children’s books about the environment to read for Earth Day
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Help your little ones save the planet this Earth Day.
By Jaime Herndon and Sara Goldstein Updated Apr. 02, 2026
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This year’s Earth Day theme is Our Power, Our Planet — a rallying cry that feels more urgent than ever. The message is clear: environmental progress doesn’t depend on any single policy or administration. It’s built by the everyday actions of families, communities, educators, and kids who care about the world they’re growing up in.
And that last part is worth sitting with for a minute, because our kids are paying attention. They notice when we compost the banana peels and when we don’t. They ask why the ice caps are melting and whether the bees are going to be okay. They’re ready for these conversations earlier than we think, and one of the simplest, most lasting ways to open them up is through books.
It’s never too early to start talking to kids about our planet and how to take care of it. Picture books are a low-pressure, high-impact way to introduce concepts like conservation, biodiversity, clean water, and recycling in language they can actually absorb. Better yet, after reading some of these books, you can make a whole day of it and tie in an Earth Day activity that helps keep the planet healthy.
We’ve put together a short list of some of our favorite books about the environment to read for Earth Day.
A colorful counting book that introduces the youngest readers to the beauty of our one and only planet. Each number is paired with eco-friendly language to learn about the world around them.
For the youngest environmentalists on your list. This board book uses sweet, easy-flowing rhymes to show babies and toddlers just how big, diverse, and interconnected our planet is. Illustrations depict communities across 12 countries, inviting little readers to start building a sense of empathy and shared responsibility before they can even say “recycling.” It’s simple and short enough for the wiggliest of lap readers, and it’s a lovely way to fold Earth Day themes into your everyday story time rotation.
Perhaps one of the most iconic Earth Day adjacent titles. The Lorax teaches children to treat the planet with kindness and to stand up for others.
This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the inspiring true story of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer who became an environmentalist to save her grandfather’s beach—a haven he purchased during Jim Crow when Black families couldn’t access most beaches. With stunning collage illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Ekua Holmes and King’s musical prose, this award-winning book introduces children to an environmental hero who preserved an important piece of Black history while teaching powerful lessons about justice, persistence, and caring for our natural spaces.
This stunningly illustrated picture book follows Ayla and her marine biologist mother as they work to save their island’s dying coral reef, beautifully demonstrating how we can reverse environmental damage with dedication and care. Written and illustrated by Clara Anganuzzi, who grew up in the Seychelles Islands, the story offers a hopeful, accessible way for children to understand climate change’s impact on ocean ecosystems while inspiring them to become future environmental stewards through breathtaking artwork and gentle storytelling based on real conservation efforts.
Todd Parr is known for his colorful, fun children’s books, and this one is no different. This book shows why it is important to take care of our earth and how we can do so in a way that even young children can understand and be a part of. It’s a fun addition to any collection and is great to read year-round.
Highlighting ten memorable environmentalists who paved the way, this colorful board book is perfect for your budding earth lover. It’s packed with fun, age-appropriate facts and bold illustrations to inspire the next generation of activists.
This fun and interactive picture book shows children how bees contribute to the ecosystem and why it is important that they survive. With vivid colors and fun cutouts, this is a great way to show kids that bees are our friends.
Through sweet and gentle verse, One Earth highlights the beauty of our one and only planet and teaches children that every single person on it can make a difference. It’s a celebration and a challenge that encourages kids of all ages to help protect the world around us.
This beautiful book was the winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal and is a must-add to any picture book collection. Inspired by Indigenous-led movements, the book shows the importance of protecting our water supply. The prose is lyrical and the illustrations are vibrant, making this one that adults will love just as much as kids.
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Chelsea Clinton introduces young readers to twelve magnificent endangered animals including blue whales, tigers, and pandas, sharing fascinating facts about what makes each creature special while explaining the human-made threats they face. With Gianna Marino’s warm, engaging watercolor art showing these remarkable animals with their young, the book strikes a perfect balance between education and empowerment, offering children practical ways to help protect endangered species while delivering the crucial message that “every animal species is unique and important to life on Earth.”
Greta Thunberg is one of the world’s leading activists on the climate crisis, and this picture book is a great way to introduce her and the issues she speaks about to your children. It tells the story of how she got interested in the climate crisis, what she’s done to fight for the planet and how even the youngest person can make a difference in the world.
That said, Greta isn’t the only kid out there moving mountains. As a boy Jadav Payeng was troubled by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India’s Brahmaputra River. So he started planting. What began as a thicket of bamboo has grown into a 1,300 acre forest over decades. A clear example of how one person can make all the difference.
This love letter to the planet tells the story of all the things Earth does for us: brings us summer rain, whispers snow, and protects seeds for the spring. The die-cut pages provide exploration for kids and the book is a great jumping-off point for discussions about life science and protecting the Earth.
This poetic book with warm, gentle illustrations shows how humans are strong and connected with one another, just like trees. Young kids will love the inviting pictures and story while older children and adults will appreciate the layers of meaning within the text. Good for all ages, it’s a beautiful book about nature and humanity, and connecting to the natural world.
Each morning, the Peruvian rain forest calls out to Zonia. Filled with lush greenery and a stunning array of animals, she has a strong bond with the place she calls home. Until one day the rainforest calls out to her in a troubled voice. How will she answer? Filled with dreamy illustrations created on paper made from banana bark, it also includes a translation of the story in Asháninka, information on the Asháninka community and on the Amazon rain forest and its wildlife.
This is a standout. The story follows a kid and their family as they volunteer with an Amphibian Migration Team, helping frogs and salamanders cross the road on rainy spring nights, and eventually advocating for a permanent wildlife tunnel. A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2025, the illustrations are gorgeous (woodcut-inspired, digital) and the citizen science angle is really actionable for kids.
If you’re looking for an environmental success story to balance out the heavier stuff, this is it. This nonfiction picture book traces the history of New York Harbor from pre-colonization through the industrial revolution, when pollution and overfishing drove whales out of the Hudson River entirely, to the citizen activism and legislation (including the Clean Water Act) that eventually brought them back. Groenink’s sweeping gouache and graphite illustrations are equal parts majestic and moody, and the book includes detailed backmatter on the activists who led the cleanup.
This one is a stunner. Inspired by Inuit folklore and the real Beaufort Sea polar bear population (fewer than 400 individuals), debut author-illustrator Annie Booker tells the story of a great polar bear who has patrolled the Arctic since the dawn of time, protecting the delicate balance of life, until a man in a boat threatens everything. The hand-painted watercolor and graphite illustrations have the feel of a timeless myth, and the ending carries a genuine message of hope. It’s the kind of book that will make you and your kids sit quietly for a minute after you close it.
