children’s nature books

BOOKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Favorite Fall and Winter Books for Outdoor Adventures
- October 26, 2023
As the vibrant hues of autumn fade into the crisp, wintry landscapes, there’s a unique kind of magic that happens in the great outdoors. The fall and winter seasons offer a treasure trove of unique opportunities for kids to explore their world in a whole new way. With the right books in hand, children can embark on thrilling adventures that extend beyond the boundaries of their imaginations. Today, Emily Liebel, Utah mom of three and founder of @inclusivelibrary, will take you on a journey through the best nature-inspired fall and winter books for kids. So, let’s dive into a world where the changing seasons are an invitation to get outside and adventure together!

Fall and winter outside

Fall and winter stand in stark contrast to each other when it comes to outdoor adventuring. Fall-time is full of more adventures and activities than most of us have time for. There are farms to visit, hikes to enjoy, harvests to be fulfilled, and explosions of color everywhere. In winter, life slows down significantly. Our kids may want to stomp and play in the snow or cuddle up with warmth and rest during the darker months.

In both seasons, we want to help our kids have fun! For some of us, this could be easy, and for others, there is a struggle to find the right activities. This is where books can come into play (literally!). Books can help encourage our kids to get creative and explore new perspectives and aspects of outdoor adventuring.

Where to find these books

If you would like to buy these fall and winter books through the affiliate links provided, RWMC receives a tiny commission. Our small business appreciates your support! If you would like to support small and independent bookstores in your area, try bookshop. I will also always recommend frequenting your local libraries and checking the books out as well.

How to use these books

In my spring and summer books post, I detailed the ways to use these books before, during, and after your adventures. The same ideas apply to the fall and winter books I have curated here. Make sure to refresh yourself on the benefits and how-to of pairing books with adventures from that post!

All of our kids are unique and will connect to different aspects of outdoor adventuring. While reading books, we can parse out what our kids will be most excited to experience. We can prepare them for new adventures or refresh their knowledge of family favorite adventures. And we can help them awaken imaginative play in new ways.

Diversity in books and reading level

Children of all ages will be able to read and understand different things that will support their uniqueness and their personal interests. And for that purpose, I have made sure to include diverse books that will help all kids feel included and excited about outdoor adventuring.

Kids may not pick an activity or adventure for themselves if they do not first see themselves represented in that arena. There is also a range of reading levels represented in the books I chose for this post. And while some books are more advanced than others, the vast majority of them will work for all ages. Personally, I would have no issue reading picture books with my middle-schooler (or even high-school-aged kids). They can still get so much enjoyment from being read to and flipping through picture books. But, no matter what age your kids are, you will have multiple options here that best fit your family and kids’ interests.

Seasonal weather and using these fall and winter books

I have not met many people who do not enjoy some aspects of autumn. It can be a nice reprieve from hotter days, and there really are so many activities available to us that automatically get our families outdoors. More often, I meet people who do not slow down enough to find deep appreciation and enjoyment of fall because they are busy preparing for winter. I hope that the books I have chosen to include here will help you find ways to connect to the earth and all the awe this season has to offer.

Once wintertime is in full swing, I have met a lot more people who pull back on their outdoor adventuring in favor of hunkering down and staying inside. The books that I have included are meant to inspire us to fight that urge. Winter, while cold and dark in many areas of the world, can be a time to refocus our habits on what really matters to our families. There is plenty of family adventuring and play to be had outdoors in the winter. If we have resources like these books to show us the possibilities, we will be able to pass encouragement on to our children.

Favorite fall books for kids

Books about fall leaves and hikes
1. Forest Baby by Laura Elmquist
2. Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell
3. An Autumn Treasury by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
4. Fresh Fall Leaves by Betsy Franco
5. It’s Fall! by Renee Kruilla
6. Taking a Walk: Fall in the Country by Sue Tarsky
7. Thank Fall by Ciara L. Hill
8. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
9. The Wilderness by Steve McCarthy
These books capture the wonder and awe of autumn colors. While the natural world is beginning to wind down, we get to enjoy the changes in real time! This can be fascinating to children if we are willing to slow down and examine it with them.

