BOOKS

BOOKS, GARDENING, INFORMATION, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL
Homeschooling: Interest-Led Learning
- October 12, 2020
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had the time to delve deeply into those topics that we’ve always been naturally curious about? Would you choose to study a particular time period? A historical figure? An animal, weather phenomenon, or something else entirely? Today we have Nichole, Arkansas homeschooling mom of 2, here showing us what it looks like to tailor your children’s homeschooling lessons around their interests and passions. Interest-led learning is a customized and creative way of teaching and one of the things that makes homeschooling so incredibly unique and special.

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” – William Butler Yeats

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be boring

No really, homeschooling doesn’t have to be boring and driven by a curriculum you bought online. Homeschooling can be fun and personalized and engaging for everyone. How? Interest-led learning!

For anyone not familiar with this concept, interest-led learning is the idea of following your children’s curiosity where it takes you and crafting homeschool lessons around their interests. You may also hear it called delight-directed learning, passion-oriented learning, or rabbit trailing (you follow the rabbit trail of your interests).

Every kid has something that he or she is naturally interested in or curious about. As a homeschooling mom, you can take note of those topics and help a child learn about that interest. You can integrate your children’s passions into your homeschool rhythm if you are willing to support and nurture their growing interests. But sometimes you have to think outside the box.

The big box of curriculum

I’ve now been homeschooling for six years. It’s strange to think that I’m no longer a newbie at this. When we first decided to homeschool, I did what most people do and jumped right into internet searches. This was seven years ago, before homeschooling became a front and center hot topic. My internet searching and asking around led me to “the big box.”

Boxed curriculum, as they’re called, are an all in one approach where all of the materials you will need can be ordered in one large order from one curriculum company. While these can be phenomenal resources for many families, I learned very quickly that it was not going to work for us. I spell out how I realized this and what I did to discover my style in HERE. What I quickly realized was that if I wanted to teach my children, I needed to hold their interest. But, how do you hold a child’s interest? Curiosity and passion.

Enter: interest-led learning

The lighting of a fire

In my research, I stumbled on the educational philosophies of Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, unschooling, unit study, and countless others. All of these things kept bringing me back to what I felt pulling on my heart. I desperately wanted the education of my children to be the lighting of a spark, rather than a dousing of a flame. My wish? That their curiosity would carry them through childhood and they’d step out into adulthood, unscathed and unmarred by my attempts to put round pegs in square holes.

In our homeschool and our family, we believe in life-long learning and a permanent curiosity for the world around us. We believe that raising our children with the ability to know how to learn and to be constantly learning, are some of the keys to successful adulthood. Interest-led learning is a great way to keep that spark for curiosity alive and fuel their passions and interests.

You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help him find it within himself.” – Galileo

Pancakes and spacewalks

One of the first interest-led learning studies I put together for my kiddos was a space study unit. My sweet five-year-old boy was completely enthralled by outer space. We read all the books, we assembled our own solar system, we did the Oreo cookie moon phases, we did it all. And it was glorious!

My most favorite memory was a 5 AM pancake party to watch a spacewalk happen LIVE at the International Space Station. My children have always been early risers, but we woke extra early to watch the spacewalk happen. What a marvel of modern technology. I enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes with my children in our kitchen at home, while watching with stars in our eyes as the astronauts floated in space, with the beautiful orb of Earth just in view behind them. A few months later we took a family vacation to NASA headquarters in Houston, to seal in what we had learned and to stoke the flame a little more.

I’ll give you a little hint, dear friends, if you can keep your own curiosity and sense of amazement intact, it will influence and inspire your children. Never be afraid to learn new things and share that awe with your children.

Study through story

One of our favorite methods to learn comes from the Charlotte Mason philosophy – the idea of slowly working our way through beautiful stories. “Living books,” as they are called. The first slow march we did was to follow a little wooden canoe through the Great Lakes in the story Paddle to the Sea. One chapter per week, so we could also learn the flora, fauna, geography, and history surrounding the chapter. The following fall, while a part of a family vacation, we visited a park in Nipigon, Ontario dedicated to that story. We stood on the shores of Lake Michigan and recalled the adventure we had as we slowly studied a book. It was an incredible experience and you can read the full story HERE.

We also studied the Santa Fe Trail through Tree in the Trail. We followed it up with a road trip to visit family (read about it HERE), making stops along the way to solidify and complement what we had learned. Misty of Chincoteague was an easy favorite and I’ll never forget frolicking in the Atlantic waves just after we spotted a mother and foal on Assateague Island National Seashore. Again, you can read all about that trip HERE.

These trips and family vacations are not what brought the learning to life. That was our own special way of celebrating our learning journey and what we’d accomplished. What brought the interest-led learning to life was a slow and steady pace through beautiful stories that my children connected with. That connection is what makes all the difference.

Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” – Chinese Proverb

What is interest-led learning?

Interest-led learning really is as simple as it sounds. It can be applied to nearly any schooling philosophy you use. It’s a mindset and an approach to teaching your children. You recognize that they are whole persons, with their own passions and interests. Then, you take the time to gently uncover what sparks their curiosity. This requires a habit of presence and noticing, seeing what makes your children light up.

Do you have a hard time paying attention if you’re not interested in what’s being discussed? Do you struggle to listen if the topic is not personally relatable to you? It’s the same for your children. But, with interest-led learning, they’re doubly excited about the topic and learning because it’s tailor-made for them!

Finding resources

The most important concept with interest-led learning is this: YOU are in charge of finding what makes your children come alive and then you get the opportunity to use that as a tool to stoke their passion for learning.

