living library
Welcome to the Climate Kids Book Club Living Library!
Search titles by grade level, climate commitment, and more below:
A House for Hermit Crab
Eric Carle
Poor Hermit Crab! He's outgrown his snug little shell, so he finds himself a larger one -- and many new friends to decorate and protect his new house. But what will happen when he outgrows this shell and has to say good-bye to all the sea creatures who have made Hermit Crab's house a home?
Children facing change in their own lives will relate to Hermit Crab's story -- and learn a lot about the fascinating world of marine life along the way.
A Snake Falls to Earth
Darcie Little Badger
Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.
Darcie Little Badger introduced herself to the world with Elatsoe. In A Snake Falls to Earth, she draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.
A Whale of the Wild
Rosanne Parry
For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be? A Whale of the Wild weaves a heart-stopping tale of survival with impeccable research on a delicate ecosystem and threats to marine life. New York Times-bestselling author Rosanne Parry’s fluid writing and Lindsay Moore’s stunning artwork bring the Salish Sea and its inhabitants to vivid life.
A Wolf Called Wonder
Rosanne Parry
Swift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.
Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest. The trip is full of peril, and Swift encounters forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before he finds his new home.
Inspired by the true story of a wolf named OR-7 (or Journey).
A is for Acorn
Analisa Tripp, Lyn Risling
This alphabet board book welcomes youngsters of all cultures into the abundant world of Native California. Beautiful illustrations of animals, plants, and cultural objects show off the spectacular diversity of California's indigenous cultures and environments. Sturdy enough to withstand any toddler's grasp, A Is for Acorn is a playful, loving introduction to California's oldest and most abiding sense of itself.
All the Way to the Ocean
Joel Harper
An uplifting story about two best friends, Isaac and James, and their discovery of the cause and effect relationship between our cities' storm drains and the world's oceans, lakes and rivers. It is sure to inspire both young and adult readers alike and teach a timeless life lesson--If we all do our part, a cleaner, safer environment is indeed within our reach.
Amara and the Bats
Emma Reynolds
"Environmental activism gets a nocturnal twist in this utterly charming picture book about a young girl and her mission to save the bats! Amara loves bats! Her favorite thing to do is to collect bat facts and watch the amazing mammals fly at night by her house. But when Amara moves to a new town, she learns that her beloved bats no longer roost nearby because so many trees are being cut down. Amara is upset. What can she do to help? She’s just one person, and the problem feels so much bigger than her. But after doing some research, she discovers that there are many young people making big changes all around the world. Inspired to take action, Amara gathers her new friends to help save the bats. Together, she knows they can make a difference! Emma Reynolds crafts an inspiring story about community action, perseverance, and what to do in the face of climate anxiety. At its heart, this is a story about hope and finding a place to call home."
Arriba en el huerto y abajo en la tierra
Kate Messner
Arriba en el huerto, hay un mundo de color verde con sus hojas y brotes, sus verduras y sus frutas. Pero abajo en la tierra hay otro mundo muy vivo donde viven gusanos que hacen túneles, serpientes que van de caza, mofetas que construyen madrigueras y muchos otros animales. Este exuberante libro te mostrará las maravillas y los seres vivos que se esconden entre los tallos, bajo la sombra de las hojas y en el interior de la tierra.
Bee Love (Can Be Hard)
Alan Paige, Kaimie Page, David Geister
"A Minnesota Book Award Finalist. Otis wasn't scared of many things, but at the top of his list? Bees. When Grandpa was younger, he was afraid of bees too. That is, until he learned about them. To help Otis overcome his fear, Grandpa takes him to a bee farm, where he learns that while "bee love" can be hard, it is also important. Lovely pastoral paintings are the backdrop to this gently told, relatable story. The book includes extended information about bees, beekeeping, and pollinators. This delightfully readable story about overcoming your fears was written by former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famer Alan Page, and his daughter, Kamie Page, an educator. Page Education Foundation donates 100% of their book proceeds back to the Foundation, which offers financial assistance to students of color facing barriers to attaining their educational dreams."
Before We Eat: From Farm to Table
Pat Brisson
Before we eat, many people work very hard—planting grain, catching fish, tending farm animals, and filling crates of vegetables. With vibrant illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Mary Azarian, this book reminds us what must happen before food gets to our tables to nourish our bodies and spirits.
Birdsong
Julie Flett
Katherena and Agnes share the same passions for arts and crafts, birds, and nature. But as the seasons change, can Katherna navigate the failing health of her new friend?
Award-winning author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships, shared passions, and spending time outdoors with the ones we love.
Buffalo Song
Joseph Bruchac
Hetcha hey Hetcha ho Hetcha hey yeh ho Walking Coyote gently lifted the frightened buffalo calf and sang softly. Lone survivor of a herd slaughtered by white hunters, the calf was one of several buffalo orphans Walking Coyote adopted and later raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. For thousands of years massive herds of buffalo roamed across much of North America, but by the 1870s fewer than fifteen hundred animals remained. Hunted to the brink of extinction, the buffalo were in danger of vanishing. With reverent care, Walking Coyote and his family endeavored to bring back the buffalo herds, one magnificent creature at a time. Here is the inspiring story of the first efforts to save the buffalo, an animal sacred to Native Americans and a powerful symbol of the American West. From the foresight and dedication of a few individuals such as Walking Coyote came the eventual survival of these majestic animals, one of the great success stories of endangered species rescue in United States history.
