Earth Day is a great time to start conversations with your students about taking care of the planet—but that doesn’t mean you need to plan a big unit. A few great books to teach kids about Earth Day can introduce environmental topics in a way that’s age-appropriate, meaningful, and easy to fit into your day. Whether you’re reading aloud during your regular storytime or tying it into a science lesson, these Earth Day books for first grade give you simple ways to bring big ideas into your classroom.
Why Teach Earth Day with Picture Books?
- They engage young learners. First graders connect with stories, characters, and illustrations. Earth Day books for first grade make complex topics like pollution, conservation, and recycling more understandable.
- They save you time. You don’t need to prep a full unit—just grab a book, read aloud, and follow up with a quick discussion or writing prompt.
- They support your standards. Picture books naturally integrate science, literacy, and social-emotional learning—all while keeping students engaged.
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Earth Day Books for First Grade + Earth Day Classroom Ideas
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
Inspired by Indigenous values and activism, this lyrical picture book follows a young girl who stands up against environmental harm to protect Earth’s water. The poetic language is powerful, and the illustrations are rich and moving.
Why use it for Earth Day:
This book offers a meaningful way to talk about natural resources, water conservation, and standing up for what’s right. After reading, ask students to write or draw what they’d like to protect in nature. It’s also a great tie-in if you’re discussing Indigenous cultures or environmental justice.
The Earth Book by Todd Parr
In classic Todd Parr style, this book uses simple sentences and bold, colorful illustrations to show ways kids can help the Earth—like using both sides of the paper or turning off lights when leaving a room.
Why use it for Earth Day:
It’s quick to read, easy for students to understand, and perfect for generating class discussions. Use it to create an Earth Day pledge wall or to kick off a writing prompt: “One way I can help the Earth is…”
To support this activity, consider using our free Earth Day writing paper, which includes 20 Earth Day writing prompts and 36 Earth Day themed writing paper to suit your students’ needs.
Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals
This rhyming A-to-Z book lists ingredients for compost—from apple cores to zucchini ends. It introduces composting in a way that’s fun, engaging, and easy to understand.
Why use it for Earth Day:
Use this book to explore food waste and the composting process. Follow it with a classroom brainstorm of items that could go in a compost bin, or let students make posters showing what to compost vs. what not to.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
In this beautifully illustrated story, a young boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and helps it grow, eventually transforming an entire city. It’s a gentle but powerful message about persistence and environmental care.
Why use it for Earth Day:
It encourages conversations about how small actions make a big difference. After reading, invite students to create their own “garden” drawings or write about how they could help a place in their community thrive.
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
This fast-paced rhyming book introduces Michael, a green-caped superhero who shows a messy town how to clean up and recycle. It’s full of silly humor but delivers an important environmental message.
Why use it for Earth Day:
Kids love the superhero theme! Use it to introduce a recycling sort game or have students write about their own “Eco Hero” powers on the free Earth Day writing paper and what they’d do to help the planet.
The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Set in the Amazon rainforest, this story follows a man who falls asleep under a kapok tree. As he sleeps, the animals of the forest whisper reasons why he shouldn’t cut it down. The lush illustrations and gentle text create a moving story about conservation.
Why use it for Earth Day:
It introduces ecosystems and the importance of trees. Use this book to start conversations about deforestation or animal habitats. Students can choose an animal from the story and write about what it would say to protect its home.
10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh
Each page of this book presents a simple, concrete action kids can take—like recycling, turning off the faucet, or walking instead of driving. The die-cut pages and bold visuals make it extra engaging.
Why use it for Earth Day:
Pair this book with a class-made list of Earth-friendly actions. Use it as a writing prompt, have students illustrate their favorite idea, or create a classroom goal (e.g., turning off lights during recess).
Don’t Throw That Away! by Lara Bergen
This board book features flaps that show how to reuse common items—like turning an old jar into a vase or a cardboard box into a toy. It’s quick and interactive.
Why use it for Earth Day:
It’s especially great for early readers or quick Earth Day mini-lessons. Use it before a recycling-themed art project or classroom reuse challenge. Kids can brainstorm their own ideas for giving used items a second life. Want to take it further? Try the reuse-and-recycle STEM challenge featured in our Earth Day Classroom Activities blog—it’s low-prep and always a student favorite.
Earth Day Picture Books For Kids
Earth Day is a great time to tie together reading, writing, and science—but it doesn’t have to take a full week of planning. These first grade Earth Day read-alouds can do a lot: spark discussion, build new vocabulary, and help your students think about how they can take care of the planet. Whether you’ve got time for one quick read-aloud or a few days of themed activities, these Earth Day books make it easy to keep things purposeful and age-appropriate.
Looking for more ways to celebrate Earth Day in your classroom? Check out these simple Earth Day classroom ideas for first grade teachers.
Don’t Forget the Free Earth Day Writing Paper
To make your Earth Day plans even easier, we’ve created a free set of Earth Day writing paper with 20 ready-to-use Earth Day writing prompts. Use them after a read-aloud, during your writing block, or to create a quick Earth Day bulletin board. The set includes two types of lines, space to draw, and even a simple craft page—so you can meet your students where they are, without adding more prep to your plate. Download them here.