While that may sound intimidating, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we are quite literally swimming in homeschooling resources. Never before have there been so many incredible resources, many of which are available right from your phone or computer. An expert in interest-led learning and one of the most inspirational homeschoolers I know is Julie Bogart of Brave Homeschooler fame. Another one of my favorite resources for inspiration is the Wild + Free community, where you can connect with other homeschooling families in your area for support, camaraderie, and resources.

It is… nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreck and ruin. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty.” – Albert Einstein

Lessons from our garden

One of our favorite sources for interest-led learning is our backyard garden. As simple as it sounds, a backyard garden is an endless source or incredible lessons and activities. We do botany studies as we learn about seeds sprouting, how pollination happens, and how we get fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Last year, our garden provided us with an abundance of hands-on science lessons with our sunflowers and luffa plants. I’m certain that our sunflower dissection will go down as a favorite “Science Friday” (more on that HERE).

Through gardening, my children learn about pollinators, all kinds of insects, seed saving, composting, and soil composition. They broadened their palates by tasting the wide variety of veggies, herbs and plants we grew. Recently, our garden studies went to the microbial level when we broke out the biology microscope and searched a soil suspension for nematodes and other microscopic life.

You can provide a rich and diverse education for your children, right from your own backyard. When you tune your own mind and heart to be constantly curious, it will unlock a universe of learning potential.

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand…”

– William Blake, Auguries of Innocence

How interest-led learning is all-encompassing

Interest-led learning is not a narrow education. While it may be one overarching topic, it can encompass so much and can be expanded to fit multiple children, in multiple age groups, and span multiple subjects. The only limit is your own creativity!

What does interest led learning look like?

So, what does it look like to start with a child’s interest and structure homeschooling lessons around that topic? How do you incorporate all the different subjects they need to learn? Let’s take the example of gardening:
- Science – seed growth, leaf types, pollination, soil content, composting, fertilization, growing the same plant in different soil types or lighting levels, etc.
- History – the history surrounding the cultivation of plants – ancient civilization and Indigenous gardening techniques, crop rotation, slash and burn, the movement of seeds around the globe, the rise and fall of cash crops, etc.
- Language arts – gardening picture books, reading and narration of nature/garden inspired books, create a fictional story that takes place in your backyard garden, craft a report about the garden at the end of the season, etc.
- Math – seed counting and sorting, plotting how many seeds sprout and graphing production results, chart the color of zinnias that bloom, measure daily growth, older students can work on planning out square foot gardening, measure garden space, determine how many plants can be grown, etc.
- Foreign language – learn the words for the plants, vegetables, flowers, etc.
- Miscellaneous – make natural dyes with flowers from the garden, eat a meal entirely from the garden (culinary arts), produce something for a local farmers market and let the kids take the lead (entrepreneurship), create a garden space just for the kids and step back, practice floral arrangements, create nature collages, go on a color scavenger hunt, etc.
When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Next up

In our homeschool, we are currently taking an extended dive into ocean studies. Why? Because my son as expressed interest in being a marine biologist and loves the ocean! His current favorite book is one about Jacques Cousteau in the WhoHQ series.

We are also reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, the Burgess Seashore Book, and A Seal Called Andre. Up next: Pagoo, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Disney Plus has come in handy with all of the ocean documentaries and we were absolutely enthralled with a National Geographic documentary about a voyage to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

You are not alone

This homeschooling journey can be a hard one and may feel lonely at times. However, I promise you that you are not alone. Interest-led learning is an easy way to infuse joy, passion and excitement in your education process. It’s a wonderful way to show your child how much fun it is to follow their curiosities and an amazing way to really get to know them and their interests.

And if you’re ever feeling lonely or have questions on where to start or how to do this, there is a beautiful and welcoming homeschool community out there. I, personally, am here to talk anytime you need to. Thanks for reading, friends!

Be sure to check out my article about crystal digging and how it’s a great hands-on geology lesson!

Photo by Tiffany of Three Moons Photography

Are you homeschooling this year?
Are you doing any interest-led learning?

About Nichole

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. They are in their sixth year of homeschooling. She’s married to her best friend and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, probably up a creek, and jumping off waterfalls.

You can find more from Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL
10 Diverse Nature Books for Kids
- August 7, 2020
Nature is full of color and diversity…children’s books about nature should be, too! Diverse books are incredibly important, not only for children who are looking to see their own lives reflected in literature, but to introduce new thoughts and ideas to all children so they know there is so much more to our beautiful world. Diversity can be brought out in the character’s background, race, skin color, religion, socio-economic status, or family life as well. Or diverse books can also deal with characters that have disabilities. Today, we have Kathleen White, photographer and Arizona mom of 3 here sharing her family’s 10 favorite diverse nature books for kids. We hope you’ll add a few of these to your bookshelves or library wishlist!

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The importance of diverse books

As a homeschool mama of three, books are a staple in our house. I love watching my kids turn the pages, learn, and get excited as the stories come alive. And as the matriarch of a mixed family, it is extremely important for me to provide my kids with books that show diversity so they see kids that look like them and they can relate to in the stories as well. When kids open a book and see a character that looks, thinks, feels, and loves the way that they do, they feel less alone. Kids need to feel confident in who they are from the earliest stages of development, and normalizing diversity is key to that goal.

Diverse books are also a great way to allow children to walk in another’s shoes and learn about another’s world and experiences. In a book, they get the chance to see things from a new perspective, in a place they may never go, and live in a culture they may never experience. Diverse books can help cultivate compassion, awareness, and understanding.

Research on prejudice shows that coming in contact with people who are different from us helps to reduce stereotypes by giving us the opportunity to learn about them and their stories. And while it would be ideal for children to actually meet people from different backgrounds in person, if that isn’t possible, books can serve as a wonderful next best thing and introduce kids to diverse people, experiences, and cultures.