Bugs in Danger: Our Vanishing Bees, Butterflies, and Beetles
Mark Kurlansky
By now you've probably heard that bees are disappearing—but they aren't the only species at risk. Populations of fireflies, butterflies, and ladybugs have all been declining in recent years, too. This middle grade nonfiction explains the growth, spread, and recent declines of each of these four types of insects. Exploring human causes, like the Baltimore electric company that collected fireflies to attempt to harness their phosphorescent lighting source, to natural occurrences, like the mysterious colony collapse disorder that plagues bee populations, master nonfiction storyteller Mark Kurlansky shows just how much bugs matter to our world.
Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels Have Changed the Earth
Penny Chisholm, Molly Bang
What are fossil fuels, and how did they come to exist? This engaging, stunning book explains how coal, oil, and gas are really "buried sunlight," trapped beneath the surface of our planet for millions and millions of years. Now, in a very short time, we are digging them up and burning them, changing the carbon balance of our planet's air and water. What does this mean, and what should we do about it? Using simple language and breathtaking paintings, Bang and Chisholm present a clear, concise explanation of the fossil-fuel energy cycle that began with the sun and now runs most of our transportation and energy use in our world.
Can I Recycle This?: A Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Jennie Romer
Can I Recycle This gives straightforward answers to whether dozens of common household objects can or cannot be recycled, as well as the information you need to make that decision for anything else you encounter.
City of Water
Andrea Curtis
Living in cities where water flows effortlessly from our taps and fountains, it’s easy to take it for granted. City of Water, the second book in the ThinkCities series, shines a light on the water system that is vital for our health and well-being. The narrative traces the journey of water from the forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and wetlands that form the watershed, through pipes and treatment facilities, into our taps, fire hydrants and toilets, then out through storm and sewer systems toward wastewater treatment plants and back into the watershed.
Readers are encouraged to think about water as a finite resource, and to take action to prevent our cities and watersheds from becoming more polluted. More than 2 billion people in the world are without access to safe, fresh water at home. As the world’s population grows, along with pollution and climate change, access to clean water is becoming an urgent issue.
Includes practical steps that kids can take to help conserve water.
Cooking the Native Way
The Chia Cafe Collective
This cookbook invites you to experience the Native American cultures of Southern California through their foods. Full-color photos and detailed recipes showcase the diversity, health, and flavor of modern cuisine made from Southern California native plants in combination with other foods. The results are mouthwatering: mesquite-rubbed quail marinated in prickly pear juice, “superfood” cookies featuring chia and pine nuts, acorn dumplings, and tepary tart topped with an elderberry reduction. Accompanied by essays that bring to life the rich history and the hopeful future of the Native people of the area, Cooking the Native Way showcases the luscious scents and tastes of vibrant indigenous cultures and is for all who wish to reconnect with the land through gathering, cooking, and savoring.
Creek Critters
Jennifer Keats Curtis
Do you like scavenger hunts? How do you tell if creek water is clean and healthy? Join Lucas and his sister as they act like scientists looking for certain kinds of stream bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) that need clean, unpolluted water to survive. What will they find as they turn over rocks, pick up leaves and sort through the mud? Read along to find out if their creek gets a passing grade.
De camino al océano
Joel Harper
De camino al Oceano es un cuento que trata sobre dos amigos, Isaac y James, y su descubrimiento del vinculo existente entre el sistema de alcantarillado de las ciudades y los oceanos, lagos y rios del mundo. Inspirara tanto a jovenes como a adultos y les ensenara una verdad esencial: si todos hacemos un pequeno esfuerzo es posible llegar a crear un medio ambiente mas limpio y seguro.
Dear Earth...From Your Friends in Room 5
Erin Dealey
When the kids in Room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back. This beautiful picture book is a celebration of every child’s ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact.
Diet For A Changing Climate: Food for Thought
Christy Mihaly
The United Nations supports a compelling solution to world hunger: eat insects! Explore the vast world of unexpected foods that may help solve the global hunger crisis. Weeds, wild plants, invasive and feral species, and bugs are all food for thought. Learn about the nutritional value of various plant and animal species; visit a cricket farm; try a recipe for dandelion pancakes, kudzu salsa, or pickled purslane; and discover more about climate change, sustainability, green agriculture, indigenous foods, farm-to-table restaurants, and how to be an eco-friendly producer, consumer, and chef. Meet average folks and experts in the field who will help you stretch your culinary imagination!
El maravilloso funcionamiento del Planeta Tierra
Rachel Ignotofsky
Este libro explica de forma interesante cómo funciona nuestro planeta y cómo podemos protegerlo. A través de ilustraciones artísticas, mapas e infografías, el lector podrá recorrer y explorar los diversos ecosistemas, conocer a sus habitantes, darse cuenta de la importancia de la biodiversidad, tener conciencia ecológica y más. Los lectores de todas las edades, amantes de la naturaleza y la ciencia, se deleitarán con esta guía encantadora de nuestro increíble hogar.
