We’ve brought together our favourite books all about looking after the planet. From animals and the ocean to recycling and conservation, they’ll encourage your child’s interest in the world around them.
It’s a way to engage them with important issues around climate change and looking after our environment in an age-appropriate way.
Baby to 3 years old
Don’t Throw That Away! by Lara Bergen
Follow an eco-conscious superhero as he teaches kids how to recycle and reuse common household items in this lift-the-flap adventure.
Eco Baby: Oceans by Lorna Freytag
Find out why oceans are important, how they're under threat and what we can do to protect them. With bright, bold illustrations and simple text, Eco Baby: Oceans is perfect for little ones... because we're never too young to start caring about the planet.
Look After Us by Rod Campbell
Lift the sturdy card flaps to discover five different endangered animals in their natural habitats. Look After Us has a positive message about the importance of looking after our world and the animals that live in it.
3 to 5 years old
Ten Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh
A simple book for small children, revealing ten things that everyone can do to help conserve their world. These include turning off the television properly, walking to school and turning off lights when leaving a room.
Tidy by Emily Gravett
Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf ends with the complete destruction of the forest! Will Pete realise the error of his ways and set things right?
Somebody Swallowed Stanley by Sarah Roberts
This book tells the story of the problems a simple plastic bag can create in the oceans and all the creatures the bag might meet on its journey.
The Coral Kingdom by Laura Knowles
Through gentle rhyme and artwork, this book explores the life cycle, diversity and colour of the coral reef ecosystem, as well as the threats the reef faces, and what we can do to save it.
The Girl Who Planted Trees by Caryl Hart
One small girl inspires her whole village to plant a beautiful forest on the mountain. In this lyrical and hopeful picture book, one girl's imagination, determination and positivity motivates a whole community to work together to create something amazing that will last forever.
5 to 8 years old
Be Green! by Mandy Archer
This activity book encourages young people to colour, doodle and DIY their way to living a more responsible, sustainable life.
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax is the original eco warrior as he tries to save the Truffula trees from the greedy once-ler’s axe. Dr Seuss’s trademark zany pictures and unique rhyme, rhythm and repetition are all found in this wonderful book.
The Water Princess by Georgie badiel
Clean drinking water is scarce in Gie Gie's small African village. And try as she might, she cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.
What A Waste by Jess French
This environmental book will teach keen young ecologists about how our actions affect planet earth. As well as explaining where we're going wrong, it also explains the plans already in motion to save our seas, how countries are implementing schemes that are having a positive impact, and how your waste can be turned into something useful.
9 to 12 years old
This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World! by Isabel Thomas
Our planet needs your help! But the good news is that there are loads of easy ways that you can make a difference. From throwing a planet party and ditching straws, to banning glitter and becoming an art-activist, helping to save the planet is not as difficult as you think.
Plastic Sucks! by Dougie Poynter
Plastic is everywhere and it sucks. It fills up our oceans, endangers our wildlife and never goes away. This book covers the history of plastic, introduces us to some key campaigners and eco-entrepreneurs, and is full of top tips and infographics.
Astonishing Art with Recycled Rubbish by Susan Martineau
Help the environment by turning junk into amazing works of art. Make an onion fish out of real onion skins, a jewelled collar from can pulls and even mega mosaics with eggshells!
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul
Discover the inspiring true story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman who started a recycling movement to combat the pollution caused by plastic bags in her community.
Trailblazers: Jane Goodall by Anita Ganeri
How did Jane Goodall become the world’s leading chimpanzee expert? Find out what led this animal-loving trailblazer to dedicate her life to learning about monkeys and share her amazing discoveries with the world.