You may think ‘autumn leaves’ and immediately connect it to a walk or hike or jumping in leaf piles. These are brilliant options, but what about leaf crafts or forts as shown in An Autumn Treasury or Fresh Fall Leaves? What about connecting it to daily gratitude with Thank Fall? The Wilderness is simply gorgeous and centers on bravery, friendship, and exploration.

Each of these books will give you and your family new ideas about how to engage with leaves and colors all season.

Books about farm visits, harvest, and fall festivals
1. Harvest Days by Kate DePalma
2. Marya Khan and the Spectacular Fall Festival by Saadia Faruqi
3. Farm Boots by Lisa H. Detlefsen
4. Amara’s Farm by JaNay Brown-Wood
I am a top-tier fan of agro-tourism. I shamelessly seek out the local farms with pumpkins, apple cider donuts, games, tractor rides, animals, and corn pits and mazes. Behind these fun seasonal attractions is a lot of effort from the farmers and even the animals! These books will give your kids a window into that work. Amara’s Farm introduces foods that are harvested this time of year and helps kids find characterizations as they wander the farm. Marya Khan is a new release chapter book following a third-grade girl while preparing a fall festival.

Each of these fall books will excite kids to visit farms with you and instill an appreciation for harvest and gathering.

Best winter books for kids

Winter sports
1. Goodnight, Chairlift by Libby Ludlow
2. The Little Book of Skiing by Orange Hippo!
3. Goodnight, Snowboard by Kristen McCurry
A great way to get kids outside in the winter is by taking up a winter sport. You may already be a skiing family, or you may want to try it out for the first time. Either way, there is a lot of gear and mountain-side etiquette and safety involved. Even sledding, there are things for which to prepare your kids. The Little Book of Skiing is not strictly a picture or chapter book, but I have included it because there are pages with only one sentence, some with paragraphs and others with infographics. All of which add to a deeper understanding and appreciation of a very involved but exciting winter sport.

All of these books introduce the information to kids while also capturing the true spirit of adventure that is going fast down the snow!

Books about playing in the snow
1. Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Kathy Camper
2. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
3. A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba
4. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
5. First Snow by Nancy Viau
6. Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Peggy Lee and Tim Hopgood
If you and your family are not as enthusiastic about snow sports, you may be looking for ideas closer to home or slower-paced. Playing in the snow in your own backyard or local parks and fields can be exciting as well. I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering how to get our kids to play outside a little longer in the winter. Besides quality gear to keep them warm, we can encourage them by showing them the true beauty of winter, as in A Day So Gray. With books like Ten Ways to Hear Snow and Over and Under the Snow, building a snowman or throwing snowballs can be just the beginning of our kids’ snowy play.

These books are sure to help your kids find ways to extend their time in the snow and build imaginative winter worlds right outside their doors.

Books for enjoying fall and winter holidays outside
1. Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht
2. Halloween in the Orchard by Phyllis Alsdurf
3. We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk
4. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
5. Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
6. Little Red Ruthie: A Hanukkah Tale by Gloria Koster
This time of year is often called the holiday season because there are at least a dozen cultural and religious holidays that take place. We may automatically think of Halloween as a largely “outdoors” holiday. But we may not think the same for Hanukkah or Chinese New Year. These books bring those holidays outside in both small and large ways.

Holidays are not the main focus of this post, but I do think it is important to consider them. We can use our cultural and religious celebrations as opportunities to get outside and create new and lasting adventures or experiences. We do have a nature-holiday post with more books if you are looking for other suggestions!

Nature books enhance our adventures

Books can bring wonder and learning to our lives. When we take time to read nature books to our kids, we are helping them gain more appreciation of what this earth has to offer, which can lead to life-long understanding and habits of adventure. We know the benefits of early literacy, and we know the benefits of nature play. We can overlap these two aspects of physical and mental growth/health in beautiful and meaningful ways that benefit the whole family.

