Some of the newest lessons for this generation include learning about the environment, ecology and how our behaviors impact the world around us. 

Earth Day is a yearly celebration that reminds us to revisit how we treat the Earth. 

These are important lessons for our children to learn as many of our resources are finite. 

Helping to preserve the water, open lands and wildlife will mean that our grandkids and great-grandkids will still have the opportunity to roll down a hill, swim in the ocean and breathe fresh air!

 

 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Books to Inspire Kids

Teach the kids about ecology, recycling and how to protect the earth with some of these great books and interactive websites.  We’ve included affiliate links so you can learn more about each of our selections.

For additional resources and earth-friendly ideas, visit our list of Kids Movies with Environmental Themes and the ‘Going Green’ guides for Kids & Teens .

 

Learn about all the simple behaviors kids and families can do to be more earth-friendly.  Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green is a cute story about how a child’s behavior can motivate others to do the right thing!

 

We love Charlie & Lola (especially Lola’s funny but oh-so-familiar questions)!  Kids will identify with Lola in Charlie and Lola: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers as she learns about recycling and then dives in to try it with all her accumulated items.  The artwork in this series is wonderful too!

 

Young kids will learn how easy it is for them to change the world in 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World .  Plant a seed, use both sides of the paper when drawing — practical and hands-on ideas that are easily adopted at home or school. 

The colorful die-cut pictures remind us that being earth-friendly is simple.

 

A Drop Around the World is a great book that shows kids how a water drop can travel around the world through the water cycle.  Kids will begin to understand that water is a renewable resource and one that must be cared for by all.

 

Take a trip with Miss Frizzle and get the facts about global warming!  The Magic School Bus And The Climate Challenge does a wonderful job at using humor and scientific details to engage kids and explain climate change in a way that kids will understand.

 

Learn how to keep the earth clean with one of your favorite ‘critters’!  In It’s Earth Day! with Little Critter , Little Critter is on a mission to get family and friends to reduce, reuse & recycle — and help the polar bears too.

 

Enjoy learning about some of the wonderful things that nature gives us in the beautifully illustrated Earth Day: An Alphabet Book .  Readers will hop around the globe as they are introduced to a great variety of diverse items in this ABC story.

 

I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle is a fun way to introduce kids to ‘going green’. Max, the Little Monster, is not very earth-friendly but kids can learn along with him as he discovers why it’s so important to turn off the lights and do other ‘green’ things.  Nice glossary for kids included.

 

In Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day, Nancy is encourages her family to be more ‘green’ but she learns too that sometimes there’s a balance to what you can do.  Fun Easy Reader for kids.

 

One of my favorite environmental reads for older kids, Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion follows an oceanographer as he tracks trash that has been tossed into the oceans.  Tweens & teens will be amazed at what humans discard or lose and how it impacts our marine life.

 

365 Ways to Live Green for Kids: Saving the Environment at Home, School, or at Play–Every Day! is a great book for families who want to implement hands-on behaviors to reduce, reuse and recycle together. 

The book includes great facts about the benefits of various activities along with tips that can be implemented year-round.  A wonderful starter for families who want to ‘go green’!

 

Another inspirational read for tweens & teens (also for parents & teachers!) is Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet .   This book shares the true stories of 12 people in North America who have done amazing things for our environment.  A few of these environmental leaders are teenagers with a passion to change the way the world thinks!

 

Ecoart!: Earth-Friendly Art and Craft Experiences for 3-To 9-Year-Olds includes fun ideas for kids on projects that can be made using items that are usually recycled or discarded.  The book also includes crafting with natural items too.

 

 

 

Environmental Websites for Kids & Families

Great places for kids to play games, find activities and learn about the earth.

PBS Kids Explore the Outdoors(for kids 3 – 8)

PBS Kids EekoWorld(for kids 6 – 10)

National Park Service Junior Rangers & Web Rangers (programs for kids 5 – 12)

The Green Guide for Kids – a wonderful blog with earth-friendly activities & ideas for families

Nature Rocks – a website with nature & outdoor activities for families (for kids of all ages)

PBS Learning Media – great videos to use for learning about ecology and human impact on the environment (for kids ages 3 – 18)

EPA’s Recycle City – games that highlight pollution & sustainability (ages 7 – 12)

Discover the Forest – fun activity book, nature ideas and outdoor info (for kids 3 – 12)

 

MORE EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES:

10 Kids Movies with Environmental themes

Books & Activities that Teach Kids Can Conserve Water

Earth Day Scavenger Hunt {with free printable!}

 

How will you celebrate Earth Day?