10 diverse nature books for kids

Today I’m excited to share a few of our favorite diverse nature books for kids to hopefully inspire and encourage conversations about diversity with your kiddos. When compiling this list, I tried to narrow it down to include books about different topics, as well as books that all ages can enjoy. I have a 9 (almost 10) year-old, 4-year-old, and a 2-year-old and they all couldn’t put these down! This list of topics in these book range from an inspiring story of the first African American entomologist, to weather, to taking care of our Earth, planting gardens, and going on hikes! There is bound to be something here for all of your little readers. Not only are these books vivid and fun to read, but they are excellent conversation starters! As we all begin a new school year, I hope that this helps add to your home library!

1. All About Weather by Huda Harajli MA

All About Weather is the perfect book for your preschooler. It will keep your kids entertained, while giving them a first look at all the different types of weather. I love the interactive questions at the end too!

2. Green Green: A Community Gardening Story by Marie Lamba

Green Green: A Community Gardening Story is a short and sweet story about the importance of community, as well as creating a garden that everyone can share. It also helps children identify their colors, which is a perfect activity and lesson for preschool-age children, as well!

3. Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree by Mary Murphy

Only a Tree Knows How to Be a Tree is a great reminder to kiddos that we are all created in our own unique ways and that we are the only ones who know how to be us. It’s simple, joyful, and colorful. All of my kids love it!

4. One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom

One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree is so much fun to read aloud! It keeps my kids entertained the whole time as they try to find out if the boy can escape the snake! Also, it’s beautifully illustrated and really colorful. A hungry snake. A beautiful brown boy. What more can a young reader ask for?

5. Are Your Stars Like My Stars? by Leslie Helakoski

Are Your Stars Like My Stars is a precious book. It “teaches children that no matter where they live, all children gaze at the blue sky, bask in the warmth of the golden sun, dig in the rich dirt, and watch clouds grow soft and rosy at end of day. Through the eyes of one inquisitive and thoughtful young narrator, young readers explore the idea of perspective, and come to realize that all of us, everywhere, share the colors of the world.”

6. Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn

Lola Plants a Garden starts out with Lola’s mom reading her a classic garden poem which inspires her to create a garden of her own. They go to the library and learn all about gardening, buy their seeds, and get to planting. But, of course, Lola wants the flowers to grow right away! She creates a flower book and spends time with friends in her new garden. This book is part of the Lola Reads series, which I highly recommend!

7. My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan

My Friend Earth is a super interactive and stunning book! It contains die-cut pages and flaps that engage your kids while reading. My daughter especially loved it! Little readers might try to damage the pages (like my 2-year-old, for example!) but it is still one I will keep around as it teaches important lessons about taking care of the Earth.

8. Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner by Janice N. Harrington

Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner tells the story of the first African American entomologist. It showcases his ideas and discoveries about ants, bees, and other insects and how far his inquisitive mind got him. I love that it shows real photos of him in the back of the book too! It is perfect for older readers, but of course, you can always read it to your littler kids.

9. The Hike by Alison Farrell

The Hike is a wonderful book about three friends who set out on an adventure together! It features a glossary, a sketchbook by one of the characters that highlights aspects of the hike, and labels throughout that encourages scientific learning. This book is perfect for kids who love exploring!

10. National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber

Finally, it wouldn’t be a nature book list without including one all about the National Parks of the USA, right?! Not only will you want to put this book on display, but it also includes maps and information about 21 different parks. We are National Park lovers and this book is amazing.

Divided by region (East, Central, Rocky Mountains, West, Tropics, and Alaska), a pictographic map at the start of each section shows the locations of the parks to be covered. Each park is introduced by a stunning, poster-worthy illustration of one of its scenes and a summary of its makeup, followed by individual illustrations of the animals and plants that make their homes there.

There is also a “Can you spot this…?” page at the back that challenges kids to find a pictured critter or plant for every letter of the alphabet. My kids love this page.

The parks include: Acadia, Badlands, Big Bend, Biscayne, Bryce Canyon, Channel Islands, Death Valley, Denali, Everglades, Glacier, Glacier Bay, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Hawaii volcanoes, Isle Royale, Mesa Verde, Olympic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Virgin Islands, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.

What are your favorite diverse nature books for kids?

For more book recommendations, check out the following posts:
About the author

Kathleen is married to her high school sweetheart and is the mama to 3 energetic littles. She is passionate about natural and intentional living, photography, and documenting her family’s travels in their RV. They just wrapped up traveling full-time around the United States in their RV for nearly a year! When she’s not planning her family’s next adventure, she is running a health and wellness business and homeschooling her three kiddos.

You can find more from Kathleen in the following locations:
Website: www.faithboundtravel.com
YouTube: Faith Bound Travel
Instagram at @faithboundtravel
Other RWMC posts: Kathleen
BOOKS, GIFT GUIDE, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL
Best Educational Nature Books for Kids
- November 4, 2019
Books are one of my biggest passions and biggest weaknesses. I am a self-proclaimed book addict and can’t ever pass up a good book recommendation. Children’s books are no different. Our shelves at home are lined with picture books containing incredible stories, silly rhymes, and beautiful images. I especially love to find books that not only captivate my children visually but teach us something about life, nature and our planet. Today, I’ve put together a giant comprehensive list of more than 80 gorgeous educational nature books for kids. These nature-inspired children’s books are sure to teach your children about the world around them and become some of your child’s favorite resources for years to come.

