Read aloud on our channel
The Couch Potato
The Couch Potato
The Food Group seriesK to 3rd grade
A potato who never leaves the couch discovers how good the outside world feels. A fun nudge to put down the screens.
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Nature and Earth Day Picture Books
The best Nature and Earth Day picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Books about the outdoors, animals in the wild, and caring for the planet.
40 books · 14 with a read aloud on our channel
The Earth Book
The Earth Book
PreK to 2nd grade
Todd Parr's bright, simple pages show little ways kids can care for the planet, like saving water and planting trees. Ideal for toddlers and Earth Day.
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Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius
K to 3rd grade
Miss Rumphius sets out to make the world more beautiful, and does. A gorgeous classic about leaving your mark.
The Lorax
The Lorax
PreK to 4th grade
The Once ler chops down every Truffula Tree despite the Lorax's warnings, then hands a seed to a boy who can start over. Dr. Seuss's timeless call to care for nature.
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The Carrot Seed
The Carrot Seed
PreK to 3rd grade
A little boy keeps believing in his seed even when everyone says it won't grow. A tiny classic about patience and faith in yourself.
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
PreK to 3rd grade
A man sent to chop down a kapok tree falls asleep, and the rainforest animals whisper why their home matters. A gorgeous, gentle introduction to protecting rainforests.
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A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
PreK to 2nd grade
Mr. Magee and his dog go camping and meet a hungry bear. A rhyming adventure perfect for summer.
Lifetimes
Lifetimes
K to 4th grade
This gentle book explains that every living thing has a beginning, an ending, and living in between. A calm, honest way to start conversations about death.
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The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick
The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick
K to 3rd grade
A grumpy bunny and a cheerful stick fall out of a backpack and travel the world. Funny and full of heart.
My Friend Earth
My Friend Earth
PreK to K
Patricia MacLachlan's lyrical text and peekaboo cutouts celebrate how Earth cares for animals, plants, and people through the seasons. A beautiful nature read aloud for little ones.
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The Mess That We Made
The Mess That We Made
K to 2nd grade
A rhyming look at the trash in our oceans and what kids can do about it. Powerful and hopeful.
Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet
Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet
PreK to 3rd grade
Stunning nature photos and simple words say thank you for everything Earth gives us, from rain to bugs to bright sky. Lovely for Earth Day or any thankful moment.
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The Secret Life of Squirrels
The Secret Life of Squirrels
PreK to 2nd grade
Real squirrel photos in tiny homes and scenes. Kids love spotting all the details.
We Are Water Protectors
We Are Water Protectors
PreK to 4th grade
An Ojibwe girl rallies her community to protect the water from a black snake pipeline. This Caldecott winner is bold, beautiful, and a strong starting point for talking about standing up for the earth.
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Big Fat Bear Battle!: The BEAR-ly True Tale of Alaska's Fat Bear Week
Big Fat Bear Battle!: The BEAR-ly True Tale of Alaska's Fat Bear Week
1st to 3rd grade
The funny, true inspired story of Alaska's Fat Bear Week. Kids love the bears and learn a little science too.
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree
PreK to 3rd grade
A tree gives a boy everything she has, from apples to shade, as he grows into an old man. Simple and moving, it opens wonderful conversations about love and giving.
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Giant Island
Giant Island
K to 2nd grade
Ava and Mason explore a tiny island with Grandpa and slowly realize it's a sleeping giant. A beautiful, magical story about wonder, from Jane Yolen.
I Am a Bunny
I Am a Bunny
Busytown seriesPreK to 2nd grade
Nicholas the bunny shares his world through spring, summer, fall, and winter, chasing butterflies and watching snow fall. Simple, soothing, and gorgeous for the littlest listeners.
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I LOVE Blueberries
I LOVE Blueberries
K to 4th grade
Jolie wants to grow blueberries in her classroom and teams up with a new friend to make it happen. A fun STEM story about teamwork and where food comes from.
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth
PreK to 2nd grade
A rhyming alphabet recipe shows kids exactly what goes into a compost pile, from apple cores to zucchini peels. Fun for gardening families and Earth Day lessons.
