22 Books to Celebrate Earth Day (for Kids + Adults): A collection of Children’s Books about caring for our planet

One of the things I love about being a parent is discovering new books to read with my kids. Reading together has become one of our favorite things to do. And as we approach Earth Day on April 22nd, I’m excited to share this inspiring collection of 22 books about caring for Earth and the Environment! 

And on top of that, I’ve included these FREE Earth Day Coloring Sheets you can download instantly at the bottom of this post. A great activity for Preschool and Elementary Kids. 

I've combed through several books and these are some of my favorites to read with my kids (we have several of them in our own library!) When you buy something using the retail links below, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I would never recommend something I didn't believe in! 

The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain

This double-sided foldout book takes you on a fascinating journey deep underground. One side of the foldout shows the ground beneath the city, whilst the reverse side shows the ground beneath the countryside. The underground scenes include tunnels and pipes, creatures' burrows, layers of rock and the planet’s molten core, and run seamlessly into the next. And its fold-out, 'laperello’ style, which extends to eight feet in length, is ideal for spreading out on the floor to pore over for hours.

Here we Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers' user's guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet's terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver's signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents.

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines

You and your children will learn all about the Gaines family's story of becoming gardeners in Joanna's first children's book--starting with the first little fern Chip bought for Jo. Over the years, the family's love for gardening has blossomed into what is now a beautiful, bustling garden.

Curious George Plants a Tree by H.A. Rey

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! 

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

If You Come to Earth is a glorious guide to our home planet, and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other. This stunning book is inspired by the thousands of children Sophie Blackall has met during her travels around the world in support of UNICEF and Save the Children.

I Can Save the Earth! by Alison Inches

A new “green” series!: Little Green Books will educate children on what they can do to be more eco-friendly. The books in this line will be made from recycled materials, and the storylines will cover subjects such as improving the environment, learning about endangered animals, recycling, and much more.

Why Should I Recycle by Jen Green

What if everybody threw away old bottles and newspapers, littering the world with glass and plastic and tin cans that should be recycled and made into new products? Mr. Jones is a teacher who sets a good example for kids by separating his trash for recycling. When he takes them on a class trip to a recycling plant they learn the value of recycling. 

Be Water-Wise, Super Grover! by Jennifer Boothroyd

Everyone needs water, and there are plenty of ways to save it! Super Grover and friends explain the ways we use water and how to use less, from turning off faucets to choosing shorter showers. You can be a water hero, too!

Not for Me, Please! I Choose to Act Green by Maria Godsey

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!

The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore) by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Come for a visit in Bear Country with this classic First Time Book® from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Brother is doing a report about endangered species, so he and Sister visit the museum to talk to Professor Actual Factual about what they can do to help save the environment. 

Fancy Nancy: Everyday is Earth Day by Jane O’Connor

Learning to respect the environment is no small task, especially if you want to celebrate Earth Day every day of the week! Luckily, Nancy is on hand to make sure Mom, Dad, and her little sister do their part in being green—even if she has to keep reminding them. Nancy knows that she's helping her family do something very important, but will she take her enthusiasm for the environment a step too far?

Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre

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.

Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals

Kids everywhere are knowledgeable about the environment and climate change. Not only is composting becoming more common in households and residential gardens, but many school gardens feature compost piles, too. But how do you start a compost pile? What’s safe to include? Perfect for an Earth Day focus or year-round reference, this inviting book provides all the answers for kids and families looking for simple, child-friendly ways to help the planet.

Earth Ninja by Mary Nhin

Earth Ninja shows her friends how one little ninja can make a difference in the world by practicing 3 simple life habits. Find out what happens in this fun book about the impact we each have on the earth. 

Save the Bees by Bethany Stahl

From exciting and adventurous to educational and captivating, Save the Bees tells the story of three friends working together to make Clover's pollination route easier! This engaging book teaches about pollination and includes activities after the story is over to interact with the reader directly! With beautiful and charming illustrations, this is a book adults will love reading over and over again with their kids. Save the Bees heartwarming lesson of environmentalism and conservation that will stay with the reader for a lifetime.

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

Not sure whether to high-five bees or run away from them? Well, maybe you shouldn't high-five them, but you definitely don't have to run away from them. Give Bees a Chance is for anyone who doesn't quite appreciate how extra special and important bees are to the world, and even to humankind! Besides making yummy honey, they help plants grow fruits and vegetables. And most bees wouldn't hurt a fly (unless it was in self-defense!). 

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty

"Hi, I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome." Prepare to learn all about Earth from the point-of-view of Earth herself! In this funny yet informative book, filled to the brim with kid-friendly facts, readers will discover key moments in Earth’s life, from her childhood more than four billion years ago all the way up to present day. 

What a Waste by Jess French

This educational book will teach young budding ecologists about how our actions affect planet Earth and the big impact we can make by the little things we do. Did you know that every single plastic toothbrush ever made still exists? Or that there is a floating mass of trash larger than the USA drifting around the Pacific Ocean? It is not all bad news though. While this is a knowledge book that explains where we are going wrong, What a Waste also shows what we are getting right! Discover plans to save our seas. How countries are implementing green projects worldwide, and how to turn waste into something useful. 

Penguins Don’t Wear Sweaters! by Marikka Tamura

You may have seen the cute pictures of penguins wearing sweaters--but did you know why they were wearing them? Debut author Marikka Tamura answers this question in this colorful, kid-friendly book that is told simply and charmingly. Penguins love the sea. Happy in the dark blue water. But what is this? One day something is floating in the water. Dark. Gooey. Oily. When the penguins become coated in an oil spill, many Big Boots arrive. The humans want to help the cold, greasy penguins, so they knit sweaters to keep them warm. The Big Boots mean well, but . . . penguins don't wear sweaters! So after a good, soapy scrub, the penguins dive back into the deep blue sea, happily dressed only in their own penguin feathers.

The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle by Alison Inches

Learn about recycling from a new perspective!  Peek into this diary of a plastic bottle as it goes on a journey from the refinery plant, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into it's new life...as a fleece jacket!

Earth Day, Birthday by Maureen Wright

It's April 22, and Lion and his friends want to plant trees, recycle bottles, and have fun on Earth Day. But not Monkey. He wants to celebrate his birthday. Can he convince the other animals that it really is his birthday? Violet Kim's humorous artwork, rendered in paper, photographs, and colored pencil, highlight the sunny, friendly world of the animals.

The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler

Each day, the big trucks go to work. They scoop and hoist and push. But when Digger discovers something growing in the rubble, he sets in motion a series of events that will change him, and the city, forever.