How will you use these books to adventure in the fall and winter months?

About the author

Emily and her family have moved across the US multiple times, and the best things about each state have been the outdoor adventures and the public libraries! Now living in Utah, Emily has continued her love for both. She explores both mountain and city outdoor spaces weekly with her three kids and friends and attends library story times, as well as leads a local story time. Emily has a passion for children’s literature. She uses books to educate, promote inclusion, understanding, and justice, and inspire adventure and creativity. Emily loves how reading and being outdoors overlap in so many exciting ways!

You can find Emily online in the following locations:
Instagram: @inclusivelibrary
RWMC Posts: Emily Liebel
BOOKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER
25 Best Nature Books for Outdoor Adventures
- August 8, 2023
As the summer sun’s golden rays beckon us outdoors, it’s the perfect time to embark on a literary journey that seamlessly blends the joy of reading with the thrill of outdoor exploration! Whether you’re planning a family hike, a camping escapade, or a simple stroll through the local park, the right nature book can transform your outdoor activities into unforgettable experiences of wonder and discovery. Today, Utah mom of three, Emily Liebel of @inclusivelibrary, is here sharing 25+ nature books that are the perfect companions to enhance your children’s understanding, ignite their imagination, and instill a lifelong love for the great outdoors. So pack your (book)bags and prepare to embark on a literary expedition that will inspire your young nature enthusiasts to embrace the beauty, mystery, and boundless potential of the world that lies just beyond their doorstep.

Nature books that inspire adventure

Now that you know many wonderful ways to use your public library for outdoor adventuring, let’s highlight some of the best nature books for going on outdoor adventures. In this post, we’ll delve into a handpicked selection of the best 25+ nature books for kids that are tailor-made to ignite the spirit of adventure and foster a deep appreciation for the great outdoors.

These literary companions aren’t just meant to be read – they’re designed to inspire adventure and provide valuable insights, fascinating facts, and imaginative tales that will make every step feel like a page turned in real life. These books can be used to prepare for an adventure or to take along with you to your outdoor activities to enhance nature appreciation and play.

Whether our kids are preparing to try a new outdoor activity, or they are getting excited for an adventure tradition, books can bring joy and fun to the experience. Books can give kids a chance to view an experience from the outside looking in. They can help a child explore how they might feel or act in the situation. Through the lens of the characters, our kids can imagine themselves solving problems, exploring, or jumping in water in similar situations.

Where to find the recommended books

Of course, I love public libraries and will always support them by checking out books. However, if you’d like to purchase any of these recommendations, this post contains affiliate links, so your purchase helps RWMC earn a tiny commission (with no extra cost to you), which our small business really appreciates! Or finally, if you would like to support independent and local bookstores by buying these books, we recommend Bookshop!

Best nature books for spring & summer outdoor adventures

In this post, I have gathered some of the best books that highlight outdoor adventures to be done in the spring and summer. We are enjoying the warm weather and all the unique experiences we can have as a family during this time of year.

I love these books because they are beautifully made and capture exactly what we want our kids to see and experience on our outdoor adventures. There are so many different climates, situations, locations, etc., that nature books can highlight. I have compiled a wide variety of those.

I have also chosen these books because they cover a wide variety of attitudes, emotions, and approaches to nature adventures. There are board books for babies, early chapter and non-fiction books for older kids, and picture books for all. There is problem-solving, appreciation and celebration, sensory processing, and fun.

And finally, there is inclusion. If we want kids with many different identities to enjoy the outdoors, they must be able to see someone like them enjoying it as well. This opens a world of possibilities and thrills they might not have connected with otherwise.

How to use these nature books

Before an adventure (preparing for an adventure)

Use these books leading up to your adventure to prepare and enhance! Start reading the selected books with your kids in the weeks leading up to your planned outdoor adventure. Make it a family activity by setting aside dedicated reading time. Encourage discussions about the topics covered in the books, and let your kids ask questions and share their thoughts. This shared exploration will build excitement and anticipation for the upcoming outdoor adventure.

