The 25+ Best Earth Day Books For 2nd Grade:
A List To Celebrate Planet Earth

Celebrate Earth Day with your 2nd grader by exploring kid-friendly books that teach about the planet's life cycle, Mother Earth's importance, and stories that celebrate our home. Look for books with engaging illustrations and fun facts. We've compiled a list of the best Earth Day books for 2nd grade that include true stories, fiction, and nonfiction, with a focus on different aspects of the natural world. Let these books be a conversation starter about how we can care for the environment every day of the year.

Table of Content:

·       Fiction

·       Stories Inspired by Real People

·       Non-Fiction

1. The Lorax: Special How to Save the Planet Edition by Dr Seuss 

Celebrate Earth Day with Dr. Seuss and the Lorax in this classic picture book about sustainability and protecting the environment! Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and to stand up and speak up for others. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference. Never too young to teach responsibility for the environment. I always give this book as a baby gift". – Amazon review by M. Walbrun

Ages: From 4+ years and up 

At Reading Quests, we love hearing & seeing books in different formats. So be sure to check out this great video from @ Book in Bed on The Lorax by Dr Seuss!

2. Miss Fox’s Class Goes Green by Eileen Spinelli

Eileen Spinelli has written another meaningful story to share and inspire adults and children. In this story, Miss Fox inspires and problem-solves with her students. She helps them brainstorm ways in which they can help planet Earth and the community they live in. I also love the humor in this story. For example, Frog says: "I can use less water … I can stop taking showers." And Squirrel says: "I know how to save paper. No more homework." The students find many ways to make a difference and you can see how proud they are of their efforts to "go green". I feel this is another exceptional story teachers and parents could add to their book lists and personal libraries. – Amazon review by Dad of Divas

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

3. The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon: A Story about Friendship and Loving Our Earth by Land Wilson

This is a sweet bedtime story that will inspire children to protect the Earth and encourage others to do the same. Previously published as Sofia's Dream, this updated edition includes bonus back matter about pollution and the simple steps we can take to protect the Earth! I've been looking for a book that not only has captivating pictures and a fun story but also delivers an important message to our children. The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon has it in spades! – Amazon review by Pros

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

4. The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry

Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this gorgeous picture book about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest’s residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how "all living things depend on one another" . . . and it works.

Amazon Rating: A Teacher’s Pick

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

5. Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day by Jane O'Connor

Fancy Nancy fans of all ages will love this sweet story about learning to respect both the Earth and your family! This is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. After reading Fancy Nancy: Every Day Is Earth Day, my seven-year-old daughter is always reminding to bring our own bags to the stores. She loved how Fancy Nancy did that too! This book is fun and educational in a kid-friendly way. Very inspiring too! I recommend any and all Fancy Nancy books for your daughter to read and learn from. – Amazon review by AKH

Ages: 4 - 8 years

6. Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot by Andrew Sharmat

Join the world's greatest boy detective, Nate the Great, as this main character solves the mystery of the missing Earth Day robot! This long-running chapter book series is perfect for Common Core and will encourage children to problem-solve and use logical thinking to solve mysteries! We purchased all 30 books of the series for our 8-year-old grandson. His love for the entire series, which he is reading in order, has greatly contributed toward his improved reading. Thank you! – Amazon review by Gary B.

Age: 6 – 9 years

7. Earth Day Escapade (Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Book) by Carolyn Keene

Nancy and all her classmates at River Heights Elementary School have worked hard to make the "greenest" float they can for the Earth Day parade. This includes collecting recycled materials to use for decoration. But someone's spoiled all the fun and sabotaged the float days before the parade. Who could've done something like this -- and why? Sounds like another case for the Clue Crew! My 9-year-old daughter loves to have mystery books read to her at bedtime. Although this book is easy enough for her to read alone, she likes sharing the story with me and trying to solve it before Nancy can. This one involves recycling and green awareness which she also enjoyed discussing. It is a nice book for the 7-10 year-olds. – Amazon review by Gloria J.

