“Just a Dream” by Chris Van Allsburg 

The book is about a young boy who travels to the future to discover a world where trees are cut down for one toothpick, pollution is so bad you can no longer see the Grand Canyon, and cars are stuck in an endless traffic jam. Because of his journey, the young boy realizes how important it is to keep the planet healthy.

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2. “The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean”

“The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean” by Deborah Diesen, 

In the book, the fish realize that the big mess they see in their ocean was created by them. They learn how to work together to get rid of the mess and what they can do to make sure it never comes back. It’s a good book to help children understand that everyone needs to work together to help protect our environment.

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3. “The EARTH Book”

“The EARTH Book” by Todd Parr is a great way to help kids learn about conservation and environmental protection.

The book highlights incredibly simple ways children can help take care of the environment, such as turning off the water when they brush their teeth or taking reusable shopping bags to the market. It then follows these actions with a because statement to make the message more meaningful and show children exactly why we take these steps.

Even better, this eco-friendly book practices what it preaches. It’s printed with recycled materials and non-toxic soy inks.

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4. “Can We Save the Tiger?”

Extinction is an intimidating concept for children to understand. Yet Martin Jenkins does so with facts and a touch of optimism in “Can We Save the Tiger?”

Jenkins covers a variety of endangered species that need our help, from the tiny partula snail to the mighty tiger, and illustrator Vicky White does an amazing job of showcasing these animals in her portraits.

While reading this book, children learn that we CAN save the tiger. It just requires some hard work and smart, sustainable decisions about how we live.

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5. “One Plastic Bag”

We all understand how important it is to reduce our plastic use, and “One Plastic Bag” by Miranda Paul creates a story that helps children grasp this concept.

It started with just one plastic bag dropped along the side of the road. But then the bags kept accumulating, and they began hurting animals, people, and the environment.

That’s when a young girl named Isatou Ceesay comes up with a way to recycle the bags and help her community.

Not only does this book help teach children about the importance of cutting back on using plastic, but it also shows how one person can truly make a big difference.

Related: 50+ Awesome Alternatives to Plastic

6. “The Lorax”

While you might begin to think that it’s too late to save the Truffula Trees, the final pages of the book teach us that one seed and one small child can make all the difference.

Related: How to Reduce Paper Towel Use

7. “10 Things I Can Do to Help My World”

“10 Things I Can Do to Help My World” by Melanie Walsh is one of the best children’s books about sustainability because it gives kids actionable steps they can take to go green.

The book includes helpful and easy suggestions that every child manage, such as using both sides of the paper when drawing or coloring and turning off the water while brushing teeth.

Not only do these steps help children feel like they’re contributing, but they also get children applying eco-friendly practices from a young age, which makes it easier for these habits to stick.

Related: Best Sustainable Clothing for Children

8. “Why Should I?” Series

If you’ve spent any time around young children, you know one of their favorite questions is, “Why”. Jen Green uses this natural curiosity to help kids understand sustainability with her “Why Should I?” series.

In “Why Should I Recycle?” Jen uses entertaining stories to show why it’s important for us to recycle. “Why Should I Save Water?” talks about the importance of clean water and goes over several ways children and their families can conserve water.

It’s easy for kids to take electricity for granted because it’s something they never see. In “Why Should I Save Energy?” children discover the importance of electricity and simple energy-saving concepts.

The final book in the series is “Why Should I Protect Nature?” In this book, children learn the importance of respecting trees, flowers, and animals by not littering.

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9. “We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers”

In “We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers” by Lauren Child, a young girl named Lola learns about recycling. She then discovers she can get her very own live tree if she wins a recycling contest. But she only has two weeks to finish the competition.

That’s when she decides to ask her classmates for help and discovers that they’re all extremely very good recyclers.

This is a really cute story that’s perfect for teaching young children about recycling. It’s also printed on FSC-approved paper, includes plenty of helpful recycling tips, and comes with a tree poster just like Lola’s.

10. “Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth”

Composting is becoming more common in households around the world. While it’s incredibly simple to compost, many people still have questions about how it works, especially children. 

If you and your family are getting ready to start a compost pile, “Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth” by Mary McKenna Siddals is an excellent resource to get.

This is the perfect book to provide all the answers kids and families have about composting. It explains how to start a compost pile, what’s safe to put in it, why it’s important, and how it works.

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