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Best educational children’s books about nature & our planet

This list of the best educational nature books for kids has been in the works for a long time! It’s taken me months to put together a list of mostly non-fiction nature-inspired books that will teach your child about the beautiful world around them in a fun way that doesn’t feel like learning. From learning about the tiny microbes in your home to the giant whales in the ocean, we’ve included books about all kinds of aspects of our planet and nature. We’ve included animal fact books, nature poetry, children’s atlases and encyclopedias. From bees to birds, bugs to bark, we’ve got something for everyone! Exploring a book with a child is one of the best ways to spend time together, inside or out! We hope you’ll use this list to encourage your child to love and appreciate our planet and its animals in a whole new way.

Save this list!

Don’t forget that books make GREAT gifts! If you’re looking for a way to cut down on the amount of cheap plastic and toys you give/get this upcoming holiday season, consider investing in some of these amazing books instead. They’ll serve your children well for years and can be passed down to the next generation or donated to a library/charity. Consider gifting a few of these to the special kids in your life to add to their shelves. Feel free to pass this list of educational nature books to grandparents and family members when they ask you what your children want for the next holiday or birthday.

We’ve even made it easy for you to save and share – here’s a free printable PDF of the books for you to pass on to friends and family members, save for future reference, or print out and take it to your local library or bookstore.

1. Atlas of Ocean Adventures: A Collection of Natural Wonders, Marine Marvels and Undersea Antics from Across the Globe by Emily Hawkins
2. What Do They Do with All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz
3. Everything & Everywhere: A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters by Marc Martin
4. Wild World by Angela McAllister
5. Nature’s Day: Discover the world of wonder on your doorstep by Kay Maguire
6. How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
7. Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
8. Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies

9. Children’s Illustrated Animal Atlas by DK
10. A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston
11. Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha
12. Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Philippe Cousteau
13. Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides) by Diane Burns
14. National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber
15. How to Survive as a Shark by Kristen Foote
16. The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills by Tristan Gooley

17. The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest―and Most Surprising―Animals on Earth by Steve Jenkins
18. Octopus Escapes Again! by Laurie Ellen Angus
19. When the Whales Walked: And Other Incredible Evolutionary Journeys by Dougal Dixon
20. A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston
21. The Big Book of Beasts by Yuval Zommer
22. Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul
23. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
24. Cuddly Critters for Little Geniuses (Big Words for Little Geniuses) by Susan Patterson

25. Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life by Julia Rothman
26. Owls: Our Most Charming Bird by Matt Sewell
27. The Big Book of Birds by Yuval Zommer
28. Redwoods by Jason Chin
29. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino
30. Trees: A Rooted History by Piotr Socha
31. The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall
32. This Phenomenal Life: The Amazing Ways We Are Connected with Our Universe by Misha Blaise

33. The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
34. A Tree for All Seasons (Rise and Shine) by Robin Bernard
35. Animals of a Bygone Era by Maja Säfström
36. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
37. D’Aulaires’ Book of Animals by Ingri d’Aulaire
38. Atlas of Adventures: A collection of natural wonders, exciting experiences and fun festivities from the four corners of the globe by Rachel Williams
39. A Year of Nature Poems by by Joseph Coelho
40. Who Eats What?: Food Chains and Food Webs by Patricia Lauber

41. The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
42. A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
43. How Mountains Are Made by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
44. Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum by Kathy Willis
45. Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals by Nicola Davies
46. Bird Builds a Nest: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins
47. The Wonders of Nature by Ben Hoare
48. The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Säfström

49. Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies
50. Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up by Sally M. Walker
51. Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin
52. The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World and Its Ecosystems by Rachel Ignotofsky
53. A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston
54. Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World by Julia Rothman
55. The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner
56. The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth by DK

57. Animalium: Welcome to the Museum by Jenny Broom
58. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals by DK
59. In the Past: From Trilobites to Dinosaurs to Mammoths in More Than 500 Million Years by David Elliott
60. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
61. A World Full of Animal Stories US: 50 favorite animal folk tales, myths and legends by Angela McAllister
62. The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer
63. Nature All Around: Bugs by Pamela Hickman
64. Curious Kids Nature Guide: Explore the Amazing Outdoors of the Pacific Northwest by Fiona Cohen

65. Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring
66. Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads, Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move by Steve Jenkins
67. Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics by Steve Jenkins
68. Nature All Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman
69. A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston
70. Atlas of Animal Adventures: A collection of nature’s most unmissable events, epic migrations and extraordinary behaviours by Rachel Williams
71. The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Gina Ingoglia
72. Does It Fart?: The Definitive Field Guide to Animal Flatulence by Nick Caruso

73. Lots by Marc Martin
74. Amazing Facts About Baby Animals by Maja Säfström
75. The Variety of Life by Nicola Davies
76. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman
77. Fish Tricks: The Wild and Wacky World of Fish by Haude Levesque
78. An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
79. Strange Trees: And the Stories Behind Them by Bernadette Pourquie
80. The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci

81. Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take Along Guides) by Mel Boring
82. Caterpillar and Bean: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins
83. The Butterfly House by Katy Flint
84. Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year by Nosy Crow
85. Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart
86. The Wonder Garden by Jenny Broom
87. A Drop Around the World by Barbara McKinney
88. A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer

What’s your favorite educational nature books for kids?

For more children’s nature book recommendations, check out all our Nature Books posts.
BOOKS, CRAFTS, FALL, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOORS INSIDE
5 Fantastic Fall Books and Activities for Kids
- October 7, 2019
Fall is definitely in the air! One of our favorite ways to usher in a new season is to read books about the changing weather and what we can look forward to. We’re always on the lookout for fun books and ways to make outdoor learning exciting, so today’s post is a win-win. We have the amazing Chelsea, Virginia photographer, former teacher, and adventure mom of two, here sharing her family’s 5 favorite fall books and activities for kids. Not only are each of these books beautiful and fun to read, but they’re paired with awesome nature-inspired crafts and activities that are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained, active, and learning!