Ages: 6 - 9 years 

8. The Tantrum That Saved the World by Megan Herbert

An inspirational, beautifully illustrated picture book for kids aged 5 to 9. The Tantrum that Saved the World is part environmental story, part ode to community action, and part blueprint for building a better world--together, for all of us. What a phenomenal children's book! Michael E Mann and Megan Herbert did an extraordinary job articulating the frustration and depth of the climate change fight. I loved that at the end they explain what elements make up climate change. – Amazon review by J Miller

Ages: 5 - 9 years 

9. The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches

Learn about recycling from a new perspective! Peek into this diary of a plastic bottle as it goes on a journey from the refinery plant, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life ... as a fleece jacket! I teach recycling education for my job and this a great little book for ages 5-10. Fun pictures and a cute story to engage younger students with interesting facts to inform older learners. Provides a great introduction t resource extraction, use and recycling, all in an interesting way. I alter how I read it depending on students' age, but use this with grades K-5. – Amazon review by Veggie Garden Gal

Ages: 3 – 9 years

10. The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches

This storybook is told from the point of view of an enthusiastic aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a display on a bookshelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life…as a baseball bat! The diary entries are fun and humorous, yet point out the ecological significance behind each product and the resources used to make it. I used this book in the classroom for a topic about the environment and recycling, it went down really well! I have used with children in Year 2 and Year 4/5, both enjoyed the book, used in slightly different ways. – Amazon review by Paul H.

Ages: 5 – 7 years 

11. We Are All Connected: Caring For Each Other & The Earth by Gabi Garcia

A vibrantly illustrated rhyming picture book that celebrates empathy, understanding, and respect. My nine-year-old son read it with his teacher at school. He loved it so much that he wanted his sisters to read it too! I love when my children are excited about reading and learning! What a special thing to share with each other! – Amazon review by Kristina

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

12. Tidy by Emily Gravett

Pete the badger learns that being tidy isn’t always the best thing in this save-the-environment picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Emily Gravett. What starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest. Will Pete realize the error of his ways and reverse his tidying habit?  The rhyming and illustrations do a great job of capturing my son's attention and he loves this book. I confess I love it too and plan on keeping this lovely picture book long after he outgrows it! – Amazon review by CVDBP

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

13. Uno's Garden Hardcover by Graeme Base

Uno’s Garden is a wonderful book on how we all unknowingly affect the environment around us, just by being there—and how we can always learn from our mistakes and find ways of doing things better. It's a unique blend of story book, puzzle book, and math book. This is my 11 year old's favorite picture books. He has had it for years and has read it dozens of times. He loves looking for the creatures. The illustrations are beautiful and we find new details every time we read it. This book has initiated more than one conversation about the environment and finding balance with nature. Although he is reading more advanced books now, he still loves to share this book with young listeners at his school. – Amazon review by S. Kurth-Ford

Ages: 1 – 8 years

14. The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute by Stan and Jan Berenstain

This classic Berenstain Bears story is a perfect way to teach children about caring for the planet! Brother is doing a report about endangered species, so he and Sister visit the museum to talk to Professor Actual Factual about what they can do to help save the environment. Good Book, my daughter made me buy every one for her and she reads them to me before bed. The lessons in these books should be mandatory reading for adults when they turn 21, it would make the world a more friendly place. – Amazon review by GBrandon

Age: 3 – 7 years

15. Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

Perfect for Earth Day on April 22, but important for teaching environmental lesson plans year around! Michael Recycle tells the adventures of a young superhero whose power allows him to teach people about recycling. A special section of Go Green Tips at the end of the book encourages all kids to become environmental superheroes. My son read this book at school. He loved the books so much that he asked me to order it for him. It's a great book with great lessons for kids about recycling. – Amazon review by Fanceeist

Ages: 6 – 8 years

16. The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers 

From the illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit comes a whodunnit just right for the youngest of readers. Includes instructions for building the perfect paper airplane also! Oliver Jeffers' quirky, childlike humor and lovable illustrations are in full effect in this funny whodunit featuring a winning cast of animals and a message about the importance of conservation and recycling. Clever book! It started a whole afternoon of paper airplane making for my grandsons, aged 6 to 9. Certainly, a far better way to spend an afternoon than video games! – Amazon review by Jerie

Age: 3 – 6 years

17. Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in his neighborhood. After seeing the lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration and developing a love of nature.

