Hello! If we haven’t said it lately, we are happy to be sharing our time on this planet with you.

Like all good (intentional) holidays, Earth Day is one we would say is a daily practice and celebration. Just like our bodies, we only get one planet!

There are SO many ways to integrate nature, gratitude for the Earth, climate justice activism, science and natural wonderment into the classroom through literature… but I tried to choose a few that might be a little different/ less obvious. We are indeed a fan of We are Water Protectors currently getting a lot of air time right now, as well as Jane Goodall related books that we’ve written about in the past. Here are a few other sweet picture book options.

*1. My current FAVORITE is The Tree in Me by Corinna Luyken.

I don’t know her but shou-tout to this stupendous fellow Midd grad. The art (like always with her work) is resplendent and celebrates nature in all its glory. What better way to recenter our interconnectedness with the planet than taking care of the trees in ourselves and others? It’s the perfect combination of SEL (social emotional learning) and nature. You won’t regret this one she continuously nails it. The MC is brown, bonus lovely. And for a double bonus if you haven’t checked out her Book of Mistakes it is also A++.

Over and Under the Pond- Black mama and kiddo quietly appreaciating all of the layers of the natural world around them while they float on a pond. It’s peaceful and loving. If you like this one Kate Messner also has Up in the Garden as well as Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow.

Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite - I read this one as an ARC and was charmed by the character and the combination of scientific information and silly fun vibes. It’s Ashley Spires (from The Most Magnificent Thing!) so you know it will be playful and have a message, too.

What’s Inside A Flower? : And Other Questions about Science and Nature - Solid, pretty graphics as it zooms in it highlights how many pieces are in flowers- wow! The experience of this one truly reminds us the depth of each of the living things we see in nature. So complex! So amazing! So much.. vocabulary!

Good Trick Walking Stick - Soft and natural art (not scientific) that worked well and informative. I really did learn about the full life cycle of walking sticks from this one! I also loved the sidebars with added information. Who doesn’t love an info-packed bug book?! If this became a hit Sheri best or also wrote Soar High, Dragonfly for a follow up.

No Ordinary Jacket - Art is the theme apparently (nature and art DO go together so well, Fibonacci sequence, anyone?) This is a heartfelt little story all about resourcefulness, recycling, family, and how time and nature work together. The family looks a lot like my multiethnic crew and that adds extra love to it for me.

The Bug Girl - We’ve had a lot of fun in the past plugging Jane books (she’s a great role model, plus the Kennedy Center had awesome resources to integrate in). The Bug Girl would be my next choice to add to this category. It is a fun non-fiction piece celebrating a young blossoming entomologist (Sophie Spencer) and she helped write it, too! How fun for kids to learn about another kid already deep into the weeds (and bugs) of the studying the natural world and writing about it!

For adult reads that tie in nature AND poetry month (you’re welcome!) I recommend of course, Mary Oliver, Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry (I love this tomb! Nature is for EVERYONE! I read pieces from it all the time and always find something new), and The Carrying by Ada Limon. Ada loves nature and you can just feel it in her poems (TW: Miscarriage/infertility).

Hope you all are riding the waves of life with more ups than downs, and if there are downs that you’ll come up for air soon.

Wishing fresh air and good books for all of you today (and all the days).