19 great children’s books about the environment to read for Earth Day

sonyashna/Twenty20
Help your little ones save the planet this Earth Day.
We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy.
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.




































































