Everywhere Blue
Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
Everywhere Blue is a poignant, moving middle grade verse novel about family, mental health, music, and caring for the environment. This debut novel is excellently written, suspense-filled, and highly engaging. While the topic of a missing teen may be triggering for some, the author handles the theme sensitively, focusing on Maddie’s challenges and the changes in her family. If you enjoy verse novels or books about music, you will adore this novel!
Finding Wild
Megan Wagner Lloyd
There are so many places that wild can exist, if only you know where to look! Can you find it? Two kids set off on an adventure away from their urban home and discover all the beauty of the natural world. From the bark on the trees to the sudden storm that moves across the sky to fire and flowers, and snowflakes and fresh fruit. As the children make their way through the woods and back to the paved and noisy streets, they discover that wild exists not just off in some distant place, but right in their own backyard.
Follow that Map!
Scot Ritchie
Maps are about far more than getting from a to b. Maps can help children understand and explore both their everyday environment and faraway places. With an appealing search-and-find technique, Follow That Map! is an interactive picture book that explains and demonstrates key mapping concepts. Kids will enjoy following Sally and her friends as they search for Max and Ollie, a mischievous dog and cat on the lam from the backyard. Sally and friends take an imaginative trip through the neighborhood, city and country, around the world and beyond. Kids can join in the search for Max and Ollie, who are hiding somewhere in every map. An activity at the end of the book shows children how to make a map of their bedroom.
Greta's Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet
Valentina Camerini
In legislatures all over the world, ten of thousands of serious-looking and stern-sounding politicians sat and discussed an endless range of issues. But they never addressed the problem of the health of the planet. It was time for someone to remind them to step in to protect the environment--and the future of children all over the world. It was an emergency. Everything else could wait. So Greta made a sign, put on her jacket, and went on strike.
Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet
Barbara Dee
Twelve-year-old Haven Jacobs can’t stop thinking about the climate crisis. In fact, her anxiety about the state of the planet is starting to interfere with her schoolwork, her friendships, even her sleep. She can’t stop wondering why grownups aren’t even trying to solve the earth’s problem—and if there’s anything meaningful that she, as a seventh grader, can contribute.
When Haven’s social studies teacher urges her to find a specific, manageable way to make a difference to the planet, Haven focuses on the annual science class project at the local Belmont River, where her class will take samples of the water to analyze. Students have been doing the project for years, and her older brother tells her that his favorite part was studying and catching frogs.
But when Haven and her classmates get to the river, there’s no sign of frogs or other wildlife—but there is ample evidence of pollution. The only thing that’s changed by the river is the opening of Gemba, the new factory where Haven’s dad works. It doesn’t take much investigation before Haven is convinced Gemba is behind the slow pollution of the river.
She’s determined to expose Gemba and force them to clean up their act. But when it becomes clear taking action might put her dad’s job—and some friendships—in jeopardy, Haven must decide how far she’s willing to go.
Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon
Jules Bass
Meet Herb, the dragon who prefers gardening to gobbling meat. When his vegetable-loving ways land him in the castle's dungeon, will he be able to stay true to his values? Packed with wacky visual details and quirky dialogue, Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon overturns your expectations again and again, making for a delightful and thought-provoking read every time.
Hoot
Carl Hiaasen
A classic of environmental lit for kids, this story set in Florida features great characters, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and a pack of endangered owls. When Roy sees a boy running toward the woods, he decides to follow him and is introduced to a habitat of owls threatened by a new housing development. Along with his new friends, Roy gets involved with issues of the environmental impact of development and the protection of species.
Hoot: La odisea de los búhos
Carl Hiaasen
Roy Eberhardt ha llegado recientemente, y a pesar suyo, a Florida. “Disney World es cualquier cosa”, afirma rotundamente, “comparado con Montana”.
Su familia se muda constantemente, de modo que Roy ya está acostumbrado a ser el chico nuevo donde quiera que va. Los bullies de Florida no son muy distintos a los bullies de otras partes. Pero, contra todo pronóstico, Roy termina estando en deuda con el corpulento Dana Matherson. Si Dana no hubiera estado hundiendo sus pulgares en las sienes de Roy, y aplastando su cara contra la ventana del autobús escolar, Roy nunca habría visto a aquel chico corriendo por la calle. Y esa fue la primera cosa interesante que Roy vio en Florida.
El chico tenía más o menos la edad de Roy, pero no corría hacia el autobús escolar. No cargaba libros ni mochila y —aquí es cuando la cosa se pone rara— tampoco llevaba zapatos. Intrigado, Roy sigue el rastro del chico. Durante la persecución, conoce a otras de las extrañas criaturas de Florida: caimanes entrenados para ir al baño, el capataz de una construcción bajo asedio, búhos excavadores, un ecologista rebelde, algunos peces resbaladizos, el siniestro gerente de relaciones públicas de una casa de panqueques, y a varias serpientes venenosas con colas extrañamente brillantes.
