Climate Conscious Earth Day Reads

By Kat La Mantia | March 20 2024 | AdultsChildren'sGeneralAllGiftBlog

April 22 is Earth Day! With another record-breaking summer approaching, combatting climate change is more important than ever. This Earth Day, discover new ways you can help save the planet with books on recycling, sustainable living, reconnecting with nature, and more! Make a difference in your own home by reducing plastic waste or planting a native garden. Coordinate with your community to clean up a local river or fight for change in your local government. Cook eco-friendly with one-pot recipes designed to eliminate food waste and save water.

Kids are more interested in sustainability than ever before, with climate change consistently ranking as a major concern among kids and teens in polls. Favorite characters like Dr. Seuss’s Lorax or loveable mouse Maisy can help young children learn more about nature and how to protect the environment. Tweens and teens can read about real life changemakers like Greta Thunberg and Wangari Maathai with Rebel Girls Climate Warriors, or get inspired to tackle their own environmental projects like youth activist Ashley Lukashevsky in Taking on the Plastics Crisis.

When we all pitch in, we can all make a difference. Explore our sustainability title lists below, and celebrate Earth Day with some of our favorite climate conscious reads!

Sustainability – Adult
Sustainability – Kids

H Is for Hope
Climate Change from A to Z
978-1-9848-6352-2
In twenty-six essays—one for each letter of the alphabet—the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction takes us on a hauntingly illustrated journey through the history of climate change and the uncertainties of our future.
$24.99 US
Mar 26, 2024
7-3/8 x 9-1/8
Hardcover
160 Pages
Ten Speed Press

A Kids Book About Climate Change
978-0-7440-9468-8
Explore the impact of climate change and empower kids to be proactive to protect our world.
$19.99 US
Mar 12, 2024
7-11/16 x 10-1/16
Hardcover
72 Pages
DK Children
Age 5-9 years

Good News, Planet Earth
What’s Being Done to Save Our World, and What You Can Do Too!
978-0-7440-8158-9
Join sustainability enthusiast and climate activist Sam Bentley as he shares the hopeful developments combating climate change!
$18.00 US
Jun 13, 2023
5-13/16 x 7-9/16
Paperback
224 Pages
DK

Green Machines and Other Amazing Eco-Inventions
A Dr. Seuss's The Lorax Nonfiction Book
978-0-593-48804-1
Join the Lorax—Dr. Seuss's beloved icon of environmentalism—as he introduces readers to nine real, incredible eco-inventions and empowers children to think creatively in this rhymed easy-reader, which includes a fun brainstorming activity!
$9.99 US
Mar 05, 2024
6-1/2 x 9
Hardcover
48 Pages
Random House Books for Young Readers
Age 5-9 years

365 Ways to Save the Planet
A Day-by-day Guide to Sustainable Living
978-0-7440-7751-3
A 365-day guide to step-by-step sustainability, bursting with actionable ideas and measurable goals across the year
$18.99 US
Apr 04, 2023
5-13/16 x 7-9/16
Paperback
192 Pages
DK

Can I Recycle This?
A Kid's Guide to Better Recycling and How to Reduce Single-Use Plastics
978-0-593-20407-8
You probably know that you're supposed to recycle—but you may not know how or why. This adaptation of the successful adult book, written by a lawyer and sustainability expert, will answer all your recycling questions.
$18.99 US
Mar 14, 2023
8 x 9
Hardcover
40 Pages
Viking Books for Young Readers
Age 4-8 years

How to Unf*ck the Planet a Little Bit Each Day
978-1-922417-07-7
In this climate crisis, it's easy to feel helpless. This book offers practical choices and changes we can make to start unf*cking the climate.
$16.95 US
Feb 02, 2021
6-2/3 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
108 Pages
Smith Street Books

Happy Earth Day!
978-0-593-56669-5
This fact-filled Little Golden Book is about Earth Day—what it is and why it's important—and offers suggestions for actions kids can take to help protect and heal our planet.
$5.99 US
Feb 14, 2023
6-5/8 x 8
Hardcover
24 Pages
Golden Books
Age 2-5 years

F**k Plastic
101 Ways to Free Yourself from Plastic and Save the World
978-1-9848-2602-2
This adorably illustrated, empowering little book with a big message shares 101 practical, proactive, and, above all, simple tips on how to cut single-use plastic from your life.
$12.99 US
Apr 02, 2019
5 x 7
Hardcover
128 Pages
Rodale Books

Who Is Greta Thunberg?: A Who Was? Board Book
978-0-593-38430-5
The latest addition to the Who HQ program: board book biographies of relevant and important figures, created specifically for the preschool audience!
$7.99 US
Oct 04, 2022
7 x 7
Board Book
24 Pages
Rise x Penguin Workshop
Age 2-4 years

The Bucket List Eco Experiences
Traveling the World, Sustaining the Earth
978-0-7893-4122-8
A bucket list focused on sustainable travel featuring 1,000 vacation ideas that are eco-friendly, respectful of local cultures, and highlight opportunities to give back
$35.00 US
Nov 01, 2022
6-5/8 x 8-7/8
Hardcover
416 Pages
Universe

One Turtle's Last Straw
The Real-Life Rescue That Sparked a Sea Change
978-0-593-37246-3
The inspiring true story of how one small turtle and kids all over the country sparked an environmental movement. Based on the viral video that created awareness of the harm caused by plastic straws, this heart-wrenching story is a perfect tool for teaching children about sustainability.
$17.99 US
May 10, 2022
11 x 9
Hardcover
40 Pages
Crown Books for Young Readers
Age 4-8 years

Mothering Earth
The Busy Family's Guide to Saving the Planet
978-1-62354-557-4
This Earth—and money—saving guide to sustainable living empowers families everywhere to fight climate change by making practical lifestyle changes—at home at their own pace.
$24.99 US
Oct 10, 2023
5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Hardcover
288 Pages
Imagine

Recycle and Remake
Creative Projects for Eco Kids
DK
978-1-4654-8984-5
Kids are on a mission to save the Earth! Recycle and Remake is the hands-on, practical guide you need to get started.This gentle, but empowering book is full of creative making activities, information, and ideas that give young eco-warriors (like you!) the know-how to really help the environment.With Recycle and Remake, you will soon be saving trees by making your own seeded recycled paper from junk mail, cleaning up the oceans by turning old carrier bags into kites, friendship bracelets, and colorful weaved baskets and repurposing a cardboard box into a periscope.You'll also learn about sustainable energies by creating a simple solar oven, cutting down on cling-film by making a food wrap from scrap cotton and beeswax, and turning an old t-shirt into a reusable tote bag so you never need to buy a plastic carrier bag again. You can even grow new plants to clean the air in your own upcycled milk bottle planters and using homemade compost.Each of the activities directly relates to an environmental hot topic, such as plastic pollution, food waste, or deforestation. Budding environmentalists all over the world are feeling inspired to do their bit for our unique planet.
$14.99 US
Mar 31, 2020
7-1/2 x 10
Hardcover
48 Pages
DK Children
Age 6-9 years