When we take kids to an outdoor adventure they have never experienced before, we want to prepare them to know what to expect. Just as you might pretend-play going to the doctor with your kids, you can read books to help kids imagine the experience. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall can help calm your child’s nerves before swimming. And This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill can help give you and your child some calming tips when sensory overload threatens to derail an adventure. With tools and examples found in these nature books, our kids can feel confident in themselves as they head out to a new adventure.

During an adventure

Bring the books onto your adventure so your kids can read them on the long drive, while taking a break for lunch, or relaxing outdoors. Give your kids one of these books when they have some downtime on an adventure, and simply observe how they might use the world around them to build off of the story.

During the actual outdoor adventure, encourage your kids to reference the books they’ve read whenever they come across a plant, animal, or landmark they recognize. Discuss the real-world connections between what they’ve learned from the books and what they’re experiencing firsthand. Engage in conversations about the environment, ecosystems, and conservation based on the themes explored in the books.

Incorporate activities and challenges inspired by the books into your outdoor adventure plans. For example, if you’ve read about tracking animals in the wild, make it a game to identify animal tracks during the hike. If a story mentioned building a shelter, try constructing a simple one together during your camping trip. These interactive experiences will make the adventure feel like a real-life extension of the books and encourage hands-on learning.

After the adventure

After the adventure, set aside time to reflect on the experience together. Have your kids write or draw in their journals, documenting the things they discovered, the challenges they overcame, and the moments of awe and wonder they experienced. This reflection process reinforces the lessons learned from the books and helps cement their newfound appreciation for nature.

Nature books for kids of all ages

There are many picture books, some board books, and some early chapter books. Whether your kids are pre-readers, new readers, or venturing into books all on their own, there is something for everyone on this list. Besides, the research shows that reading out loud with kids of ALL ages is beneficial to their retention.

Toddlers and preschoolers

For the youngest adventurers, I’ve included some beautifully illustrated picture books that showcase the diversity of nature. When reading these books with your little ones, point out animals, plants, and landscapes in the pictures, sparking their curiosity and vocabulary. You can also engage with the book through tactile experiences like touching leaves or feeling textures. Let them mimic animal sounds or movements mentioned in the book, encouraging playful learning.

Elementary school age

For elementary school kids, I’ve included some books that dive deeper into specific nature-related topics like rocks, weather, or animal behavior. If they want to go beyond the book, have them research the ecosystem of the adventure site, making them feel like junior naturalists. Feel free to also utilize beginner-friendly field guides that focus on local wildlife, trees, and insects. Teach them how to use the guide to identify species, and encourage them to make their own nature journal.

This is also a great age to start reading adventure novels set in the great outdoors. These stories can inspire imagination and creativity, while also teaching valuable lessons about teamwork, problem-solving, and environmental awareness.

25 of the best nature books for outdoor adventures

Books about national parks
1. All Aboard! National Parks by Kevin and Haily Meyers
2. The Sequoia Lives On by Joanna Cooke
3. Oliver: The Second Largest Living Thing on Earth by Josh Crute
4. National Parks of the U.S.A. by Kate Siber
There are many National Parks to explore, and these books can provide you and your kids with information about the history and the uniqueness of each one. If you are taking a road trip or flying to a National Park this summer, bring these books along to get ready. The Sequoia Lives On and Oliver both showcase the mystery and awe of trees. All Aboard! Nationals Parks is a board book and contains basic information on National Parks and National Parks of the U.S.A. is a lovely and more in-depth look at each park.

Books about camping
1. Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq
2. The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
3. C is for Camping by Greg Paprocki
All three of these books can help you are your kids prepare for a camping trip. Camping requires a lot of arrangements, and these books will give your kids the chance to gather and pack their own gear and supplies, as well as prime them for the things they can help with and do once you are at the site. They also highlight the many fun things they might do on the camping trip- like hiking and making s’mores.