Favorite fall books and activities for outdoor kids

Fall is starting to make an appearance here in southeastern Virginia and we couldn’t be more excited! In our house, we love to match the books we’re reading to the current season or approaching holidays. We recently took a trip to our local library to check out almost every book in the fall children’s book section to kick-start fall. Today, I’m sharing some of our favorite fall children’s books and providing a fun family activity to do with each book. Whether you’re a homeschooler, a parent of children not yet in school, or a parent of school-aged kids, these fall books and activities will be sure to enrich your child’s learning while fully embracing the beauty of the season!

Choosing the books

In order to choose the best books possible, I used a VERY official and scientific method of measurement. My kids. We checked out a dozen fall nature-inspired books from our local library and read them all. If they asked to read a book again the instant we finished, it passed the test. I kept the ones they wanted to read multiple times and returned the rest! Here are 5 of our favorite fall books and an activity to go with each one!

Book 1: Because of an Acorn by Adam and Lola M. Schaefer

Because of an Acorn is a wonderful fall book about how all living things are connected. You’ll love both the story and the illustrations! Children are often amazed that giant oak trees all start as tiny little acorns. The book does a great job of showing how every tree, plant and animal in the forest are connected and tied to each other.

Activity: Acorn characters

Once you’re finished reading the book, take a little nature walk to collect some acorns, caps and tiny sticks. While you’re out exploring, you can discuss what kind of trees produce acorns and how to identify them! My kids had fun looking up at the leaves on each tree to see which ones were oaks and then looking around on the ground below to see if any acorns had dropped.

Once you get home, use your treasures to make little characters! We used tacky glue but I’m sure many different kinds of glue will work. If you have very small children, you may want to have them lay out the character and then leave the gluing part to a grownup! Once your characters are dry, you can draw on eyes if you’d like and then head back out into the woods to create tiny houses for them! You can break this activity up into multiple days or take a whole afternoon for it! The kids will have so much fun creating little families and then using imaginative play to make them come to life. And the best part is all that wonderful fresh fall air you’ll get from the time spent outside!

Book 2: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Shultz

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a childhood classic! Linus, Charlie and the rest of the Peanuts gang await the arrival of the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night. I wasn’t surprised that my kids really loved this one, because they love any Peanuts book! This book’s been around so long that it’s not only a new favorite of theirs, but a classic favorite of mine from childhood. I love being able to share that with them.

Activity: Painted rocks

In the story, one of the Peanuts characters gets rocks instead of treats during trick-or-treating, so we decided to go collect some rocks to paint. Once the boys had found the perfect rocks, we took them home, rinsed them, and dried them. Then we used acrylic paints to decorate them like pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. Once they were dry, we headed to a park nearby to hide the rocks in fun places to be discovered by others! My kids are always excited when they find painted rocks at our park so we decided to keep that ball of fun rolling by placing some of our own there for other kids to enjoy.

Book 3: Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Stumpkin is the cutest little book about a pumpkin with no stem that never gets picked to be purchased and brought home. My kids love wordplay and making up words by putting other words together, so they were already hooked by the title. They really loved the illustrations and asked to take extra time on each page to enjoy the pictures. This one was a big hit!

Activity: Jack-o-lantern volcanoes

Once you’re finished with Stumpkin, a fun activity to do with the kids is to carve small pumpkins and then make “volcanoes” out of them. If you’ve enjoy doing science/STEM experiments at home, you’ve probably already used baking soda and vinegar for other projects. But have you ever watched the chemical reaction take place inside a jack-o-lantern?! It’s so much fun! The kids will love watching the bubbles come out of all the holes. In addition to the baking soda and vinegar, we also used some dish soap because I had read that it bubbles up more and I do think it worked!

Book 4: Fall Leaves by Loretta Holland

Fall Leaves is a really gorgeous picture book about the beauty of this magical season. Part poetry and part silent pages, this book showcases just how pretty fall is when the leaves change color and the whole world turns red, orange and yellow.

Activity: Fall leaf art project

This activity is so much fun and goes perfectly with the beautiful artwork in the Fall Leaves book! It’s also really easy and the kids loved it. Head out on a nature hunt to find different colored fall leaves. Once you’ve collected some, head back home to make your art.

Leaf art supplies:
- water color paints
- paintbrushes
- water
- straws
- paper
- glue
- the leaves you’ve collected
Once you have the supplies, instruct the children to use the paintbrush to get lots of water and some paint on the brush. Then have them make a “puddle” of water on the bottom of their paper. Use the straw to blow the water upward and out to make the trunk and branches of a tree.

When they’re finished with the trunk and branches, have them pick their favorite leaves to glue onto the branches. This project is great for building and developing fine motor skills, so feel free to have them create more than one tree!

Book 5: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn is another beautiful book about the changing seasons. In this book, a young girl takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming autumn season. In a series of conversations with every flower and creature and gust of wind, she says good-bye to summer and welcomes autumn.

Activity: Fall leaf art with crayons

If you’re like us, you have all sorts of old, broken crayons hanging around the house! These projects are a great way to use up some of those crayons. They’re also perfect activities for families who live in areas that don’t have season changes! You don’t need to use any real fall leaves for these projects but can still make some art that celebrates the autumn season. Both of these actives are a throwback to my own childhood and were very nostalgic for me! It was fun doing some activities with the kids that I did when I was a kid!