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Mary Manatee: A Tale of Sea Cows
Mary Manatee: A Tale of Sea Cows
2nd to 4th grade
Mary the manatee teaches her son Mikey how to stay safe in the water. A sweet story packed with real manatee facts.
The Curious Garden
The Curious Garden
PreK to 3rd grade
Liam finds a few struggling plants on an old railway and tends them until green spreads across his gray city. An inspiring story about how one kid can make a difference.
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When the Sky Roars
When the Sky Roars
PreK to 2nd grade
A boy scared of thunder floats up to the clouds and finds the noise is an angry dinosaur mom whose pie got ruined. A silly, clever book for kids afraid of storms.
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
PreK to 2nd grade
Oliver Jeffers wrote this guide to our planet for his newborn son, covering land, sky, people, and being kind. Funny, wise, and great for curious kids of any age.
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Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth
Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth
Our Universe seriesPreK to 3rd grade
Earth herself tells kids all about her oceans, weather, and creatures with plenty of personality and humor. A charming science read aloud for curious minds.
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Outside In
Outside In
PreK to 2nd grade
A girl spends her days indoors until nature gently reminds her it's always there, connecting us all. A quiet, gorgeous Caldecott Honor book.
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Rocket Says Clean Up!
Rocket Says Clean Up!
PreK to 2nd grade
Rocket visits her grandparents in Jamaica and finds the beach covered in trash, so she rallies everyone to clean it up and help a turtle. Upbeat and empowering for little activists.
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I Hear Nature
I Hear Nature
PreK to K
A book full of nature sounds for little ones to listen for and say. Great for early language and getting outside.
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When Summer Comes: Exploring Nature in Our Warmest Season
When Summer Comes: Exploring Nature in Our Warmest Season
PreK to 3rd grade
A gentle look at what happens in nature during summer. Great for curious little explorers.
Adopted by an Owl: The True Story of Jackson the Owl
Adopted by an Owl: The True Story of Jackson the Owl
2nd to 5th grade
A family of wildlife rehabilitators raises an orphaned great horned owl and teaches him to survive in the wild. A fascinating true story for animal lovers.
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Crow Call
Crow Call
3rd to 5th grade
Nine year old Liz goes hunting with her father after he returns from war, and they reconnect. A quiet, beautiful story about families.
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Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature
Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature
3rd to 5th grade
Funny haiku poems celebrate the gross side of nature, from slime to poop. Perfect for kids who love icky facts.
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A Journey Under the Sea
A Journey Under the Sea
2nd to 5th grade
Underwater photos explore a South African kelp forest full of octopuses, sharks, and other sea life. A beautiful window into the ocean.
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The Mystery of the Monarchs
The Mystery of the Monarchs
4th to 5th grade
Scientist Fred Urquhart spends decades, with help from volunteers, tracking where monarch butterflies go each winter. A true science detective story with a thrilling payoff.
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Weslandia
Weslandia
1st to 5th grade
Outcast Wesley creates his own civilization in his backyard over summer vacation, and soon everyone wants in. A celebration of creativity and being yourself.
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Birds
Birds
PreK to 3rd grade
A young girl watches birds from her window and imagines all the shapes, colors, and wonders they hold. Its bright, simple pages spark curiosity about the natural world.
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In the Middle of Fall
In the Middle of Fall
PreK to 3rd grade
Bright leaves, busy squirrels, and pumpkins fill the pages as fall unfolds, with a reminder that winter is coming soon. A lyrical, glowing celebration of the season.
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Little White Rabbit
Little White Rabbit
PreK to 3rd grade
A little rabbit hops through spring, wondering what it would feel like to be green like grass or tall like the trees, before heading home to his mother's love. Simply lovely.
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Old Bear
Old Bear
PreK to 3rd grade
Sleeping through winter, Old Bear dreams of being a cub again as flowers, berries, and leaves change around him. A soothing, colorful journey through the seasons for little ones.
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Waiting
Waiting
PreK to 3rd grade
Five toys sit on a windowsill, each waiting for something different, the moon, the rain, the wind, the snow. This quiet Caldecott Honor book is a lovely lesson in patience.
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