Picture Books to Inspire Nature Lovers
Encourage the next generation of outdoor adventurers.
Nothing inspires wonder, cultivates mindfulness, and relieves stress as effectively and enjoyably as time spent in nature. Encourage the wilderness enthusiast in your child with this growing list of stories.
You may also enjoy our collection of picture books for young environmental advocates and our collection of picture books for citizen scientists.
Talk about the issue.
Name three things that you love to do outside?
Where are your favorite outdoor spaces?
Are their any outdoor adventures you hope to have some time in the future?
What creature do you wish you could see in the wild?
What can your family do to help take care of your favorite natural areas?
What can your family do to reduce waste in your home?
Featured Title
Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper
Young star-gazers will love following Max as he keeps a careful eye on the moon during an evening’s journey home from grandpa’s house.
Additional DGT Favorites
A Place to Grow by Stephanie Bloom
Destined to be your next favorite book, and favorite book to give others, A Place to Grow reminds us all to appreciate our unique gifts. The joyous illustrations by Kelly Murphy will inspire your inner gardener to get planting!
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers.
Adapted from a speech supposedly made by the American Indian Chief Seattle, Brother Eagle, Sister Sky encourages reverence for the land and environment.
Canoe Days by Gary Paulsen.
Enjoy the peace and pleasure of a summer day in this poetic, beautifully illustrated, and fully transportable canoe trip.
Frederick by Leo Lionni
This Caldecott-Honor-winning book reminds us how important it can be to stop and appreciate nature.
Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq
Join Fatima on an adventure that illustrates the calm and confidence that can be learned while spending time in nature, making new family members, and appreciating strong family roots.
Everglades by Jean Craighead George and Wendell Minor
A storyteller describes the Florida Everglades as he guides children through this one-of-a-kind ecosystem. Minor’s paintings depict the beauty of this home to alligators and egrets.
Fairy House by Tracy Kane
Bring the joy of imaginative play to your outdoor experiences with this wonderful story. Join Kristin as she builds a fairy house in the woods, and follow her dream-like adventures with the fairies. Then build your own fairy houses using the instructions in the book, and adding to them with your own imagination and natural treasures. It's a great alternative to screen time!
Feathers by Eileen Spinelli
This collection is as lyrical and charming as its subject matter. Explore the bird world with creative, funny, and beautiful poems that just might inspire your to burst into song. This book is perfect for anyone creating and sharing homemade bird feeders.
Fireflies! by Julie Brinkloe
Discover the magic of fireflies on a summer night, and learn to respect the freedom wild things deserve. This is a perfect companion for a summer camping trip, along with a bug net!
The Forest Has Eyes by Bev Dolittle and Elise Maclay
Have fun with this lushly drawn “camouflage art,” with pictures hidden within. Learn about Native American culture, their reverence for the land and the animals that inhabit the forests.
Fun with Nature and More Fun with Nature (Take Along Guides) both by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, and Leslie Dendy
Kids will love learning about the most common creatures, tracks, and trees they're likely to encounter in North America. These books will turn every trip to the park into a scavenger hunt!
The Garden of Happiness by Erika Tamar
Marisol learns the beauty of having a community garden in her New York City neighborhood in this classic story.
The Greening Book by Ellen Sabin
Full of unique activities and exercises, The Greening Book teaches children that they can make a difference in the future of our planet.
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott
Discover the healing power of nature as you step into the shoes of a boy whose stutter has kept him from connecting with the world. When his father takes him to a nearby river, he learns that nature can help him find his voice.
Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal
Jayden’s story highlights the beauty of intergenerational relationships and the power of perseverance in bringing a community garden to life.
The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith
This sweet story will expand your child’s nature vocabulary while inspiring them to notice the extraordinary details of the world around them. This is the perfect book to pack for your next outdoor adventure!
A Leaf Can Be… by Laurie Purdie Salas
This poetic celebration of leaves through the year brings kids close up to the magic of small things in nature.
John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall by Julie Danneberg
This exciting story from the life of renowned naturalist and environmental advocate John Muir is rich with history as well as natural wonders.
The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes
Through gorgeous illustrations and elegant text, Hughes introduces us to the hopes and frustrations of the littlest gardener. There is so much to love in this little story and its fairy-tale-style celebration of persistence, teamwork, and - of course - tending nature.
My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang
Gorgeous illustrations and poetic language invite readers to accompany a child on his way to the first day of school through the Mekong Delta. This adventurous tale will inspire any nature-lover while reminding readers that the way to school can look very different in different parts of the world.
Puddle by Hyewon Yum
A little boy and his mom have such fun drawing themselves playing in the rain, they decide to head outside and make the most of the rainy weather. Perfect for every little puddle splasher.
Outside, You Notice by Erin Alladin
Connect with the wonder and awe that surrounds you in nature with this lovely new picture book, part meditation, and part compendium of facts. Ages 4 - 8.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
With few words and magical illustrations, this book places you in the chilled quiet of a winter night and the magical intimacy with nature that's possible in this silent world.
Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems by Kristine O'Connell George
This inspiring collection of tree poems is one part meditation and one part playful exploration of our stately neighbors.
Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca Hirsch
This nonfiction book beautifully brings the world of plants to life. Kids of all ages will recognize the way plants wiggle and reach, slither and grow, hitchhike (as seeds) and reach for the light in Hirsch’s magnetic, poetic tale.
The Raft by Jim LaMarche.
Follow along with Nicky's adventure in the Wisconsin woods. Nicky's summer with his raft, and his grandmother, opens him up to the natural world as well as his own artistic inclinations. The tone and the illustrations pull you in to this mesmerizing tale.
Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy
Discover the wonder of a first-time gardener in this charming story about family, patience, and change. Can two old, sprouted potatoes really turn into something new?
The Tree that Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination (A Poetry Speaks Experience) by Linda Winston, Mary Ann Hoberman, and Barbara Fortin.
This anthology of nature-inspired poems is sure to inspire and engage your child with the outdoors in unexpected ways.
The Story of the Blue Planet by Andri Snaer Magneson.
This delightfully unique story is sure to spur conversations with your child and challenge your whole family to enjoy the simple pleasures of nature to the fullest.
The Thing about Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin
This tender book celebrates the love between a father and his sons, while also poetically exploring the important role bees play in our ecosystems.
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Add whimsy and imagination to your next walk in the park with inspiration from this elegantly told story of questions. “Is fog a river’s blanket?” “Are roots the plant’s toes?” “I wonder, me too.” In nature, there is much to wonder about, indeed.
Back to Read Together for more book lists.
Browse more books for nature lovers.
Check out these simple projects to Heal the Earth.
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The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.