15 of the best children’s chapter books about nature and the environment to read this Earth Day

 

With Earth Day coming up on 22nd April we thought it was the perfect time to share some chapter books with environmental themes. Children's chapter books about nature and the environment can transport young readers to breath-taking landscapes, introduce them to fascinating creatures and inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.

 

There’s also a growing trend for children's books that encourage kids to take action to protect the natural world. These books inspire children to care for the planet, develop empathy for nature and take meaningful actions to make a positive impact. From teaching about recycling and conservation to advocating for endangered species and raising awareness about environmental issues, these books ignite a sense of environmental activism in children and inspire them to be advocates for a greener, more sustainable world.

 

We have curated a list of 15 of the best children's chapter books about nature and the environment that are sure to captivate young readers. As parents, these books are a great way to prompt meaningful conversations with kids about the environment alongside encouraging empathy, compassion and responsibility.

 

These book ideas may also provide KS1 and KS2 teachers with a creative and engaging way to incorporate environmental topics into their lesson plans, spark classroom discussions, promote critical thinking and raise environmental awareness among students.

 

Whether your child is an avid nature lover, an aspiring environmentalist or simply in need of a good book to read, we think this list has something for everyone.

 

So grab a cosy blanket, head outdoors and dive into these captivating stories that will inspire young readers to appreciate the beauty and importance of nature, and motivate them to take action to protect our planet this Earth Day and beyond.

 

 

Four chapter books that help children understand and celebrate the natural world

 

 

Shyla's Wood Wide Web by Ewa Jozefkowicz

At Forest School, the Woodland Explorers are learning about fungi and how it connects trees underground in a huge network known as the Wood Wide Web. When Shyla is given her grandmother's binoculars, she discovers mushrooms growing in a circle, called a pixie ring. Suddenly her eyes are opened to a whole new world - and magical woodland creatures show Shyla how to spread the word about protecting the forest. This beautifully illustrated story is one that kids aged 5+ will love.

 

 

The Secret Garden Rewilded by Anthea Simmons

Spoilt rich kid Mia’s world is turned upside-down when she is orphaned and whisked away to Mis Tor Manor on the edge of Dartmoor to live with her uncle and cousin Christopher.Yet little by little, Mia starts to discover the beauty of this wintry world, and befriends local boy Daniel, who loves animals and teaches her how to ride a Dartmoor pony. One day she discovers a hidden door, covered in brambles and ivy, which leads to a walled garden … A special, secret place which needs someone’s care to bring it to life once again so nature can flourish.

 

 

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson

Daisy Thistledown has escaped from boarding school and has a mystery to solve. Her search for her missing mother will lead her across London and through a hidden doorway to another world, filled with plants and bursting with magic: the Greenwild. This timeless eco-adventure is utterly enchanting and perfect for readers aged 8+. Daisy's adventures continue in Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea.

 

 

The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend

Orla lives alone, isolated from her community with only her garden for company. When her beloved plants are blamed for a mysterious sickness, she must find a cure and uncover some terrible truths to save her garden. This gripping adventure takes place in a stunning setting and explores the complex relationships between the three central characters as well as between humans and the natural world. Perfect for 8+.

 

4 chapter books about children taking action to protect the natural world

 

 

Sona Sharma, Looking After Planet Earth by Chitra Soundar

In this beautifully illustrated chapter book for early readers, Sona learns about the climate crisis at school and decides to take action at home. She meets resistance from some members of her family but her determination to make a change wins through. Part of a charming series set in India for readers aged 5+.

 

 

Finding Bear by Hannah Gold

Finding Bear is the sequel to Hannah Gold's award-winning The Last Bear. April has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But, over a year later, she can’t stop thinking about Bear. When April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, she’s convinced it’s her friend and persuades her dad to return with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. So begins an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers. Ideal for readers aged 8 and up.

 

 

Save Our Forest! by Nora Dasnes

When Bao finds out that the adults have decided to turn her beloved forest – the Bog – into a car park, she realises that she’s the one who must act! With her best friends Tuva and Linnéa by her side, Bao organises a protest. Do Abdi and the other boys at school really understand why it’s so important to save the forest? And how do you make the adults understand the seriousness of the situation when you’re 12 years old?. A gorgeous graphic novel for 8+.

 

 

Burning Sunlight by Anthea Simmons

Zaynab and Lucas come from completely different parts of the world, but when they meet in rural Devon they discover one common cause that matters to them both: the climate crisis. When Zaynab uncovers a plot that could destroy the environment and people's lives back home in Somaliland, she will stop at nothing to prevent it. A thought-provoking story for readers aged 11+

 

Two chapter books focused on the importance of recycling

 

 

The Tindims of Rubbish Island by Sally Gardner

This book is the first in a series set on Rubbish Island, which the Tindims have built entirely from things humans have thrown away. In this story Ethel B Dina is blown out to sea and the Tindims must launch a rescue operation with the help of some friendly fish. Beautifully illustrated adventures for age 5 and up.

 

 

The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom by SusieBower

Ophelia and her family are always on the move as a travelling theatre. When they are forced to stay in the idyllic town of Stopford it soon becomes apparent that someone is trying to drive the Bottoms out. There’s also the issue of the strange Stopford motto: PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC – DIFFERENT IS DANGEROUS. Can Ophelia discover what lurks behind Stopford’s perfect appearance before she loses everything that makes her family so special? A rip-roaring adventure for age 8+.

 

4 eco-dystopian books raising awareness about the importance of protecting the planet

 

 

Reek by Alastair Chisholm 

Sparrow lives in the world after the Reek. The atmosphere is toxically polluted, and Axel Brodie, the tech billionaire behind Zephyr Industries, is cashing in as the only supplier of clean air. Sparrow is struggling to help her family survive until her brilliant inventor friend, Miriam Fenn, comes up with a new form of technology that could break Zephyr’s stranglehold on the air supply. But men like Brodie are hard to defeat, and he will do everything in his power to stop Miriam and Sparrow. Who will triumph in this battle to breathe?

 

 

The Extraordinary Colours of Auden Dare by Zillah Bethel

This thrilling and breath-taking adventure is set in a near future where water has become such a rare commodity that wars are being fought over it. Against this backdrop, Auden and his friend Vivi are drawn into a mystery that leads them to befriend an humanoid robot and race to outwit sinister forces that are at work. Ideal for age 8+.

 

 

How to Bee by Bren MacDibble

Set in a future Australia in a time when there are no bees and children are employed to scramble through the fruit trees with feather wands to pollinate them. This is the beautiful and thought-provoking story of Peony who dreams of being ‘a bee’ but is forced in a more challenging direction by her complex family life. An eye-opening read for age 8+.

 

 

Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell

The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force―Terra Electrica―has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization. In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.