Books about hiking
1. Cece Loves Science and Adventure by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R Johannes
2. Hike by Pete Oswald
3. The Hike by Alison Farrell
We hike weekly with our friends, and each of my kids finds something different to enjoy on these adventures. We can be on a trail for hours and only travel one mile because of the many climbing, stick-collecting, and building stops we make. Other times, we can summit a hike and feel so accomplished as we take in the beauty. These books showcase the wonderful experience of heading outdoors and starting and stopping along a path in order to see the interesting things around you.

Books about visiting the beach and swimming
1. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
2. The Whale in My Swimming Pool by Joyce Wan
3. Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins
4. Bluey: The Beach
5. This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill
6. Day at the Beach by Tom Booth
Swimming and heading to the beach are great group and family outings, and each of these books celebrates the joy and confidence that kids can find through water play. Our Pool encapsulates an exciting summer day spent at the pool with games and snacks, and all-around fun. All the other books present problem-solving scenarios for kids to learn from, prepare, and even laugh through with imagination. Every book here would be an entertaining addition to your pool or beach trip.

Books about collecting and observing bugs, animals, natural objects
1. Look What I Found in the Woods by Moira Butterfield
2. Hank’s Big Day by Evan Kuhlman
3. Howl Like a Wolf by Kathleen Yale
4. Billy Loves Birds by Jess French
5. What’s in Your Pocket by Heather L. Montgomery
6. The Bug Collector by Alex G. Griffiths
7. Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro
Do your kids love to come home with pockets full of rocks or watch bugs in the yard? Do they know a lot about different animals or want to keep journals of all the things they learn? Any of these books would thrill your kids!

Each of these books help kids know how to safely, ethically, and interestingly connect to the living world around them. Look What I Found is a series, and I love that there are non-fiction and seek-and-find pages mixed into the story. Zoey and Sassafras is an early chapter book series that mixes scientific facts and processes with mythical creatures living around Zoey’s house. Howl Like a Wolf even encourages kids to act like animals through games as they learn about animal behaviors.

Books about exploring different environments (series)
1. Over and Under the Canyon by Kate Messner
2. Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
3. Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner
4. Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner
5. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
This series highlights multiple environments, from your own backyard garden to the rainforest. The books draw specific attention to sights and sounds above the water or below the dirt of a canyon. Find the book that best fits the environment you will be visiting to help kids familiarize themselves with the unique things they might see on your adventure.

Nature books enhance adventures

Just as important as gathering all the gear for an adventure is enhancing our kids’ imagination *on* the adventure. If we read books about swimming at a pool or the beach, our kids can imagine themselves there as well. They will have a well-rounded picture of what they could or want to experience. When we read with our kids, we are encouraging their imagination, inspiring creativity, eliminating some apprehension, and helping them prepare for getting outside and exploring.

I have seen firsthand how reading has prepared my kids for our outdoor activities and adventures. I’ve watched them reenact or extend the story from a book we’ve read while they are outdoors, which is just amazing to see! After reading The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann, we went on a nature trail with friends. My toddler and her friends built pretend fires and “warmed” themselves. And the older siblings dragged logs together to build forts or bed platforms. The information from the story I had read them combined with their own imaginative play led to hours of entertainment and cross-age playtime. They engaged in cooperative and imaginative play that wonderfully included everyone. This led to a more immersive outdoor experience because they were using the nature around them to make the game possible.

How will you use these nature books?

About the author

Emily and her family have moved across the US multiple times, and the best things about each state have been the outdoor adventures and the public libraries! Now living in Utah, Emily has continued her love for both. She explores both mountain and city outdoor spaces weekly with her three kids and friends and attends library story times, as well as leads a local story time. Emily has a passion for children’s literature. She uses books to educate, promote inclusion, understanding, and justice, and inspire adventure and creativity. Emily loves how reading and being outdoors overlap in so many exciting ways!

You can find Emily online in the following locations:
Instagram: @inclusivelibrary
RWMC Posts: Emily Liebel
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, 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.

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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?