Our planet is such a gift; it’s beautiful, rejuvenating, and custom-made for us. These picture books about our earth celebrate the planet and show kids how to care for it. The books on this list are a lovely mix of fiction and non-fiction to suit every reader.
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27 Beautiful Picture Books About Our Earth
Here are some of the best picture books about our earth:
One Earth
Published: March 3, 2020
Kids can count reasons to love the planet and ways to protect it in the pages of this conservation-themed book. Gentle verse reminds the reader of Earth’s beauties–starting with “one wide sweeping sky, two honey bees” and continuing all the way to “ten fields to plow.” The text then starts counting backwards, listing simple ways children can help, such as reducing waste and reusing items. The conclusion takes us back to number one with the book’s key message: “One Earth so beautiful. Remember–only one.” At once celebration and challenge, this book will encourage children to take better care of the planet.
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Published: March 30, 2021
Cover may vary.
When two curious kids embark on a “wonder walk,” they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have thought-provoking questions for everything they see: Is the sun the world’s light bulb? Is dirt the world’s skin? Are rivers the earth’s veins? Is the wind the world breathing? I wonder . . . Young readers will wonder too, as they ponder these gorgeous pages and make all kinds of new connections. What a wonderful world indeed!
Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter Our Planet
Published: February 20, 2018
April Pulley Sayre, award-winning photographer and acclaimed author of more than sixty-five books, introduces concepts of science, nature, and language arts through stunning photographs and a poetic text structured as a simple thank-you note.
Touching on subjects from life cycles to weather, colors, shapes, and patterns, this is an ideal resource for science and language art curriculums and a terrific book for bedtime sharing. Thank You, Earth is a great choice for Earth Day celebrations, as well as family and group read-alouds.
If You Come to Earth
Published: September 15, 2020
If you come to Earth, there are a few things you need to know. . .
We live in all kinds of places.
In all kinds of homes.
In all kinds of families.
Each of us is different. But all of us are amazing.
And, together, we share one beautiful planet.
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars
Published: October 3, 2017
Did you know that the earth is covered in three trillion trees? And that seven billion people weigh about the same as ten quadrillion ants? Our world is full of constantly changing numbers, from a hundred billion trillion stars in space to thirty-seven billion rabbits on Earth. Can you imagine that many of anything?
The playful illustrations from New York Times–bestselling artist Isabel Greenberg and the friendly, straightforward voice of author Seth Fishman illuminate some of the biggest numbers in the universe—a hundred billion trillion stars—and the smallest—one unique and special YOU. Here is a book for story time, for science time, for math time, for bedtime, and all the times in between.
Rocket Says Clean Up!
Published: September 1, 2020
Rocket, is off to the islands to visit her grandparents. Her family loves nothing better than to beach comb and surf together…but the beach is clogged with trash! When she finds a turtle tangled in a net, Rocket decides that something must be done! Like a mini Greta Thunberg, our young activist’s enthusiasm brings everyone together…to clean up the beach and prevent plastics from spoiling nature. Perfect for fans of Rocket Says Look Up! and Ada Twist, Scientist, this book is for any youngster concerned about our environment. Rocket Says Clean Up! will inspire readers of all ages to dream big and tackle problems head-on.
Hello, World! Planet Earth
Published: October 6, 2020
Toddlers love to learn about the solar system. Here’s a book all about our amazing planet Earth, with easy-to-understand facts about countries, continents, oceans, landforms, habitats, and Earth’s place in space.
Hello, World! is a series designed to introduce first nonfiction concepts to babies and toddlers. Told in clear and easy terms (“Light from the sun makes the moon shine”) and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. And each page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child. It’s a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.
We Are Water Protectors
Published: March 17, 2020
Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .
When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
And poison her people’s water, one young water protector
Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.