Florida empieza a mejorar…
Hurry and the Monarch
Antoine O’Flatharta
When the beautiful orange Monarch on her fall migration route from Canada to Mexico stops to rest at Wichita Falls, Texas, she makes friends with an old tortoise called Hurry. She tells him, "Maybe one day you'll break out of that shell, grow wings, and fly away," and then she is off again with millions of other Monarchs. In the spring, she stops again at Hurry's garden just long enough to lay her eggs and head north to Canada. Embedded in this lyrical and tender fictional presentation are the fascinating facts about the amazing 2,000-mile migration and the life cycle of butterflies. An afterword provides additional scientific data.
It's Getting Hot in Here: The Past, Present, and Future of Climate Change
Bridget Heos
This hard-hitting look at climate change tackles the past, present, and future of global warming, examining the effects it's having across the world, the politics behind denial, and the ways in which we can all work to lessen the harsh effects of our warming world. Perfect for young environmentalists looking to learn about the ways in which we can take action against global warming.
Ivá' Pá'kwarit Po'é' 'Axánya
Neal Ibanez, Eric Elliott, Pechanga Chámmakilawish School
Book three in the life cycle series. This informative and thought provoking book takes the reader on a journey through the life cycle of a frog, beginning with frog eggs in a
pond and ending with a full-grown frog. Includes life cycle activity and English translation.
Iví' 'Axánninik Popúsh Wi'aaşal Maríqqaxma Kuláwut
Neal Ibanez, Eric Elliott, Pechanga Chámmakilawish School
Book one in the life cycle series. This informative and thought provocating book takes the reader on a journey through the life cycle of an oak tree, beginning with an acorn and ending with a flowering oak tree. Includes life cycle activity and English translation.
Iví' 'Axánninik Şakíshla Pówki 'Axánya
Neal Ibanez, Eric Elliott, Pechanga Chámmakilawish School
Book two in the life cycle series. This informative and thought provoking book takes the reader on a journey through the life cycle of a butterfly, beginning with butterfly eggs on a leaf and ending with a beautiful, fluttering butterfly. Includes life cycle activity and English translation.
Lessons from Mother Earth
Elaine McLeod
Tess has visited her grandmother many times without really being aware of the garden. But today they step outside the door and Tess learns that all of nature can be a garden. And if you take care of the plants that are growing, if you learn about them — understanding when they flower, when they give fruit, and when to leave them alone — you will always find something to nourish you. At the end of their day Tess is thankful to Mother Earth for having such a lovely garden, and she is thankful to have such a wise grandma.
Little Pea
Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Jen Corace
A sweet and amusing story to which little picky eaters can relate: If Little Pea doesn't eat all of his sweets, there will be no vegetables for dessert! What's a young pea to do? A delightful twist on a classic parent predicament, children will enjoy the unique tale and find themselves relating with Little Peamore than expected.
Lloyd Finds His Whalesong
Skylaar Amann
Lloyd can’t sing. The rhythm of the whalesong guides the whales through danger and connects them to each other. But Lloyd is too quiet to join in. If he can’t sing, how can he be a part of the pod?
Then one day he finds a magical, mysterious object with supersonic seaweed strings! This could be his chance to be part of the song. He practices and practices, nervously preparing to show the other whales. But before he can perform for them, a disruptive, noisy boat approaches and scatters the pod. Lloyd’s powerful new instrument may be the only thing that can reunite them―if he can find the courage to share his unique song.
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
Jennifer Berne
Before Jacques Cousteau became an internationally known oceanographer and champion of the seas, he was a curious little boy. In this lovely biography, poetic text and gorgeous paintings combine to create a portrait of Jacques Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.
Meltdown
Anita Sanchez
Meet the glaciers—before they disappear. Meltdown: Discover Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do to Save Them is a kids’ guide to the glorious but endangered world of glaciers. Glaciers may not be as well-known as rain forests or coral reefs, but they are just as vital to the health of the planet, and just as threatened by climate change. Packed with information, grounded in the latest science, with lively writing and illustrations throughout (including graphs, charts, infographics, photographs, and full-page art), Meltdown gives readers an eye-opening overview of glaciers and how important they are: There are over 100,000 glaciers covering 10% of earth’s landmass, that hold almost three-quarters of the planet's fresh water, and act as protective shields to cool the atmosphere and combat climate change. We learn how glaciers were formed (some over two million years ago), how they move and carve the planet's landscape, and how scientists study them (the bluer the ice, the older it is). We learn the secrets of earth’s climate history hidden deep in a glacier’s core—and discover how climate change is causing glaciers to melt at unprecedented rates, putting the health of the planet in jeopardy. But we are not left without hope. The final chapter offers positive steps readers can take to become climate activists, reduce their carbon footprint, and save the glaciers.
My Ancestor's Village
Robert Labastida
Written and illustrated by a grade school teacher, this charming story is told from the point of view of a young Indian girl who describes the traditional way she and her family live. An entertaining way for young readers to learn about San Diego County's early Indian inhabitants.
My Friend Earth
Patricia MacLachlan
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book. Its enticing die-cut pages encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.