Option 1 – melted crayon shaving leaves

For the first crayon art project, you’ll need:
- a cloth towel
- crayons
- a vegetable peeler or scissors
- wax paper
- an iron
- construction paper
Obviously, with that list of supplies, it’s important for an adult to be around to help out with the project! Depending on how old your kids are, you’ll either have them make crayon shavings using whatever tool you have around, or you’ll have them pick the colors and you can do the shavings for them. Put all the shavings in a pile and set aside.

Next, use construction paper to cut out the trunk and branches of a tree (or several!). You will use it to create a fall scene on the wax paper. You can do one tree with some construction paper grass, multiple trees, whatever you like! Once you have the parts of your scene cut out from construction paper, place them on a sheet of wax paper to begin creating your fall scene.

After the construction paper parts are in place, have your child take the crayon shavings and sprinkle them wherever they want fall leaves to be. Once everything is where you want it to be, place a second sheet of wax paper on top. Then place the towel on top of everything. Use a hot iron (job for a grownup!) to seal the two pieces of wax paper together. This will also create a beautiful effect with the crayon shavings because it will melt them together! So much fun!

Option 2 – leaf rubbings

The second fall art activity you could do with crayons is make leaf rubbings! My kids LOVE doing this. It’s such a simple, timeless activity. When the kids see the leaf prints starting to appear, they light up with joy! My kids could do a hundred leaf rubbings and still be excited every time they see the leaf print appearing on the paper.

If you’ve never done this before, you only need some paper (computer paper works great), crayons, and leaves! Any leaves will do – they don’t have to be fall-colored. Place the leaf underneath the sheet of paper, hold it down carefully, and rub the SIDE part of an unwrapped crayon back and forth on top of the paper. You’ll see the shape of the leaf appearing on the paper! Leave them on the larger sheets of paper or cut them out. As my kids would say- easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy!

Favorite fall books and activities for kids

And there you have it! 5 beautiful fall books and activities for kids. Not only will you and the kids love these beautiful books, but the accompanying activities are some that the whole family will enjoy! This should definitely keep your little ones active, inspired, and excited about reading and nature.

What’s your favorite fall book for kids?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. We love biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com

More RWMC posts from Chelsea:
BOOKS, FALL, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER, URBAN NATURE, WINTER
Creating a Nature Window for Bird Watching
- January 7, 2019
If you’ve ever taken the time to observe birds in your own backyard, I guarantee you’ll find them fascinating! Birds are incredibly social, intelligent, crafty, clever and funny. They are such a joy to watch. Over time, you can even get to know the local ones and their personalities. Today, I’m thrilled to have Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here sharing how she created a Nature Window in her home for watching and studying birds with her family. What started out as an easy way to observe local birds has turned into a passion project for the entire family. She’s here to share her experience and give you tips and advice for creating your own nature window.

How the nature window began

The most beautiful rhythm has developed in our home over the last year. It all began with a bird-focused nature study for my homeschooled children, which grew into an ongoing observation that we as a family enjoy daily. It all started through happenstance. I happened to enter a contest on a social media site. That happened to be through our state chapter of the Audubon Society. Then, I happened to win! We won the most wonderful beginner bird watching kit, with bird information, along with a suet feeder, handheld hummingbird feeders, and some native plant seeds. The rest is history!

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

I entered the contest because we were studying birds for our fall term nature study. I thought the prize would pair well with our study. Within a few days, we had our suet feeder up, full of fresh food. (Suet is a cake made from animal fats and bird seed, usually in a square form.) The suet feeder hung from a pole just off our deck, observable from our kitchen window. Then, we hung a hummingbird feeder from a nearby tree and waited.

We spent the next few days watching and waiting for birds to arrive. During each meal, our eyes were drawn to the feeders. The first hummingbirds soon showed up and we all screamed in excitement, which scared the darling little creatures away! Thankfully, they are persistent and came right back.

My husband brought home another feeder for different food, sunflower seeds this time. These quickly grabbed the attention of the squirrels. Squirrels are acrobatic little buggers, and we soon had to find a way to keep them from getting into the feeder. After a bit of research, put a metal slinky over the pole, which seemed to do the trick. It also gave us one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen! An unknowing little bird flew onto the slinky expecting a solid landing, but instead, he bobbed up and down helplessly on the Slinky for a minute or two. Sadly, I was not recording this, but my children and I laughed about that for at least a week!

All birds, large and small

We were all surprised how many birds began to show up at our feeders. In our yard or nearby, we had a family of downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, and American bluebirds. They came with such regularity that we could almost tell the time based on when we would see them. We watched that window at breakfast, lunch, and at our family dinners. The children excitedly gave a daily report to my husband about what we had seen each night at dinner.

Mid-winter, I had the great delight of seeing a pair of Indigo buntings fly through; pausing only briefly in our trees. The sight of them lingers in my memory. It’s a sight that I would not have seen if we hadn’t spent the previous few months attuning our attention to our little slice of the natural world sitting just outside of our kitchen window. And as winter warmed away and signs of spring began to show, we began to see the baby woodpeckers and baby cardinals accompany their parents to the feeder. It was such a special sight!

Variety is the spice of life

It wasn’t long before we decided to expand our nature window to include other species. My husband and son took to the garage to build a wood home to hang on the tree. While this was originally intended for birds, a squirrel took up residence. Watching its little face peering out of the circular hole melts me every time. We allowed what was left of our raised bed gardens to grow wild! Soon, they overflowed with native grasses and plants. Of course, this attracted pollinators and insects of all kinds, which help the birds.

