19 Children’s Books to Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd (Free File)
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19 books to celebrate Earth Day. I love sharing these Earth Day books with students during the month of April to help us be mindful of things we can do to protect this beautiful planet Earth. Before I get into the list of my favorite books, I want to focus on one particular story about an old oak tree that was greatly loved.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #1 Someday a Tree
Someday a Tree by Eve Bunting is a sweet, yet sad, story of an oak tree that brought joy to people from all around; especially, a little girl and her family.
Alice and her family would sit under the tree often but one day discovered that someone poisoned the tree. Although probably unintentional, this broke the hearts of people in the town.
I love using this story to help us be mindful of our actions and how they affect the world around us. We use this book as an interactive read aloud and work on reading comprehension activities.
Throughout the week we work on making predictions, retelling the story, making text connections, inferring, and discussing the author’s purpose.
We end the week with a craft that is perfect for Earth day!
See more lesson activities for Someday a tree in this blog post:
Someday a Tree Reading Comprehension Lesson Plans
You can find a week’s worth of lesson plans, along with the craft, by clicking on the link below:
On with the list of children’s books to celebrate Earth Day!
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #2 The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon
The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon by Land Wilson
A sweet story about loving the Earth.
Publishers Synopsis: A sweet bedtime story that will inspire children to protect the Earth and encourage others to do the same.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #3 Thank you, Earth
A thank you letter to Earth with beautiful photographs. I love using this book as a way for kids to understand all that our planet provides.
Publishers Synopsis: Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community, perfect for classrooms and homeschooling. This nonfiction picture book is ideal for Earth Day and for celebrating the planet all year long.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #4 It's Earth Day!
It’s Earth Day by Mercer Mayer
This Little Critter book is a favorite for Earth Day!
Publishers Synopsis: After Little Critter learns about Earth Day in school, he does everything he can to help protect the environment and save the polar bears from global warming, but he gets discouraged when his Climate Control Machine fails to work.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #5 The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth
I just discovered this book and although it doesn’t speak to how we can take care of Earth, it is such a wonderful book! I love the message about finding happiness no matter where you are… so wonderful!
Publishers Synopsis: When a young boy asks the Earth where he can find happiness, the Earth responds and agrees to show him the way. The boy rushes excitedly through the landscapes that make the Earth most proud—the ocean, the cliffs, the forest, the desert, the mountains, and the top of the world. But the boy soon realizes happiness is much harder to find than he expected.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #6 What a Waste by Jess French
A book about recycling to protect our planet.
Publishers Synopsis: In this informative book on recycling for children, you will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #7 This is the Earth
This nonfiction picture book is great! The paintings within this book show the effects, both positive and negative, that humans have had on the Earth.
Publishers Synopsis: This Is the Earth explores hundreds of years of changing landscapes and the positive and negative impacts humans have had on the environment. Even the smallest actions can help save the world, and this lyrical, rhyming read-aloud text shows how smart and simple everyday habits can protect the planet.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #8 Curious George Plants a Tree
We love Curious George!
Publishers Synopsis: When George finds out that the science museum is planning a “Green Day” dedicated to recycling and planting trees, he is curious and wants to help out! But then George begins to recycle things around town that aren’t quite ready for the recycling bin, and he gets into a jam. Thankfully, George isn’t the only one who wants to help—the whole community can’t wait to lend a hand!
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #9 Wangari's Trees of Peace
A beautiful picture book to portray the true story of Wangari Maathai, an environmental and political activist in Kenya.
Publishers Synopsis: 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 . . .
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #10 Not for Me, Please! I choose to Act Green
Students are encouraged to harness their inner superhero to help protect the environment.
Publishers Synopsis: 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!
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #11 Compost Stew
A fun alphabet book that is the perfect recipe for Earth!
Publishers Synopsis: Teach kids to compost and help them develop life-long habits to protect the Earth. From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book perfect for Earth Day!
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #12 Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
I love this sweet story about being a good person and knowing the beauty and mystery of our Earth.
Publishers Synopsis: Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of Jeffers’s candy-colored humans…underscores the twin messages that ‘You’re never alone on Earth’ and that we’re all in this together.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #13 I am Earth
Cute book for Earth Day! Plus, there are a few other book in the series that could be great for a study of Space! (I am the Solar System, I am the Sun, I am the Moon)
Publishers Synopsis: Learn with planet Earth as the guide! Children ages 3-5 will discover important facts about the planet they call home through entertaining images that preschoolers and kindergartners will want to read again and again. Imaginative illustrations and easy to follow facts make this an excellent book for young learners.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #14 Earth Ninja
A book about Ninjas? Your students will love it!
Publishers Synopsis: Earth Ninja shows us how one little ninja can make a difference in the world by practicing three simple life habits.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #15 The Giving Tree
A classic for Earth Day. We also have reading comprehension lessons for this book. You can see the activities in action by clicking on this link:
Publishers Synopsis:
From Shel Silverstein, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, comes a poignant picture book about love and acceptance, cherished for over fifty years. This classic is perfect for both young readers and lifelong fans.
“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.”
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #16 Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth
A fun Earth Day book for students to learn about climate change.
Publishers Synopsis: From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Our Planet! There’s No Place Like Earth is a nonfiction picture book about the Earth, told from the perspective of Earth herself.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #17 This Class Can Save the Planet
A great book to read to your class on Earth Day!
Publishers Synopsis: This Class Can Save the Planet shows students they can have an incredible impact on the environment when they work together. It offers easy ideas kids can implement right away in their own schools and classrooms.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #18 One Earth
A great book for Earth Day by Eileen Spinelli!
Publishers Synopsis: Celebrate our planet and discover easy ways to take care of it with this picture book that’s perfect for budding environmentalists and nature lovers.
Books to Celebrate Earth Day: #19 One Plastic Bag
I love books that are based on true stories! This one about plastic bags is perfect for Earth Day.
Publishers Synopsis: The inspiring true story of how one African woman began a movement to recycle the plastic bags that were polluting her community.
Enjoy this list of books to celebrate Earth Day!
For some Earth Day videos, take a look at this blog post:
If you’re looking for some Earth Day activities and center ideas for April, click here:
- Earth Day Handwriting Practice Themed Sentences
- Spring and Earth Day Math and Literacy Pocket Dice Centers for April
- Simple Sentences Earth Day (Build and Write)
- Earth Day Roll, Say, Keep: Sight Words
- Sentence Practice: Earth Day Read, Trace, Glue & Draw
- Poetry and Shared Reading for April -Spring and Earth Day Poems
- Writing Center for April
- Write the Room Center for Kindergarten
- Math & Literacy Centers for April
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Deedee Wills
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
Hi, I'm DeedeE.
My teaching career allowed me to experience teaching in different classroom environments and grades. My heart belongs to early childhood education. My job is to make teaching FUN, ENGAGING, and EASIER. Welcome!
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