My Magical Foods
Becky Cummings
Do you know a picky eater? Do you wish your children or students would eat more vegetables? Raising healthy eaters starts early and you can instill great habits now in the littles you love! My Magical Foods teaches children how fruits and vegetables come naturally from the Earth, which make them some of the best food on the planet. It also shows super strong animals like the gorilla and giraffe that eat plant based. Finally, it will share ideas that motivate children to pick healthy snacks and meals.
Oil Spill!
Melvin Berger
Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Oil spills can have many different causes, but the result is the same. Oil harms plants and wildlife that make the oceans and coastlines their home. Scientists are learning the best ways to combat oil spills. Learn how you can help, too!
Old Enough to Save the Planet
Loll Kirby
The world is facing a climate crisis like we’ve never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject—they’re going to make a change. Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.
One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden
Diane C. Mullen
Count all the ways (one to ten) an urban community unites to clean up an abandoned lot. From building planter boxes to pulling weeds to planting seeds, everyone works together to transform the lot into a bountiful vegetable garden. As the garden grows, strangers become friends, eventually sharing in a special feast with the harvest they grew.
One Small Hop
Madelyn Rosenburg
When Ahab and his friends find a bullfrog in their town — a real, live bullfrog, possibly the last bullfrog in North America — they have several options:
A. Report it to the Environmental Police Force. Too bad everyone knows they're a joke.
B. Leave it be. They're just a bunch of kids — what if they hurt it by moving it?
C. Find another real, live bullfrog on the black market. Convince their parents to let them bike to Canada. Introduce the two frogs. Save all of frogkind.
Ahab convinces the rest of the group that C is their only real option. Because if they don't save this frog, who will? Their quest, which will involve fake ice cream, real frog spawn, and some very close calls, teaches Ahab that hope is always the logical choice, and science is always better with friends.
Our World Out of Balance
Andrea Minoglio
An encouraging and comprehensive illustrated nonfiction guide introducing children to the important topic of climate change with clear facts and positive solutions. Easy-to-follow "Before" and "After" segments help children understand complex topics like: air pollution, rising seas, plastics and increased waste, wildfires, and more.
Paradise on Fire
Jewell Parker Rhodes
A coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change.
Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Now, years later, Addy’s grandmother has enrolled her in a summer wilderness program. There, Addy joins five other Black city kids—each with their own troubles—to spend a summer out west. Deep in the forest the kids learn new (and to them) strange skills: camping, hiking, rock climbing, and how to start and safely put out campfires. Most important, they learn to depend upon each other for companionship and survival.
But then comes a devastating forest fire… Addy is face-to-face with her destiny and haunting past. Developing her courage and resiliency against the raging fire, it’s up to Addy to lead her friends to safety.
Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself
Kathleen Reilly
Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself provides an engaging guide to the natural world and encourages children ages 9 and up to get their hands dirty and actively connect with the environment. It then introduces key environmental issues—wind and solar power, pollution, endangered species, global warming, and recycling—and posits potential solutions. Trivia, fun facts, and 25 captivating hands-on projects investigate ecology basics, such as the food chain, oxygen, and animal habitats, as well as ways to lessen the strain on Earth's resources by reducing human consumption and waste. With Planet Earth kids will learn how to respect and protect our unique planet.
Power Up! A Visual Exploration of Energy
S.N. Paleja
It's impossible to imagine our lives without energy, but how often do we really think about where it comes from? With Power Up! discovering what you need to know about energy is easy and fun. Every bright, dynamic double-page spread illustrates cool facts about energy use with colorful infographics, including charts, diagrams, and maps.
Song for the Snow
Jon-Erik Lappano
Freya has always loved the snow and the way it covers everything like powdered sugar. But the snow hasn’t come to her town for two winters, and she’s starting to forget what it looks and feels like. When will it be cold? When will it snow again?
One day Freya finds a snow globe at the market. It plays the melody of a song that the townspeople sang for generations to call the snow home. Freya’s own grandmother used to sing it to her mother on cold winter nights. Every morning, Freya takes the snow globe outside and sings the song, but still there is no snow … until she has the idea to share the song. Soon everyone in town is singing it, and then, early one morning, the winds change. …
Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler have created an eloquent fable about remembering past traditions, our connection to nature and caring for a world threatened by climate change through shared effort and hope.
Spy School Goes South
Stuart Gibbs
When Murray Hill offers spy-in-training Ben Ripley a deal to catch the leaders of SPYDER once and for all, Ben smells a rat. But he has no choice but to sign on.
The mission: Accompany Murray Hill to an undisclosed location with Erica Hale, find SPYDER and call the CIA for back-up.
However, as Ben suspected, nothing goes as planned, and what should be an easy mission quickly turns deadly. Now, Ben and Erica will have to face rogue agents, trained killers, and even very hungry crocodiles in a race against the clock to find out what SPYDER is up to this time—and thwart their evil plans.
Squidtoons
Garfield Kwan, Dana Song
Dive deep into the latest, most interesting (and weirdest!) science about underwater creatures with Squidtoons!
These educational comics combine fun science facts about marine life and a strong environmental message. From whale vomit to bone-eating worms, narwhals to sea dragons, Squidtoons presents real ocean science in a series of easy-to-understand comics. Venture from the seashore to the deep sea, and learn about the ocean’s diverse life forms straight from the experts.