Due to our location, we are quite lucky to see a wide range of species fly through. Our city lies directly in a migration path, which gives us the opportunity to see a variety of birds. I didn’t realize that before, but now we want to be prepared for it. We have plans to expand our bird feeders to attract Baltimore orioles, my husband’s favorite bird. From what we have heard, oranges should do the trick. We are also doing our due diligence in researching native plants and plan to fill our yard and garden with helpful and purposeful plants. A bird bath is also on our to do list!

So much more than just a nature study

Over the course of the academic year, we were thrilled to see so many birds come and go. My children delighted at spying the brilliant red flashes of the ruby-throated hummingbird. My camera found a new home: on the window sill waiting for moments to snap photos of the birds that passed through our yard. We started checking off lists for the species of birds we spotted. My children colored in their bird coloring books when they saw a certain species. They delighted in imagining that Jenny Wren came visiting our home regularly, thanks to the wonderful book The Burgess Bird Book for Children.

Our nature window is a continually evolving and changing thing. It started with a simple bird feeder placed where we could see it from our kitchen table and has become a full-on observation station. We have a windowsill full of bird guides, checklists, nature finds, jars of found bird feathers, nature journals, binoculars, magnifying glasses, nature journals and colored pencils.

Choose your own nature window

If you homeschool or just have curious littles at home, I highly recommend creating your own nature window. It’s brought so much joy to our lives, I’d love to pass the love and experience on to you. To begin your own nature window, take a few days and observe your household patterns and the layout of your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Where do you eat your meals?
- Which room does your family gather most often?
- Where do you spend time relaxing?
- Where do the kids study?
Once you have considered those things, choose your window based on where you’ll have the most opportunities to observe the happenings outside. And while a window is not necessary for setting up bird feeders (you can do that anywhere), it will allow you to observe your feeder from inside the house regardless of the weather.

Start simple

We started with a simple, double-sided suet feeder. There are many recipes available for making your own suet feed, however, for simplicity’s sake, I prefer to buy them in bulk from our local retailers. The Audubon website has a recipe available for vegetarian suet if you’re interested. Next, add a feeder with traditional bird seed or sunflower seeds.

A hummingbird feeder is another wonderful way to observe wildlife from your window. There are a variety of window hung feeders, although ours is hung from a tree. While I buy other types of bird food, making hummingbird food is quite simple. It’s also far better for the birds than store-bought. A basic formula is made from 1 part sugar to 3 parts warm water. Mix until dissolved and allow to cool. Do not add any dyes to the water. Dyes are not necessary and can be harmful to hummingbirds.

Certify your space

One easy way to assure that your yard or nature space is set up well for wildlife is to certify it. You can certify your space through the National Wildlife Federation website. I certified our yard about two years ago, just prior to starting our nature window. It is a very easy (and very educational) process that will help you look at your yard from an animals’ perspective. The certification process will show you how to make simple changes that will positively impact the wildlife around you.

Your yard will first need local native plants. The best practice is to try to stick with native to your area plants. These plants will help support the wildlife around you. If you have questions, speak with a master gardener in your area or find a local chapter of your native plant society. Both of the organizations are great resources for learning about what to plant. You’ll also need a source of water and places to build shelter, in addition to a food source.

The National Wildlife Federation has provided a wonderful program in their wildlife habitat certification process. Our family learned so much through it and are continuing to reap the benefits daily, through our nature window observations. The cost to certify is minimal and includes a wonderful sign to acknowledge your work. Certifying your yard would be an excellent family project, as there is something for everyone to help with.

Let it evolve

Allow your window to morph into your own over time. Find what works for your family and what types of nature excite you and your children. Then, place things in or outside of your window that fuel your passions. In a world dominated by screens, this family past time of observing the natural world through your own window will have a profoundly positive effect on relationships, learning, and even your own peace of mind.

Recommended reading

Here are a few book recommendations to keep near your nature window.
- A Bird Guide – Audubon/Peterson/Kaufman – any of those guides will do well to help with identifying your backyard birds in you’re in North America. You can also get some free local guides from your local chapter of the Audubon Society. I would recommend having a broad spectrum guide as well as a more specific local guide.
- A Bird Journal – This can be as simple as a piece of paper where you log what you see, or a birders journal which has lists to check off what you see and when. We like this one from the Audubon Society.
- A local or regional guide to the natural year – there are some wonderful books out there that will guide you through a season in your area. A simple internet search using the keywords “the natural year” or “seasonal guide” should render some helpful books.
- The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady – this book is a beautiful nature journal containing poetry, nature observations, and drawings. Not regionally specific but a jewel of a book to have in your nature window.
- A book of poetry – a collection of great poems by famous poets on birds. This is handy to pick up and search for a certain topic and any poetry collection will do. Try this one.
Window to the world

Our little nature window (well it’s actually a large window) has become an enduring learning opportunity for all of us. Our attention has become fined tuned to the natural world that exists even beyond it within our little patch of the city. We are amazed by the flickering red of the ruby-throated hummingbird and now recognize the woodpecker we hear in our treetop. We know which birds like sunflower seeds and which bird species favor the suet feeders. This nature window has become a profoundly powerful tool for focusing our attention, feeding our souls, and teaching lessons to our entire family.

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper, known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Favorite family activities are hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety). She swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black). You can find her in the woods, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

You can find her at the following locations:

Instagram: @coleyraeh
Blog: Luckey Wanderers
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
40+ More Beautiful Nature Books for Kids
- October 19, 2018
Books are a big deal at our house! I have a 1st grader learning to read and a preschooler that would listen to 500 books a night if I had that kind of time. We voraciously go through books. I’m always on the hunt for fun new (to us) books for my little readers. Since we’re an outdoorsy family, we naturally love children’s books about nature and animals. Picture books are favorites since both kids can follow along – my son reads the words he knows and my daughter enjoys the illustrations.