Amazon Rating: Editor’s Pick

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

STORIES INSPIRED BY REAL PEOPLE

Find out more about Tony and his incredible story that led to the start of Harlem Grown. His work in the community has impacted more than just the youth, Tony has done his part to help transform the Harlem community through the power of growing food and building healthy relationships.

18. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul

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. This is an inspiring true story of how one African woman began a movement to recycle the plastic bags that were polluting her community. Isatou Ceesay found a way to recycle the bags and was the change that transformed her community. This inspirational true story shows how one person's actions really can make a difference in our world. A book with a great message. We used this book in summer camp with elementary school-aged children. They grasp the context and message well. Then we challenged them to create something out of plastic bags as well. It was a great activity that tied in with the book! – Amazon review by JCgirl

Amazon Rating: A Teacher’s Pick

Ages: 5 – 9 years 

19. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal and #1 New York Times Bestseller. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption. This book is amazing!! I love reading it to my little one and he really enjoys it too. The message is very powerful and beautiful and the artwork is incredible. Can't wait to see more books by the author and illustrator! – Amazon review by Amandaleigh

Amazon Rating: #1 Best Seller

Ages: 3 – 7 years 

20. The Water Princess by Susan Verde

Based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood, a young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village. In this village, water is scarce so she must walk miles every day to fetch water for her family. When she learns about the importance of clean water, she decides to help her village get access to clean water. This is a powerful and beautiful story with stunning illustrations. That’s the conversation I had with my kids, who turn on the sink or the filtered water in the door of the fridge when they are thirsty. My kids have never - not for one day in their lives - worried about access to clean water. I appreciate a book that draws children into very real issues in the world. – Amazon review by Family of Five

Amazon Rating: A Teacher’s Pick

Age: 4 – 8 years

21. Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch

This is the true story of how a scientist saved the planet from an environmental disaster. Mexican-American scientist Mario Molina helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s and went on to become a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story on this important topic gives hope in the fight against global warming. A great young readers biography. Read it to my niece and was pleasantly surprised by the content in this story. I had no idea who Mario was and his amazing contribution to our world. – Amazon review by RaiderJuan

Ages: 6 – 9 years 

22. The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins

Unearth with your children 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. I used this story for an earth day unit in my 4th-grade classroom. I was blown away at the thought of what this woman did with the land around her. What a wonderful showcase of a woman in the science world as well. Girl power. Education. Nature lover. Innovative mind. – Amazon review by J. Meyer

Amazon Rating: 4.8 (Teacher’s Pick)

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

23. What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French

In this informative book on recycling for children, your family will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling. What a Waste is one of several nature books for kids written by Jess French, a passionate conservationist and veterinarian committed to protecting the beautiful world we live in. My 7 yo daughter loved it. She’s into the environment and cares for wildlife. English isn’t her first language, but everything is simple enough for her to understand, plus it contains lots of illustrations. This is an amazing book to teach kids about recycling and how they can make an impact. I recommend! – Amazon review by Katya

Amazon Rating: An Editor’s Pick

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

24. Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth by Stacy McAnulty 

From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Our Planet! There's No Place Like Earth is a nonfiction picture book about the Earth, told from the perspective of Earth herself. Stacy McAnulty absolutely nails this series of books. My students love learning about the different planets from her books. This one does an excellent job of teaching about Earth, the different biomes, and the planet as a whole. – Amazon review by T.J.