Stella Díaz Never Gives Up
Angela Dominguez
Stella gets a big surprise when her mom plans a trip to visit their family in Mexico! Stella loves marine animals, and she can't wait to see the ocean for the first time . . . until she arrives and learns that the sea and its life forms are in danger due to pollution. Stella wants to save the ocean, but she knows she can't do it alone. It's going to take a lot of work and help from old and new friends to make a difference, but Stella Díaz never gives up!
Strange Birds
Celia C. Pérez
Three girls receive an invitation to a lavish mansion, where they meet a fourth member of their group, a fellow kid named Lane DiSanti. Though the four aren’t fast friends at first, they soon band together to convince their local scouting troop to ditch outdated traditions and get involved in some of the environmental issues their town is facing. As this is also set in Florida, it would be a great next book for kids who loved Hoot!
Ten Little Rabbits
Virginia Grossman, Sylvia Long
Weaving, fishing, and storytelling are all part of this spirited book that celebrates Native American traditions as it teaches young children to count from one to ten. The book's whimsical illustrations, reminiscent of Beatrix Potter, glow with brilliant color and are filled with fascinating detail. Each number introduces a facet of traditional Native American culture, such as Pueblo corn dances or Navajo weaving, and the simple, rhyming text is enhanced by a brief afterword on Native American customs. Ideal for storytime or bedtime, this is a book sure to leave children counting rabbits instead of sheep.
The Beeman
Laurie Krebs
With rhyming text and warm, expressive paintings, this lovely picture book takes the reader through a year of beekeeping from the point of view of a little girl helping her beloved grandpa, who's known in the town as the Beeman. Written in the style of The House That Jack Built, the book touches upon all aspects of beekeeping. From how the keeper and his young helper dress, to how they care for the hive, to how they harvest (and enjoy eating) the honey. Children will discover what each type of bee does, see how honey is made, and learn lots of amazing facts in this gentle yet highly informative story.
The Curious Garden
Peter Brown
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world. This is an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a clever seek-and-find element to this captivating picture book.
The Farm That Feeds Us: A year in the life of an organic farm
Nancy Castaldo
Where does our food come from? What role do farms play? What’s it like to be a farmer? In this charmingly illustrated book, follow a farm throughout the year to discover how the farmer grows fresh and tasty food for us to eat in a sustainable and natural way.
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science
Joyce Sidman
Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them?
One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. In this nonfiction biography, illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, author Joyce Sidman paints her own picture of one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.
The Line Tender
Kate Allen
The Line Tender is the story of Lucy, the daughter of a marine biologist and a rescue diver, and the summer that changes her life. If she ever wants to lift the cloud of grief over her family and community, she must complete the research her late mother began. She must follow the sharks.
The Lorax
Dr. Seuss
"UNLESS someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better...It's not." Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth's natural beauty. His classic cautionary tale is now available in an irresistible mini-edition, perfect for backpack or briefcase, for Arbor Day, Earth Day, and every day.
The Mess That We Made
Michelle Lord
The Mess That We Made explores the environmental impact of trash and plastic on the ocean and marine life, and it inspires kids to do their part to combat pollution. Simple, rhythmic wording builds to a crescendo ("This is the mess that we made. These are the fish that swim in the mess that we made.") and the vibrant digital artwork captures the disaster that is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Children can imagine themselves as one of the four multi-ethnic occupants of the little boat surrounded by swirling plastic in the middle of the ocean, witnessing the cycle of destruction and the harm it causes to plants, animals, and humans. The first half of the book portrays the growing magnitude of the issue, and the second half rallies children and adults to make the necessary changes to save our oceans. Facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ocean pollution, and how kids can help are included in the back matter.
The Plastic Problem: 60 Small Ways to Reduce Waste and Help Save the Earth
Aubre Andrus
Look around you - plastic is everywhere! It's in your shoes, pens, toothbrush, car, toys, TV, water bottles, food packaging... It's almost impossible to get through one day without using it. And it's creating major problems for our world, our oceans, our animals and marine life, and ourselves. In The Plastic Problem, from the team that brought you 101 Small Ways to Save the World, you'll learn how to become a 'plastic patroller' instead of a plastic polluter by learning about the easy ways you can cut plastic out of your life. The simple actions found in this practical guide will help you protect our world and inspire your friends and family to do the same.
The Problem of the Hot World
Pam Bonsper
What happens when five forest friends discover their trees are no longer growing? When there is no more grass to eat? When there is no more water? When the world is too hot? This book follows the friends- a fox, a bear, an owl, a mole, and a deer- on an exciting adventure to find out where the water went and how to get it back.
The Tantrum that Saved the World
Megan Herbert, Michael E. Mann
The book consists of three parts. The first part is a story about a little girl who inherits a huge problem she didn’t ask for, feels all kinds of frustration as she tries to solve it, and then channels those strong emotions into positive action, inspiring all those around her to do the same. The second part explains the science of climate change to children in language they can understand, telling the stories of the climate refugees that appear in the story, and how all their lives are interconnected. An Action Plan then outlines simple and positive actions every person can take to make a real difference and to become the heroes of their own stories.
