My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan
Celebrate Earth Day with this valentine to our wonderful planet from the Newbery Award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Our friend Earth does so many wonderful things! She tends to animals large and small. She pours down summer rain and autumn leaves. She sprinkles whisper-white snow and protects the tiny seeds waiting for spring.
Readers of all ages will pore over the pages of this spectacular book. Its enticing die-cut pages encourage exploration as its poetic text celebrates everything Earth does for us, all the while reminding us to be a good friend in return.
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
The inspiring true story of how one African woman began a movement to recycle the plastic bags that were polluting her community.
Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred.
The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads. Water pooled in them, bringing mosquitoes and disease. Some bags were burned, leaving behind a terrible smell. Some were buried, but they strangled gardens. They killed livestock that tried to eat them. Something had to change.
Fantastically Great Women who Saved the Planet by Kate Pankhurst
From deep in the ocean, around the Antarctic to the heart of a Tanzanian forest, women throughout history have made discoveries that have shown us just how amazing the Earth is and why we should look after it. Read about how Antarctic researcher Edith Farkas helped identify the hole in the Ozone Layer and made the whole world realise the effect of pollution and how Daphne Sheldrick's love for wildlife inspired her to care for young elephants who had been orphaned in the wild. In the Gambia, Isatou Ceesay is spreading the message about the damaging consequences of plastic waste and educates women in local communities about recycling. In the UK, Anita Roddick led the charge for ethical consumerism when she opened her cosmetics store, The Body Shop in 1976.
The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins
Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens.
Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she’d live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees.
What are some of your favorite books about the environment
for kids? For adults? Sharing is caring and we’re always looking for something to read!
Today we celebrate Earth and consider how we can be better stewards of our one and only planet.
Check out our book recommendations for books that raise awareness of Earth's needs and celebrate the women who've worked to save our planet. (This post contains affiliate links.)