We’ve put together a list of ten of the most beautiful children’s picture books about nature.
These books will educate and inspire your children to develop a deep sense of love and appreciation for nature.
My Wild Cat
By: Isabelle Simler
A merciless hunter, an unrivaled expert in stealth and deception—a cat is no ordinary pet! Sure, he may look harmless as he snoozes on the sofa, or under the rug, or on top of the radiator. Sure, he may seem sweet as he snuggles a stuffed animal, but don’t let that fool you! When you least expect it, he’ll pounce…
From beloved creator Isabelle Simler comes a sly, hilarious read sure to delight cat lovers of all ages.
Purchase My Wild Cat at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
A Different Story
By: Adolfo Serra
A merciless hunter, an unrivaled expert in stealth and deception—a cat is no ordinary pet! Sure, he may look harmless as he snoozes on the sofa, or under the rug, or on top of the radiator. Sure, he may seem sweet as he snuggles a stuffed animal, but don’t let that fool you! When you least expect it, he’ll pounce…
From beloved creator Isabelle Simler comes a sly, hilarious read sure to delight cat lovers of all ages.
Purchase A Different Story at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
A Year with Mama Earth
By: Rebecca Grabill & Rebecca Green
In September, Mama Earth sighs out the first autumn frost, which crunches under children’s feet. Mama Earth looks after nature’s plants and animals throughout the year—singing lullabies to fat bears in the fall, dressing evergreens in icicles in winter, and waking up the crocuses in spring. And in the summer, Mama Earth sends warm sunbeams to her beloved children, so they can play outside and enjoy the amazing world around them.
With enchanting text and radiant artwork, A Year with Mama Earth offers a joyous celebration of nature’s beauty and the changing seasons.
Purchase A Year with Mama Earth at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Birdie
By Eileen Spinelli
A relatable novel-in-verse about loss… and what happens afterwards
Twelve-year-old Birdie Briggs loves birds. They bring her comfort when she thinks about her dad, a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty. Life without her dad isn’t easy, but at least Birdie still has Mom and Maymee, and her friends Nina and Martin.
But then Maymee gets a boyfriend, Nina and Martin start dating, and Birdie’s mom starts seeing a police officer. And suddenly not even her beloved birds can lift Birdie’s spirits. Her world is changing, and Birdie wishes things would go back to how they were before. But maybe change, painful as it is, can be beautiful too.
With compelling verse and a lighthearted touch, Eileen Spinelli captures the poignancy of adolescence and shows what can happen when you let people in.
Purchase Birdie at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Lucy wants a pet more than anything, even though her mom always says no. But one night, Lucy hears a scratching sound from behind her wallpaper, and a ghostly cat named Silvring appears. Silvring takes Lucy on an adventure and introduces her to a world filled with secret pets just like hers. Not all the secret pets are as friendly as Silvring, though.
Filled with magical realism, this beautiful book will resonate with animal lovers of all ages.
Purchase The Secret Cat at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
A Story That Grows
Written & Illustrated by Gilles Bachelet
Reading stories is a cherished bedtime ritual, a special moment that parents savor with their children—no matter what their species! In this funny yet tender book, a stork reads to her chick in their rooftop nest, a walrus tucks his calf into an igloo cradle, and an alien tells his child a story in zero gravity.
Both parents and children will fall in love with the adorable cast of characters in this charming book.
Purchase A Story That Grows at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
The Second Sky
Written by Patrick Guest
Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley
Ever since he first hatched, Gilbert has wanted to fly. But with his big, clumsy feet and small, fluffy wings, learning to fly is a bigger challenge than Gilbert anticipated. His fellow penguins tell him to give up, but Gilbert is sure that if he keeps trying, he’ll be able to soar…
Young readers will fall in love with this sweet, motivating story about overcoming obstacles and discovering your hidden talents.
Purchase The Second Sky at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
From the celebrated creator of Plume and The Blue Hour comes another enchanting animal book. Countless cozy animals are settling in for the night, but they all sleep in different ways. A bat dreams upside down, a hedgehog snuggles into a pile of leaves, and a humpback whale spins in its sleep like a ballerina.
With its poetic language and lush illustrations, Sweet Dreamers will dazzle young readers as they drift off to sleep themselves.
Purchase Sweet Dreamers at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Manger
By: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Helen Cann
There is a legend that describes how, at midnight on Christmas Eve, all creatures are granted the power of speech for one hour. In this rich collection, Lee Bennett Hopkins and a dozen other poets imagine what responses they might offer. The poems represent a diverse group of animals, but all come together with one singular purpose: celebrating the joy of the miraculous event.
This collection of graceful poems provides readers with a Nativity story unlike any other — at times gently humorous, at times profound, but always inviting readers to appreciate the wonder of Christmas. This book is a perfect gift for the holiday season.
Includes poems by…
- Lee Bennett Hopkins
- Joan Bransfield Graham
- Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
- X. J. Kennedy
- Jude Mandell
- Marilyn Nelson
- Jane Yolen
- Ann Whitford Paul
- Prince Redcloud
- Rebecca Kai Dotlich
- Michele Krueger
- Alma Flor Ada
- Alice Schertle
Purchase Manger at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
Snowmen Live Forever
Written and illustrated by Thierry Dedieu
Squirrel, Hedgehog, Rabbit, and Owl love visiting the Snowman. He always tells the best stories, about natural wonders and faraway places. But when spring arrives, the Snowman disappears. The four animals are devastated, until they learn that melting snow flows toward the sea. Realizing that the Snowman isn’t really gone, they all set off on a mission to find their friend.
Purchase Snowmen Live Forever at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local bookstore.
