Earth Day Books for Kids

There are so many things worth talking about when it comes to our planet. Earth Day (April 22nd) is a great opportunity to share with our kids the importance of conversation and taking care of our planet. One of the best ways I’ve been able to do this is by using books to help teach my kids about difficult concepts that are hard for them to picture. These books are perfect for home educating or for some additional earth day fun at home! These are great for independent reading or to read together. Here are the best books about Earth Day to read to or with your kids this year.

Books to Read on Earth Day for Kids

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These books are aimed at your independent readers, although they are great for you to read together with younger less experienced readers that will sit and listen longer.

Earth Day Every Day

Our first book is Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard. This colourful book focuses on pollution and what families can do. Ideal for beginner readers this is one that you could share with younger children easily as well.

Age – Younger primary

The Magic and Mystery of Trees

With so much deforestation going on around the world engaging children in the magic of the trees is important. After all, they are the lungs of our planet. The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green starts off introducing us to the forests of the world and the types of trees that they contain and continues all the way through to the wonderful habitats they provide as well as spending time talking about the threats and how we can help them.

Age – All kids

The Big Earth Book

We love the Lonely Planet Books (check out our Lonely Planet Animal Books Review) and The Big Earth Book by Lonely Planet Kids divides into 4 sections the basic elements and explores each in depth. A fascinating journey from the creation of the earth billions of years ago to Pirates and Tsunamis.

Age – All Kids

What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet

What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French is a fantastic non-fiction book that not only covers pollution but also other environmental issues that our planet is facing. As with any DK book it’s full of facts but this one is especially aimed at your primary age kids. With bright illustrations mixed with photographs and pull out text exploring issues more it’s a great book for reading together for Earth Day.

Age – All Kids

Earth Day Hooray

As a home educator Earth Day Hooray by Stuart J Murphy is amazing. It focuses on recycling of cans but at the same time helps your child with place value so is great as a maths book as well. Books that double up and can be used for topics but also for curriculum are great.

Age – 7+ where a child is working on place value with 4 digits

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia

Plastic is a huge problem around the world taking hundreds of years to break down and causing danger to our marine life (check out our Jelly Fish Experiment to see why). In the Gambia from the 1970s, they were a huge problem in the cities. However, a young woman Isatou Ceesay has made a huge difference One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul tells the story of what she did and the difference it has made not just to the environment but also to the women of Gambia.

Age – Upper Primary

The Plastic Problem: 60 Small Ways to Reduce Waste and Help Save the Earth

My kids love to do something to make a difference. Whether it’s telling us we must save water by switching off the tap or turning off lights around the house when not needed. If your kids are like that too then The Plastic Problem: 60 Small Ways to Reduce Waste and Help Save the Earth by Lonely Planet Kids is great for them to read and actually feel like they can make a difference too.

Age – Kids of all ages

What is Climate Change?

With one of the effects of humans on the planet being climate change kids often ask “What is Climate Change” especially as you trudge through snow and they have been told it’s all about global warming! In the book What is Climate Change? by Gail Herman, this is explained for your older primary kids. Introducing the difference between weather and climate and then looking at how we know it is happening and what difference we can make. It is a lot more detailed than the previous books as is broken down into longer chapters which gives much more detail.

Age – Older Primary, Tweens and Teens

Not For Me, Please! I Choose to Act Green

Rhymes and beautiful pictures Not For Me, Please! I Choose to Act Green by Maria Godsey is fantastic. Written in poetry it’s full of facts and information as well as actions that children can do to help be a little bit greener and environmentally friendly.

Age – Primary Kids

Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot

If your children love Nate the Great or you want to introduce them to a beginning chapter series through Earth Day then Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot by Andrew Sharmatt is a good one to start with. Investigating the disappearance of the class Earth Day robot Nate and his trusty dog Sludge search high and low around the school for it, will they find it before the science fair or not?

Age – Children ready to read short chapter books

More Themed Book Lists for School Kids

Looking to read around other subjects, check out these book lists for school kids that you and they can read.

• Weather and Meteorology Books for Kids
• Books about the Antarctic for Kids
• Ancient Egyptian Books for Kids