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

25. Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard 

Do your part to be a planet protector! Discover how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and more with Tyler and Trina in the Planet Protectors series, part of the Cloverleaf Books™ collection. These nonfiction picture books feature kid-friendly text and illustrations with simple ideas to make learning fun! Cute earth book to teach about Earth day! Kids enjoyed it! Good learning book for little ones. – Amazon review by Christina S.

Ages: 5 – 8 years 

26. This Class Can Save the Planet by Stacy Tornio

This a perfect book for Earth Day, Earth Month, or any other time of the year to help kids establish good habits. This book shows the incredible impact kids can have on the environment with real, actionable ideas that can be implemented in their schools, classrooms, and at home. Inspiring!!! My son absolutely LOVED the book. It’s engaging and colorful. My favorite part is that kids will know they can make a difference!!! It’s such a positive way to look at climate change and give kids hope! I bought more for my nieces and nephews! Definitely worth buying!!! – Amazon review by Tina L.

Amazon Rating:  (Editor’s Pick)

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

27. Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre

Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a beautiful exploration of the beautiful world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community. This nonfiction book is perfect for classrooms and homeschooling. I frequently give April's books as gifts for new moms and young children. Oh, and I keep one for myself! Her photos are breathtaking and her writing is poetic. This book is just so beautiful and is an important reminder of all that we need to cherish and preserve. – Amazon review by Cheryl N.

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

28. On Earth by G. Brian Karas

This book is illustrated in a way that helps the child understand the text very easily. The author brilliantly minimized the text and still managed to explain the subject very well. Even though my daughter reads chapter books, this is not a book to practice reading, it is a book to learn facts. Short, sweet, and perfect for my 8-year-old to learn about the earth’s rotation, revolution, and "big words" like axis, equator, gravity, sphere etc. – Amazon review by My-two-cents

Ages: 5 – 8 years 

29. The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green

This nature book takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are. This is a must-have book for children aged 7-9 who have an interest in both nature and science. C.S. Lewis once said, “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” This book is the epitome of a wonderful children's and adult's book! I couldn't help but fall in love with trees after I started reading this book. My boys and I are doing a unit study using this book alone and went to a local nursery and bought 3 trees. This book is so geniusly well-put-together my boys ages 6-12 can all do our science together and be engaged while learning something new. I honestly wish all DK books were formatted exactly like this book. – Amazon review by Smooky

Ages: 3 – 9 years 

30. Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth Paperback by Mary McKenna Siddals

In this informative book on recycling for children, your family will find everything you need to know about our environment. The good, the bad and the incredibly innovative. From pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling. What a Waste is one of several nature books for kids written by Jess French, a passionate conservationist and veterinarian committed to protecting the beautiful world we live in. My 7 yo daughter loved it. She’s into the environment and cares for wildlife. English isn’t her first language, but everything is simple enough for her to understand, plus it contains lots of illustrations. This is an amazing book to teach kids about recycling and how they can make an impact. I recommend! – Amazon review by Katya

Amazon Rating: An Editor’s Pick

Ages: 4 – 8 years 

If you have children younger than 2nd grade, be sure to check out Earth Day favorites such as:

  • My Friend Earth, by Patricia MacLachlan (ages 3-5 years)

  • The Earth Book, by Todd Parr (ages 2-5 years)

  • The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown (ages 3-6 years)

  • From Seed to Plant, by Gail Gibbons (ages 3-6 years)

Earth Day is also a time for people all over the world to celebrate our planet in various ways. Some will participate in cleanup efforts, while others will deep dive into learning more about the history of Earth Day. Teachers also see Earth Day as a time to teach students about the life cycle of our planet and the simple things we can do to help make Earth a cleaner, healthier place to live. 

We can all play a role in helping children to understand the importance of taking care of our planet. As a family, this is a great opportunity to create your own traditions for April 22nd (and year-round!) with your favorite earth day activities!