Greta and the Giants
Published: November 19, 2019
Greta is a little girl who lives in a beautiful forest threatened by Giants. When the Giants first came to the forest, they chopped down trees to make houses. Then they chopped down more trees and made even bigger homes. The houses grew into towns and the towns grew into cities, until now there is hardly any forest left. Greta knows she has to help the animals who live in the forest, but how? Luckily, Greta has an idea…
A section at the back explains that, in reality, the fight against the “giants” isn’t over and explains how you can help Greta in her fight.
My Friend Earth
Published: February 25, 2020
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this children’s book that is bursting with color and texture. Its enticing pages feature clever cut-outs, flaps, and curved contours that encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.
The Amazing Planet Earth
Published: September 5, 2017
Fans of the StoryBots will recognize the colorful art from their popular outer-space video, “A Beautiful, Beautiful World” (The Earth Song), on YouTube. There are eight planets in our solar system, but the most beautiful is the one we call home. This rhyming Step 1 Science Reader will entertain while imparting simple facts about everyone’s favorite planet.
All the Water in the World
Published: March 22, 2011
Faucet
well
raincloud
sea …
from each of these
comes water.
But where does
Water go?
To find out, honey,
turn the page,
dive in
with tongue
or toes,
with eyes and ears and nose—
and wonder
at the flow
of this great world’s
life story.
Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl
Published: September 13, 2022
Discover the importance of recycling with a mermaid and sea turtle in this award-winning and best-selling tale!
From exciting and adventurous to educational and captivating, Save the Ocean tells the story of Kaleisha, a mermaid, and Agwe, a silly sea turtle, who work together to discover that Agwe’s favorite food, may not be what it seems!
Celebrate World Oceans Day with this engaging children’s book that teaches about plastic pollution! Can you help Agwe, the hungry sea turtle, and Save the Ocean?
With beautiful and charming illustrations, this is an exciting Earth Day children’s book adults will love reading over and over again with their kids. Save the Ocean’s heartwarming lesson of recycling and conservation will stay with the reader for a lifetime as they learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
I Can Save the Earth!
Published: September 9, 2008
Meet Max the Little Monster. He is a cute, furry green monster who is an environmental nightmare. Among other things, he leaves on all the lights, keeps his computer plugged in, blasts the TV, hoards his old toys and uses so much toilet paper it clogs the toilet until finally, his excessive ways cause a power outage. With no TV to watch, computer to play on, video games to play with, Max finds there is a whole big world outside that he can make a difference in the environment.
Not For Me, Please!: I Choose to Act Green
Published: April 12, 2019
Join Luke on his journey to protect what he loves with this engaging children’s picture book about sustainability and acting green. After noticing the damage caused to the environment and animals due to trash and waste, Luke decides to take action. He believes he can have a big impact on the world around him and invites his readers to join him!
Using his phrase, “Not for me, please”, Luke role models how children can harness their inner super-hero and help protect the environment. He introduces the concept of Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse through relatable examples children can understand. The rhyming story is catchy and the illustrations are captivating.
Let’s choose to recycle, reduce, and reuse;
and with my strong phrase, there’s no way we lose!
Here are some examples to show what I mean,
and how you can join me and begin to act green.
Compost Stew
Published: March 23, 2010
Kids everywhere are seeking knowledge about the environment and climate change. Not only is composting becoming more common in households and residential gardens, but many school gardens feature compost piles, too. But how do you start a compost pile? What’s safe to include? Perfect for an Earth Day focus or year-round reference, this inviting book provides all the answers for kids and families looking for simple, child-friendly ways to help the planet.
Don’t Let Them Disappear
Published: April 2, 2019
Did you know that blue whales are the largest animals in the world? Or that sea otters wash their paws after every meal? The world is filled with millions of animal species, and all of them are unique and special. Many are on the path to extinction.
In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces young readers to a selection of endangered animals, sharing what makes them special, and also what threatens them. Taking readers through the course of a day, Don’t Let Them Disappear talks about rhinos, tigers, whales, pandas and more, and provides helpful tips on what we all can do to help prevent these animals from disappearing from our world entirely.
With warm and engaging art by Gianna Marino, this book is the perfect read for animal-lovers and anyone who cares about our planet.
Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years
Published: October 24, 2017
“Hi, I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome.”
Prepare to learn all about Earth from the point-of-view of Earth herself! In this funny yet informative book, filled to the brim with kid-friendly facts, readers will discover key moments in Earth’s life, from her childhood more than four billion years ago all the way up to present day. Beloved children’s book author Stacy McAnulty helps Earth tell her story, and award-winning illustrator David Litchfield brings the words to life. The book includes back matter with even more interesting tidbits.
Why Should I Recycle?
Published: January 1, 2002
Children will gain a whole new understanding of the world we live in with this fun, first-look at our most precious natural resource, water. In this book, kids are told about dozens of ways in which they and their families can avoid wasting water.
Perfect for parents, teachers, and gift givers looking for:
- learning books
- a water book for kids
- Earth Day books
Part of every child’s development involves asking questions. Today, some of the most important questions kids ask are related to the natural environment. The enlightening and entertaining four-book Why Should I? series demonstrates the importance of protecting nature. Books present brief, entertaining stories that answer children’s questions and feature amusing color illustrations on every page. A note at the back of each book is for parents and teachers, suggesting ways to use these books most effectively.
The Street Beneath My Feet
Published: March 1, 2017
When you’re out walking around, whether on the city streets or a country trail, there’s always so much to see and hear. But do you ever stop and look down? Have you ever wondered what’s going on deep in the ground under your feet?
From Tree to Sea
Published: February 12, 2019
From the edge of the sea to a high mountain top, everything has its place in the world and all living things are connected. The world around us has a lot to tell us if we take the time to look and listen. This tender and comforting picture book celebrates the wisdom in many of the things great and small that make up our wonderful world.
The Ultimate Book of Planet Earth
Published: August 27, 2019
Learn all about our planet’s geology, geography, atmosphere, weather, and more: Magma erupts from a volcano, turbines harness the power of wind… Best of all, lots of flaps, popups, pull-tabs, and rotating wheels bring mountain ranges, continents, and oceans to life. Readers will see all the layers of the earth, learn how water flows from mountains to rivers to oceans, and understand our climate and weather patterns. Any child who has interested in nature and science will adore this extraordinary look at the world around us.
How to Help the Earth-By the Lorax
Published: January 10, 2012
After explaining how the trash in a wastbasket ultimately ends up in a landfill or incinerator, the Lorax suggests realistic ways children can reduce waste, such as by carrying a lunch box, donating old clothes and toys, sharing magazines with friends, recycling cans and bottles, and using rechargeable batteries. He also explains how they can save energy around the home by turning off lights, taking shorter showers, donning sweaters to stay warm, and much, much more. All in all, this is a great introduction to helping the Earth and helping kids step into reading!
The EARTH Book
Published: March 17, 2010
“I take care of the earth because I know I can do little things every day to make a BIG difference…”
With his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-friendly picture book. Featuring a circular die-cut Earth on the cover, and printed entirely with recycled materials and nontoxic soy inks, this book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good – from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper, to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways.
The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon
Published: February 4, 2020
When Sofia dreams of visiting the Moon one night, she discovers people are hurting the Earth! With the Moon as her guide, Sofia learns how we can work together to make Earth feel better.
With rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, this sweet, environmentally friendly story is a gentle lesson and clear reminder of the importance of caring for our planet. Previously published as Sofia’s Dream, this updated edition includes bonus back matter about pollution and the simple steps we can take to protect the Earth!
Old Enough to Save the Planet
Published: February 9, 2021
The world is facing a climate crisis like we’ve never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject—they’re going to make a change. Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.
Wangari’s Trees of Peace
Published: September 21, 2008
As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later when she returns home, she is shocked to see whole forests being cut down, and she knows that soon all the trees will be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do something—and starts by planting nine seedlings in her own backyard. And as they grow, so do her plans. . . .
There they are: 27 of the best picture books about our earth! Which of these books have you read and loved? Which ones did I miss?
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