April is Earth Month a while it's important to take care of the earth every month of the year, this is a special time to celebrate the earth and being eco-friendly. It's also a good time to re-evaluate to see if there is anything more we can be doing.
These books all share the same theme: no one is too small to make a difference. They will all teach your kids about the world we live in and they will also inspire and give them ideas and projects to keep them busy for a long time to come. This is only 15 books but there are so many others! Do you have any favourites you'd like to recommend?
Written by: innovativeKids, Illustrated by: Jillian Phillips
For: Preschoolers
One Tree is about a tree and the environment around and in it. From the insects that eat the leaves to the creatures who call the tree home.
Written by: Todd Parr
For: Preschoolers
The Earth Book shares simple and age-appropriate things our littlest ones can do to keep the earth happy and healthy.
Written by: innovativeKids, Illustrated by: Jillian Phillips
For: Preschoolers
In the Garden will show your kids how easy it is to grow their own food in their own home garden (with help from parents, of course!).
Written by: Mercer Mayer
For: Ages 4-8
Inspired after watching a movie about climate change, Little Critter, along with his family and friends, do their part in trying to slow down global warming through simple actions we can all learn from and do as well.
Written by: Dr. Seuss
For: Ages 4 and up
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not.
Published in 1971, this classic book is narrated by the Once-ler who tells his personal tale of greed and how he stopped at nothing to get what he wanted, even if it meant sacrificing precious trees and greenspace. The Lorax (who speaks for the trees) warns him of the dangers, but the warnings fall on deaf ears. But hope comes along. You'll love the ending to this book.
BONUS: The movie version of this book was released in 2012 and it's great. Watch it too!
Written by: Peter Brown
For: Ages 3-7
This book tells the tale of a boy who discovers a mysterious and unhealthy garden and he decides to take care of it. After tending to it for a while, the garden gets healthy and transforms a once gray and dull city into a beautiful green city.
Written by: Lara Bergen, Illustrated by Betsy Snyder
For: Ages 4-8
After reading this book, you kids will come away with six cool project ideas that will have them turning what would have been considered old household trash into new treasures.
Written by: Rana DiOrio, Illustrated by Chris Blair
For: Ages 4-10
Just because they're young, doesn't mean they can't make a difference. That is what What Does it Mean to be Green? is all about. This book will show your kid that there are many things, big and small, that they can do every day to make an impact.
Written by: Mary McKenna Siddals, Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
For: Ages 4-8
Everything your kids needs to know about starting a home compost pile and why it's a good idea to keep one is shared in Compost Stew. Parents may learn a thing or too as well!
Written by: Dr. Jill Dunn, Illustrated by Bohdi Hill
For: Ages 4-8
The words "going green" are everywhere but what does it really mean? Through rhyming text, the author aims to explain what those important words mean and why going green is so important for all.
Written by: Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen
For: Ages 7-10
Miss Frizzle and her crew take a journey in the Magic School Bus to learn all what climate change is, how it affects us, and how we can help to stop it. Rather than leaving kids with a feeling of dread, this book will empower them to take action.
Written by: Jean Craighead George
For: 9 and up
I remember one of my elementary school teachers reading this classic book to my class and the fact that I remember it after all these years says a lot. It tells the story of Sam who runs away from his New York City home to live in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York. He learns to take care of himself and his needs by living off the land. He makes a hollowed out tree his home and must overcome several obstacles throughout the book such as blizzards and wild animals in order to survive. Readers will come away with a love for nature and all it has to offer.
Written by: Sheri Amsel
For: Ages 9 and up
Older kids will learn about the things they can do every day to be green in this jam-packed book (144 pages). They'll also learn about the importance of the rainforests, how and why animals go extinct, plus cool green science experiments and projects to keep them busy.
Written by: Sheri Amsel
For: Ages 9 and up
This book gives a going green tip for every day of the year so we can all become more eco-friendly as a family. It contains tips for both parents and kids and it is encouraged for the whole family to do the activities together.
Written by: Chelsea Clinton
For: Ages 9 to teens
This book shares stories about how other kids and teens are making impacts, big and small, to make the world a better place. The stories tell how they were inspired to do what they do and exactly how they are making a difference in their communities, cities, countries, and even the world. The aim is to show that everyone is capable of achieving great things if they are determined enough. Suggestions on projects readers can take action on today are also included.
Written by: Dionna Ford and Mandy O'Brien
For: Teens and up
BONUS! 15 books have already been shared but I wanted to re-share this one too because it's so good. I reviewed this book and shared two recipes from it a few years back (see that review here). Even though some time has passed, it's a book that I still go back to over and over again. It's filled with quick and easy recipes to get your house clean from the inside out using only homemade, natural ingredient recipes.
After working for many years as a successful tech writer, Gwen decided to leave that world behind to become a stay-at-home mom to her two children. Soon after, she started paying more attention to what was in the products she brought into her home and realized that it was not all good. She stepped into action and educated herself on exactly what is safe, and what is not. Once she decided on the products she liked, she soon learned that it was no easy task to find these things in one convenient place so this was when she decided to open up an online eco-store. After all, she couldn’t be the only parent out there who had this problem, right?
After six very rewarding years of being a store owner and being immersed in the "green world," Gwen made the bittersweet decision to close down her popular online shop.
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