Six Books to Read with Your Child on Earth Day

Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22nd. At Barefoot Books, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. I love that so many of our books help children learn about and appreciate the natural world. Here are a few that are perfect to read together as we get ready to celebrate Earth Day:

A classic song gets a new environmental perspective in Whole World.

Whole World by Christopher Corr and Fred Penner: This spiritual song has been updated to reflect how all of us have the wind and the rain, the birds of the air, and all of the natural world in our hands. The CD that's included can be played on a CD player or will play an animated version of the book with music if played in a computer CD drive. The book includes bonus learning pages with tips about how to care for the environment in daily life. Ages 3 - 7.

Explore the sounds and sights of nature in Listen, Listen

Listen, Listen by Phyllis Gershator and Allison Jay: You may never have realized all the distinct sights and sounds there are to each season of the year until you read this book aloud to a preschooler. It's a perfect segue into talking about the sounds and sights your child has seen in their day. This large format board book is just the right size for reading on your lap together, and includes 4 seek and find pages after the rhyming story. Ages 1 - 7.

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales includes seven folk tales drawn from cultures around the world.

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales by Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson: Some of the stories included in this global anthology are humorous; others are inspiring. All help children explore how different cultures seek to live in harmony with the natural world. I especially love "The Grumpy Gecko," which reveals how each animal has a valuable role to play in our eco-system. Each story is accompanied by a related craft activity. On sale in April! Ages 5 - 11.

Children will follow a boy and his grandfather working in the garden through all four seasons in Grandpa's Garden.

Grandpa's Garden by Stella Fry and Sheila Moxley. Few things can teach a child as much about nature as working in a garden. In this engaging picture book, a young boy must exercise patience as he and his grandfather work in the garden throughout the year. After the story, there are 10 learning pages packed with info about what you can do in the garden during each season. Ages 3 - 8.

Meet a dragon who isn't afraid to stick up for what he believes in Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon.

Herb the Vegetarian Dragon by Jules Bass and Debbie Harter: This tale of a dragon who's different from the others is a favorite among my little customers. Herb sticks to his beliefs even in the stickiest of situations. This adventurous tale could lead to discussions about how to live according to our values (and perhaps even lead to talking about how our own diets affect the health of our planet.) Ages 4 - 10. 

Explore our wonderful world, including lots of information on the environment, in the Barefoot Books World Atlas,

Barefoot Books World Atlas by Nick Crane and David Dean: This informative atlas is packed full of kid-friendly features like lift the flaps and a pull out wall map. It's the perfect book to explore on Earth Day, because each continent, ocean, etc. has an "environment" section that describes the environmental threats that region is facing. All ages.

What books do you love for celebrating the earth?