Book Recommendations
These are some of my favorite non-fiction MG/YA and picture book selections related to nature. Skip to certain topics by using the headings below.
Plants
MG/YA Ecology
Plants
A Seed is Sleepy
by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
Teaching about seeds is one of my favorite topics as a Naturalist / Educator. This book touches on so much fascinating information about seeds—the range of sizes from the smallest to the largest, why seeds want to travel and the amazing ways they do, and how a seed starts to grow. The pictures and text are so engaging—great for teaching kids in a unit about seeds or plants. (Grade Level: K-4th, great for 1st-3rd)
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate
This book takes such a fascinating topic, why flowers are a certain color or shape and how that shape or color attracts pollinators, and makes it fun and relatable to kids. Kids will love the humor of this book. (Grade Level: K-5, great for 2nd-4th)
by Sara Levine and Masha D’yans
The Reason for a Flower
This book is an oldie but a goodie. Man, I love it! I love the illustrations and the rhyming text that ingeniously teaches so much about botany. And both the illustrations and text are done by Ruth Heller! Time and time again when I’m teaching, kids (and adults) are fascinated by the simple concept that the purpose of flowers is to ‘manufacture seeds’ (in Ruth’s words). (Grade Level: K-5th, great for 1st-2nd)
by Ruth Heller
Bloom Boom!
Fields of flowers are one of my happy places. This book is fun and joyous with beautiful pictures captured by the great April Pulley Sayre. A perfect introductory book for units in preschool on plants and seeds and to talk about how a little seed can wait and wait and then when it gets that water, it blooms! (Grade Level: PS-3rd, great for PS-K)
by April Pulley Sayre
Perfectly Peculiar Plants
Bright and lively illustrations and interesting, informative text make Perfectly Peculiar Plants an awesome non-fiction picture book! This one is great for older kids too. Learning about plants from all over the world is fun with Thorogood’s accessible descriptions. Carnivorous plants, rare plants, plants with interesting adaptations to their environment—so many cool plants are included in this book. (Grade Level: PK-8th, great for 2nd-4th)
by Chris Thorogood and Catell Ronca
Moving Words about a Flower
Dandelions are a wonderful flower for demonstrating that a flower’s job is to manufacture seeds. One, they’re everywhere and two, you can see the change very obviously from that happy yellow flower to a white fluffy seed ball. Kids will love this book with its fun pictures and ‘moving’ words. (Grade Level: K-5, great for K-3rd)
by K.C. Hayes and Barbara Chotiner
MG/YA Ecology
Nature’s Best Hope: How You Can Save the World in Your Own Yard
By Douglas W. Tallamy and Adapted by Sarah L. Thomson
The adult version of this book made a huge impact on me. I love this version for its clear explanations for kids and teens and its concrete ways that kids can help make a difference. Action helps with mental health when you’re worried about climate change. (Grade Level: 3-6, Best for 4th-5th)
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults
By Robin Wall Kimmerer, Adapted by Monique Gray Smith and Illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt
If you have any inkling that a connection to our natural world is important to you, you should read this book. Through stories, inspiring words, and clear explanations, the authors increase reader’s understanding of the natural world. (Grade Level: 7-12, Best for any teenager interested in ecology)