Here are some garden and nature-themed books that we recommend to help children learn about the important role plants and gardens play in supporting our local ecosystems:
Preschoolers (ages 1-4)
- The Little Gardener – “Discover what it takes to become a little gardener with this interactive board book.”
- Planting a Rainbow – “Little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden.”
- BEE – A Peak-Through Board Book – “Fly along with Bee on her very busy day! Peek through the holes of this bright and lively book and discover the bustling life of this helpful insect.”
- Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt – “This book unveils the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt.”
- Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth – “From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book!”
- Mushroom in the Rain – “Caught out in the rain, an ant takes shelter under a very tiny mushroom. Soon, a wet butterfly, then a drenched mouse, a dripping sparrow, and even a rain-soaked rabbit each beg to join him under his miniature umbrella.”
- Wormy Worm – “As Wormy Worm wiggles and woggles, it is hard to tell which end is front and which end is back.”
- How to Hide a Butterfly – “Go on a fascinating nature hunt to find the butterflies, bees, inchworms, and other intriguing insects hiding in the brilliantly-painted pages of this book.”
Grades K-2 (ages 5-7)
- How to Make a Pollinator Garden: Como Hacer un Jardín Polinizador – “A bi-lingual picture book in English and Spanish, teaches young readers with step-by-step scientific instruction why pollinators are important and what kids can do to help them thrive.” *Written by NPSOT member, Dr. Camelia Maier!
- The Puddle Garden – “In this children’s story full of native plants and wildlife, learn how lonely Bear Cub invited friends to his new home– by creating a Puddle Garden.”
- The Shadow Garden – A child cultivates a nighttime garden for her ill grandmother who is unable to go out in the sun. It is filled with moonflowers, star jasmine, and dozens of other luminous, fragrant and sensory night plants. *Written by NPSOT member Cherie Colburn!
- The Reason for a Flower – “The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.”
- A Seed is Sleepy – “An informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds.”
- Weslandia – “Enter the witty, intriguing world of Weslandia! Now that school is over, Wesley needs a summer project. He’s learned that each civilization needs a staple food crop, so he decides to sow a garden and start his own — civilization, that is.”
- What’s Inside a Flower – “Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers–from seeds to roots to blooms.”
- Here is the Wetland – “This book introduces children to the birds, bass, minks, muskrats, frogs, snakes and others that live in wetland environments.”
- Are You a Snail? – “This colorful first nature picture book gives children aged 4 to 7 an inside look at how they would experience life if they were a snail.”
- Flow, Spin, Grow: Looking for Patterns in Nature – “Branching, spiraling, spinning―you can find patterns almost anywhere in nature, if you look for them.”
- Protect the Pollinators – “Vibrant and whimsically illustrated children’s book introducing seven of the Earths pollinators and their importance.”
Grades 3-5 (ages 8-10)
- Bloomin’ Tales – “A book for children of ALL ages, Bloomin’ Tales brings the history of these ultimate survivalists – the wildflowers – to life with exciting legends passed down from those who settled the land.” *Written by NPSOT member Cherie Colburn and illustrated by NPSOT member Joy Fisher Hein!
- Plants to the Rescue! – “In the ongoing fight against climate change, plastic pollution, and diseases, scientists are turning to an unlikely ally―Plants to the Rescue!”
- The Magic and Mystery of Trees – “From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland.”
- The Prairie that Nature Built – “Learn about the plants and critters that depend upon one of the most endangered ecological systems in the world: the prairie!”
- Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs & Other Ughs – “Children will gain an appreciation for the world under a rock―that hides a whole crowd on a summer’s day.”
- Rotten!: Vultures, Beetles, Slime, and Nature’s Other Decomposers – “A funny and fact-filled look at decomposition in all of its slimy glory.”
- Insect Adaptations: Mouthparts, Mimicry, and Flying – “How do insects survive in different environments? Insects are masters of adaptation!”
Middle School (ages 11-14)
- Nature’s Best Hope – “Author Doug Tallamy empowers kids to use their own yards to help combat the negative effects of climate change. He does so by breaking down complex concepts into simple terms and real-world examples that kids can easily grasp.”