The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation
Alice B. McGinty
Underneath the New Mexico sky, a Navajo boy named Cody finds that his family's barrels of water are empty. He checks the chicken coop-- nothing. He walks down the road to the horses' watering hole. Dry. Meanwhile, a few miles away, Darlene Arviso drives a school bus and picks up students for school. After dropping them off, she heads to another job: she drives her big yellow tanker truck to the water tower, fills it with three thousand gallons of water, and returns to the reservation, bringing water to Cody's family, and many, many others. Here is the incredible and inspiring true story of a Native American woman who continuously gives back to her community and celebrates her people.
The Water Walker
Joanne Robertson
The determined story of an Ojibwe grandmother (nokomis), Josephine Mandamin, and her great love for nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect nibi for future generations and for all life on the planet. She, along with other women, men and youth, has walked around all the Great Lakes from the four salt waters, or oceans, to Lake Superior. The walks are full of challenges, and by her example she challenges us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.
The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth
Rachel Ignotofsky
Take a journey through the world's ecosystems which chronicles the plants and animals that live there, and explains how they and planet Earth work. Beautifully combining art and science, The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth is an illustrated tour of the planet that reveals ecosystems large and small, from reefs, deserts, and rainforests to ponds, backyard gardens, and even a drop of water. Through exquisite drawings, maps, and infographics, New York Times best-selling author Rachel Ignotofsky makes earth science accessible and entertaining, explaining how our planet works, from its diverse ecosystems and their inhabitants, to the levels of ecology, the importance of biodiversity, the carbon cycle, weather cycles, and more. Perfect for nature-loving readers ages 10 and up.
These Seas Count!
Alison Formento
Mr. Tate's class helps clean up a local beach and listens to the sea as it tells them about all the wildlife that make it their home. One whale, two giant sea turtles, three marlins. . . and more. Of course, the class discovers that "this sea counts!" These Seas Count! explores the environmental impact and importance of the seas, and how crucial it is to keep them healthy. Alison Formento's gentle story and Sarah Snow's amazing collages combine for a powerful message about the environment and what we can do to preserve our oceans.
This Class Can Save the Planet
Stacy Tornio
This Class Can Save the Planet shows students they can have an incredible impact on the environment when they work together. It offers easy ideas kids can implement right away in their own schools and classrooms. This book is perfect for educators and schools because it gives simple, straightforward advice on how to be more sustainable in daily classroom life. It's a perfect book for Earth Day, Earth Month, or any other time of the year to help kids establish good habits. Classrooms are an incredible place for kids to recycle and be more sustainable. This book will show students exactly what they can do to make a difference in their own schools and communities. This Class Can Save the Planet doesn't just talk about how we need to be doing more—it actually gives real, actionable ideas.
Tiny, Perfect Things
M.H. Clark
The whole world is a treasure waiting to be found. Open your eyes and see the wonderful things all around. This is the story of a child and a grandfather whose walk around the neighborhood leads to a day of shared wonder as they discover all sorts of tiny, perfect things together. With rhythmic storytelling and detailed and intricate illustrations, this is a book about how childlike curiosity can transform ordinary days into extraordinary adventures.
Trash Revolution: Breaking the Waste Cycle
Erica Fyvie
All the “stuff” that surrounds us has a life cycle: materials are harvested, the stuff is made and distributed, it's consumed and then it gets trashed or recycled. Using the typical contents of a child's school backpack (defined as water, food, clothing, paper, plastic, metals, electronics), this book explores those stages in detail, including lots of ways to reduce, reuse or recycle waste along the way. Children will gain new insight into the routine decisions they make about their own consuming and trashing or recycling practices.
Turn the Tide
Elaine Dimopoulos
Twelve-year-old Mimi Laskaris is inspired by the Wijsen sisters of Bali to turn her focus from classical piano to a new obsession: forming a grassroots, kid-led movement to ban plastic bags in her new island home in Florida. Written in accessible verse, this timely story of environmental activism has extensive back matter for aspiring activists.
Una casa para cangrejo ermitaño
Eric Carle
¡Pobre Cangrejo Ermitaño! Su ajustado caracol se le ha quedado pequeño, así que encuentra uno más grande, al igual que a muchos nuevos amigos que van a decorar y proteger su nueva casa. Pero ¿qué ocurrirá cuando el nuevo caracol se le quede pequeño y tenga que decir adiós a todas las criaturas marinas que han hecho de la casa del Cangrejo Ermitaño un hogar?
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
Kate Messner
Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt there is a busy world of earthworms digging, snakes hunting, skunks burrowing, and all the other animals that make a garden their home. In this exuberant and lyrical book, discover the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves...and down in the dirt.
Urgent Message from a Hot Planet
Ann Eriksson
Scientists have warned for over 100 years that burning fossil fuels and destroying nature will warm the earth's atmosphere and affect the climate in adverse ways: more severe and intense storms, prolonged heat waves, drought, flooding, wildfires, rising sea levels and ocean acidification. Urgent Message from a Hot Planet: Navigating the Climate Crisis outlines the science behind global heating and its root causes, provides ways to take action and honors the efforts of the millions of youth and adult allies from around the world working tirelessly to make a difference. Their powerful message: do something now!
