Nature is full of wonder, and young children are natural explorers! The changing seasons, a seed pushing through the soil, a sunrise, and a walk through the woods are all rich with opportunities to observe, discover, and connect with the living world. When children learn to notice and appreciate nature early, they develop curiosity, a sense of wonder, and a growing respect for the earth and everything it provides.

Books are a wonderful way to nurture that connection. Whether a story follows the quiet magic of a sunrise, a child exploring their neighborhood park on a spring day, or a tiny seed growing into a flower, each one invites children to slow down, look closely, and feel at home in the natural world. Stories also open the door to important conversations about caring for our planet and the small but meaningful ways we can all help.

Below you will find ten books for young children that celebrate nature, the seasons, and our shared responsibility to care for the Earth. Each title includes a talking tip to help spark conversation and curiosity, whether you are reading together indoors or stepping outside to explore.  We hope these stories inspire many adventures!

Buenas Noches, Vegetales / Goodnight, Veggies

Written by Diana Murray
Illustrated by Zachariah O’Hora

As the sun begins to set, the tomatoes are tuckered out, the cucumbers are calm, and the beets are simply beat. Celebrate the turning of day to night with a perfect bedtime ritual for plants and humans everywhere with this bilingual board book.

Age level: 0 – 2 years

Talking Tip: This book goes through the bedtime routine for many vegetables. Ask your child what steps they also do or what they may add to their own routine.

Plant the Tiny Seed

Written & Illustrated by Christie Matheson

Enjoy this interactive book that invites children to tap, clap, and wiggle their way through the life of a tiny seed as it grows into a beautiful flower. A fun, hands-on book that brings the garden to life and is perfect to read again and again.

Age level: 0 – 5 years

Talking Tip: Join in all the actions as you read together—tap, clap, and wiggle along. After reading, talk about what a seed needs to grow. Ask your child what plants they would want in their very own garden. Try planting one together at home or in a cup on a sunny windowsill.

Hooray for Hoppy

Written & Illustrated by Tim Hopgood

Follow the journey of a rabbit who wakes up on the first day of spring and discovers a whole new world. Explore all five senses of smell, hearing, taste, sight, and touch with this bright book.

Age level: 2 – 4 years

Talking Tip: As you follow the rabbit’s sensory journey, have your child also think of examples from their own day. Ask: What did your dessert taste like? or What do your clothes feel like?

Change Starts with Us

Written & Illustrated by Sophie Beer

Change begins by planting trees, turning off faucets, and recycling. Change Starts With Us encourages environmental activism, showing young readers they can care for the earth through actions like biking and picking up litter. Through illustrations, this storybook emphasizes everyone’s power to build a better world.

Age level: 2 – 5 years

Talking Tip: As you read, talk with your child about how we can all help take care of the Earth. Ask: What can we do to save water at home? How do we help plants grow? 

On your next walk, point out recycling bins, reusable bottles, and other ways people care for our planet, and let your child know that even small actions make a big difference.

BONUS: Check out Tandem’s storybook activity guide for Change Starts with Us!

It’s Spring!

Written & Illustrated by Renee Kurilla

It’s Spring! is a fun rhyming book that describes all the things happening in the springtime, from weather to plants and allergies. Let’s celebrate all things spring, together!

Age level: 3 – 5 years

Talking Tip: After sharing this book, ask your child about their favorite and least favorite things about spring.

Dawn

Written & Illustrated by Marc Martin

As the sun slowly rises, many things happen in a small window of time. The world comes alive with the actions of animals, plants, clouds, and sky. This is a beautifully illustrated book that highlights the wonder of a sunrise and the life that unfolds as time passes.

Age level: 3 – 6 years

Talking Tip: This book has very few words. Ask your child to talk about what they see with each illustration. Pause on each page, point to the animals, plants, and colors and name them together. Afterwards, go outside and look around, ask:  What do you notice? Do you hear any birds? Can you find something growing?

Connecting the book to the real world helps little ones discover the wonder in everyday moments.

On a Mushroom Day

Written & Illustrated by Chris Baker

Join a child and their parent on a walk through the woods, sharing the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest as they observe and identify all kinds of amazing mushrooms together. Includes a glossary of mushrooms with drawings and information, fun facts about fungi, and tips for how to have your very own mushroom day.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: Head outside and look for fungi, moss, or other small plants growing in unexpected places. Talk about what you find and ask your child what they notice about the shapes, colors, and textures they find. Nature is full of surprises when you slow down and look closely together.

One Earth

Written by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Rogérico Coelho

This beautiful counting book celebrates our planet and showcases the many easy ways to take care of it.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: This book shares different ways we can take care of our planet in our day-to-day life. Ask your child if they can think of things that they already do that help the planet. Ask if they can think of new things they would like to try together.

What’s New, Daniel?

Written & Illustrated by Micha Archer

Daniel explores his neighborhood park and discovers all the new things happening as spring arrives. Birds return, ducklings hatch, and polliwogs grow legs. A simple question from his grandpa sparks Daniel’s curiosity and shows us that nature is always changing right outside our door.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: Take a walk or visit the park and look for signs of the season together. Point out changes in plants, trees, and animals and encourage your child to look closely at the small things all around them.

Dream for the Land

Written by Laekan Zea Kemp
Illustrated by Leo Espinoza

A young girl and her family tend their drought-stricken farm, watching land that was once green and full of life slowly dry up. When she finds a horned toad, she makes a wish for rain and a healthier Earth. A story about family, hope, and caring for the land we share that invites us to think about tending the earth, and the impact we all have on the world around us.

Age level: 4 – 8 years

Talking Tip: Talk with your child about where food comes from and what plants need to grow. Ask what they would wish for if they could make the Earth healthier. Talk about ways to care for the earth together, like watering a plant, picking up litter on a walk, or starting a little garden at home.