Earth Day Read Alouds
April is flying by, which means it is almost Earth Day! I’m a proponent of including conservation and environmental responsibility in our learning as naturally as possible (shout out to the Science teachers at my school who do some amazing work with students covering water testing, erosion, soil analysis, invasive plants, and more). However, it’s always worth acknowledging Earth Day and joining in the celebration. We wrote a post last year with some Earth Day picture book favorites, and here are a few more options for this year.
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney: I’ve had this book since I was a child and now have a t-shirt to match! It’s worth a read for the gorgeous illustrations alone and is also a great goal setting/resolutions read too. However, make sure you address the “Indians” her grandfather was carving to put in front of cigar shops. It’s a stereotypical image of American Indians. There is such little representation of American Indians in children’s literature so we don’t want to reinforce a stereotype with one of the few images students might see. You can read more from Debbie Reese on her invaluable blog, American Indians in Children’s Literature, here.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown: I met Peter Brown at an author visit at Books Are Magic and have visited the High Line (in NYC) which is the inspiration for the book. Those are both fun anecdotes to share with students, but really this book is such a great read for so many reasons! It appeals to city kids in particular as many Earth Day books do not take place in urban settings. I’ve used it for so many purposes and students love finding Liam, the gardener and main character, on each page.
Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood and Sally Wern Comport: this is a true story! While this book is on my “to read” list, I love the opportunity to learn about Paraguay and find it on a map, as well as think about socio-economic concerns and how not everyone can afford to take music lessons on top of the clear environmental message of recycling and turning trash into treasures.
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon. Another true story that is still on my “to read” list, this book shares the story of Isatou Ceesay in Njau, Gambia. She fought against the idea that young women can’t be leaders and created an amazing movement focused around reusing plastic bags to benefit her community.
Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: 25 Tales of Women Who Protect the Earth by Rebel Girls. Another Rebel Girls series, this one focuses on sharing stories of women all over the world fighting for climate justice.
The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics by Susan Hood is yet another book I still want to read, but the excerpts I’ve seen include lovely nonfiction poems about kid activists fighting to protect the environment. Plus, the book includes a timeline, author’s note, further resources, and more to encourage students to keep learning. (I included this as well as the next book in our National Poetry Month post as they work on both fronts!)
Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know by Brittany Luby and illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is a bilingual Anishinaabemowin and English book showing how a young girl and her grandmother know when a new season is starting. This book is also on my “to read” list, but seems like it has potential to be a wonderful mentor text. The sense of being aware of the earth as well as grateful for the changes each season bring make this a lovely Earth Day read aloud. The author is of Anishinaabe descent and the illustrator is of Ojibwe descent.
A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis is a book full of nature riddles! Gabby recommended it as something fun and a great potential mentor text.
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall is a gorgeous book celebrating our planet and our shared humanity. Perfect for Earth Day and for little ones, it reminds us to take care of each other and our planet.
Happy Earth Day!