Waa'aka': The Bird Who Fell in Love with the Sun
Cindi Alvitre
“Waa’aka’ was born when the earth was soft and the waters were new. It was the beginning of time.” So begins Cindi Alvitre’s vivid and multifaceted telling of a traditional Tongva creation story from Southern California. Waa’aka’ follows the title character, a beautiful bird who falls in love with Tamet, the sun, and tries to follow him up to the sky. Accompanied by richly colorful illustrations from Carly Lake, the book touches deftly on themes like the unintended consequences of greed and the importance of working together. A rendition of one of California’s oldest tales, Waa’aka’ is a beautiful children’s book in the classic style.
Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery
Christy Mihaly
Immerse yourself in fascinating facts about water! This comprehensive yet accessible exploration of water will help young readers understand many aspects of one of our planet's most precious resources - and how they can protect it. A friendly water droplet character guides children through topics ranging from melting and freezing to the ways in which water literally shapes the Earth. Tales by storytellers from around the world are sprinkled through the book, highlighting the variety of ways in which global cultures value water. The engaging format includes gatefolds and booklets with hands-on activity ideas for learning about and protecting water.
Watercress
Andrea Wang
Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.
At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.
We Are the Gardeners
Joanna Gaines
Teach children that the greatest rewards come from patience, hard work, and learning from mistakes! In the #1 New York Times bestseller We Are the Gardeners, Joanna Gaines and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything), and all of the knowledge they gain along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden.
We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement that Restores the Planet
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 16-year-old climate activist, hip-hop artist, and powerful new voice on the frontlines of a global youth-led movement. He and his group the Earth Guardians believe that today’s youth will play an important role in shaping our future. They know that the choices made right now will have a lasting impact on the world of tomorrow, and people—young and old—are asking themselves what they can do to ensure a positive, just, and sustainable future. We Rise tells these stories and addresses the solutions.
We Walk Through the Forest
Lisa Ferland
The magic of the forest is calling and it sounds like birds singing and twigs snapping underfoot. What is that up ahead? Is it a butterfly or another animal behind that tree? We Walk Through the Forest follows a spirited young girl and her playful pup as they create wondrous adventures together in the great outdoors. Imaginations run wild as they walk, hop, and sing through the forest. Just how many woodland creatures will they encounter?
What a Waste!
Claire Eamer
What a Waste! explores the problem of garbage and how humans have dealt with it from prehistory to modern times. Topics include how archaeologists study ancient garbage; the growth of consumer culture and disposability; food waste; the environmental effects of garbage; "problem" garbage like electronic and toxic waste; sewage and dead bodies; and garbage in the oceans and in space. Sidebars highlight people and organizations around the world who are making efforts to reduce or reuse waste.
What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet
Jess French
In this informative book on recycling for children, you will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling.
When the World Runs Dry: Earth's Water in Crisis
Nancy F. Castaldo
What would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science writer Nancy Castaldo takes readers from Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey, to Iran and Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the various ways in which water around the world is in danger, why we must act now, and why you’re never too young to make a difference.
Where Do Garbage Trucks Go?
Benjamin Richmond
What is a landfill? What makes some garbage dangerous? Why is it good to recycle? And can we recycle water? Kids see the garbage truck all the time, but this entertaining and educational book will tell them what it does and where it goes, along with other facts about the trash we create and how it affects the environment.
Wonder Walkers
Micha Archer
When two curious kids embark on a “wonder walk,” they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have thought-provoking questions for everything they see: Is the sun the world’s light bulb? Is dirt the world’s skin? Are rivers the earth’s veins? Is the wind the world breathing? I wonder . . . Young readers will wonder too, as they ponder these gorgeous pages and make all kinds of new connections. What a wonderful world indeed!
You Go First
Erin Entrada Kelly
A great choice for kids looking for environmental lit in an urban setting. Charlotte lives in Pennsylvania, and her pen pal, Ben, is in Louisiana, but the two form a bond where they share their family troubles, struggles at school, and concern about increasingly weird weather events. This novel is a great mix of a friendship story with plenty of realistic concerns stirred into the plot.
You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Bees!
Alex Woolf
Without bees, we would, of course, have no honey. But we'd also lose a lot of other foods and useful products like cotton produced by plants that bees pollinate. Around half the fruit and vegetables in our supermarkets would disappear! Not only that, we would also lose the animals that eat these plants, and the animals that eat those animals! Some people are scared of bees, but there's rarely any need to be. Bees will sting in self-defense, but usually they don't disturb humans. Yet we need them. As far as important species are concerned, bees are at the top of the list - you really wouldn't want to live without them!
Young Water Protectors: A Story About Standing Rock
Aslan Tudor
At the not-so-tender age of 8, Aslan arrived in North Dakota to help stop a pipeline. A few months later he returned - and saw the whole world watching. Read about his inspiring experiences in the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock. Learn about what exactly happened there, and why. Be inspired by Aslan’s story of the daily life of Standing Rock’s young water protectors.