Skip to main content

This Earth Day, consider the power that the spare prose and arresting illustrations of children’s literature have in delivering a message.  Children’s books have the ability to teach us a thing or two about the delicate dance that happens between us and our planet. Here are five of the most visually stunning children’s books to celebrate Earth Day:

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Lorax-2
The Lorax combines intense visuals (think bright pink and yellow truffula trees) and lessons that rhyme—a classic tale about saving Mother Earth.

I’ll Follow the Moon written by Stephanie Lisa Tara, illustrated by Lee Edward Fodi

Ill-Follow-The-Moon-3
Awash in images of sea turtles amidst calm and serene blue waters, this story highlights the strong bond between a mother and child and focuses on an endangered species.

The Woodcutter and the Most Beautiful Tree, written and illustrated by Robb N. Johnston

the-woodcutter-and-most-beautiful-tree-1
A woodcutter visits a tree during each of the four seasons and the tree repeatedly uses her wits to avoid the axe. In the end, the woodcutter finds the tree in a very vulnerable state and the unexpected happens.

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Leider

StepGentlyOut2 (1)
Amazing nature photography shows the role of each creature in our earth’s ecosystem.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

giving-tree (1)
This classic tale about a special relationship between a young boy and a generous tree is filled with heartwarming sketches by one of the most popular children’s authors of our time.

 

Genre: Children’s Books, Potpourri
Amanda Harkness

has written for Green Life Guides, LLC, an eco-friendly lifestyle website, and contributed articles for Green Life Guides to Huffington Post Weddings, Huffington Post Green, The Daily Meal and Martha Stewart Weddings. She has also published poetry in the Albion Review, contributes DIY articles to Moxy Magazine and writes entrepreneurial topics for the women’s website, She's Self Employed. In her spare time, Amanda makes hand forged metal jewelry and loves to travel. She has an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University and currently lives in New Haven, CT.

2 Comments

  • ceblain says:

    Our grandchildren all adored the Lorax. it is their very favorite book, especially our three and six year old grandkids. We are so delighted that our daughter loved to read and now her children adore books just like their mother; at holiday time and birthdays they are happiest with a gift card from the bookstore rather than any other gift they could get. What a joy to have children and grandchildren that love to read like this. Thank you for the list of great books for children.

    Sincerely,
    Cynthia

  • Amanda Harkness says:

    Hi Cynthia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the books. I selected many of these children’s books from my nieces collection. It is a joy to read to them.

Leave a Reply