(This post contains affiliate links. We make a small commission on each purchase made using our links. Thank you for supporting a small business.)

Below we have compiled a list of more than forty beautiful children’s picture books about nature. This list was curated from our personal favorites and those of a number of family, friends, and fellow nature-loving parents. These books will inspire, educate and help your children develop a deep sense of love for nature and the outdoors. They have beautiful pictures and beautiful words. They teach lessons about nurturing, love and compassion. This list is perfect if you’re looking to add some beautiful books to your shelves at home, give them as a gift or add them to your library wishlist.

This is part 2 of our series on beautiful nature books for kids. If you want even more recommendations, make sure to check out part 1 of the series: 30+ Beautiful Children’s Books About Nature.
1. As an Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
2. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro
3. On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna
4. Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White
5. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
6. A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer
7. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
8. Animals in the Outhouse by Anja Frohlich
9. The Forever Tree by Tereasa Surratt
10. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
11. The Skies Above My Eyes by Charlotte Gullain
12. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
13. Elmore Hardcover by Holly Hobbie
14. Little Butterfly by Laura Logan
15. Pond by Jim LaMarche
16. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
17. A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell
18. Step Gently Out by Helen Frost
19. Bruno Munari’s Zoo by Bruno Munari
20. Wendell the Narwhal by Emily Dove
21. The Tiptoeing Tiger by Philippa Leathers
22. Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden
23. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
24. Shy by Deborah Freedman
25. This Is Sadie by Sara O’Leary
26. Moon, Gorgeous Moon by M.H. Bradford
27. Roly-Polies (Mini-Animalist) by Mónica Carretero
28. If You Hold a Seed by Elly MacKay
29. Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins
30. Night Animals by Gianna Marino
31. Guess Who, Haiku by Deanna Caswell
32. Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix
33. Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl
34. Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan
35. The House of Four Seasons by Roger Duvoisin
36. Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root
37. Prickly Hedgehogs! by Jane McGuinness
38. Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White
39. Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones
40. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett
41. Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by Liz Garton Scanlon
42. Tiny, Perfect Things by M. H. Clark
43. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
44. And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano
45. The Story of Charlie the Coyote by London Michaels
46. The Things That I LOVE about TREES by Chris Butterworth
47. Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr
48. Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler
49. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
50. Where is Bear Going? by Mark Janssen
And be sure to check out part 1 of this series
30+ Beautiful Children’s Picture Books About Nature
for even more books!
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL
Beautiful Children’s Picture Books About Nature
- October 24, 2017
If your kids are anything like mine, they devour books. Rarely do we read a book just once. We read them over and over again until the words are memorized and the pictures are etched in our minds. My son loves silly books that make him laugh. My daughter loves sing-songy books that rhyme. And I love nature books that teach the kids about the wonder and beauty of the outdoors. One thing we all agree on, the more beautiful illustrations, the better. That’s why we’ve put together this giant comprehensive list of the most beautiful books about nature for kids. These are some of the best children’s books about nature out there and we can’t wait for you to fall in love with them, like we have!

(This post contains affiliate links. We make a small commission on each purchase made using our links. Thank you for supporting a small business.)
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Nature books for kids

We’ve put together a list of more than thirty of the most beautiful children’s picture books about nature. This list was curated from our personal favorite nature books for kids and recommendations from a number of families, friends, and fellow nature-loving mamas. These nature books will inspire, educate and help your children develop a deep sense of love for nature and the outdoors. They have beautiful pictures and beautiful words. They teach lessons about nurturing, love and compassion. This list of nature books is perfect if you’re looking to add some beautiful books to your shelves at home, give them as a gift or add them to your library wishlist.

Most beautiful nature books for kids
The importance of nature books

We all want to raise kids that love being outside and love nature. Reading about nature is a great way to encourage kids to love and respect the great outdoors. One of the most important things that we can teach kids is how to care for our planet and protect it. The care of our planet, its land, minerals, animals, and their habitats is of the utmost importance. Kids need to understand that what we do today affects tomorrow and how they can make a difference. Reading gives kids this opportunity and helps them make these connections. Books about nature foster a love of learning and give kids knowledge and appreciation of the planet we live on. Use books about nature to explore how our planet works and what we can do to help preserve it.

Encouraging young readers

Raising kids that love to read as much as they love to be outside can be a challenge. I find that my super active kids sometimes find it hard to settle down long enough to read. There’s nothing wrong with kids on-the-go, but I also want to be sure they develop a love of reading in a way that’s natural and not forced. Here are a few things you can do at home to encourage your young ones to develop strong reading habits.
1. Model the behavior – Let your kids see YOU reading at home and enjoying it. Kids learn so much through modeling. If they see you reading in your free time, they’ll be more likely to give it a try when they have downtime.
2. Read together every day – Read to your children for around 30 minutes a day. Young readers are made on the lap of their parents during storytime. Read your kids’ favorites to them, try new books, make up your own story in a picture book, or read them a favorite of yours from childhood.
3. Practice makes perfect – Let your early readers read familiar books they’ve read dozens of times. Re-reading the same books can help build speed and accuracy and help with confidence.
4. Make reading real through connections – Help your child make connections between what they’re reading in books and what’s happening in real life. Nature books are a great way to do this. You can read about nature, bugs, weather, animals, etc. in a nature book and then make observations in real life outside that ties the experiences together.
Additional nature books

We have compiled a few other posts filled with our favorite nature books for kids (and we’re adding more all the time). If you’re on the hunt for the perfect book, check out some of these posts for more inspiration!
What’s your favorite children’s book about nature?