“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” —David Sobel, author of Beyond Ecophobia, Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education
We live in the city, but we are always looking for ways to encourage curiosity, appreciation and respect for the great outdoors. Whether searching for bugs in our backyard, going on an “adventure walk” at a local park or nature center, or swimming in one of our many surrounding lakes, our goal is to get outside and experience nature.
We have a pretty good collection of children’s scientific fact books that interest 4-year-old Leo, but there is nothing quite like connecting over bedtime stories — our favorite time of day. Adding imagination to the topic opens up a greater opportunity to share, discuss and tie it all together with emotion. If you’re looking to expand beyond classics like The Giving Tree and The Lorax, here are some recommendations…
1) Some Bugs: “Some bugs flutter. Some bugs crawl. Some bugs curl up in a ball.” The whole family knows this one by heart. We keep coming back night after night for the rhythmic words and whimsical illustrations.
2) Rhoda’s Rock Hunt: Our own outdoor adventures frequently include collecting things — pinecones, flowers, sticks and rocks. Rhoda has a great eye for detail and a creative plan for some of the heavier treasures that she must leave behind.
3) The Curious Garden: As the green garden creeps across the pages of the gray city it’s like magic right before your eyes. We love to compare the before (gross) and after (so pretty) — in the words of a 4-year-old.
4) Have You Heard the Nesting Bird: Be prepared to break out your best birdcalls together! Plus, there’s a wonderful surprise at the end.
5) Hug Time: We have been enjoying this board book for many years. It includes a subtle environmental theme, and obviously lots of hugs. “The world is so big. And yet so small. It’s time that we embrace it all.”
1) Beyond the Pond: The healthy added dose of adventure and imagination makes this one sound like a new favorite in the making.
2) And Then It’s Spring: Because we could all use a little reminder that, with patience, the snow will melt and the earth will awaken again.
3) The Wump World: Quirky with an optimistic message for the future.
4) The Water Hole: A journey through global landscapes. We adore my old childhood copy of Animalia by the same author/illustrator. There is something new to discover each time we read it.
5) The Tree Lady: One person can make a difference! Bonus points for being a true story about the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science.
Do you have any favorites to add?
Leo reading Some Bugs in his bug pajamas
Leo exploring nature with Grandpa
blogger / nectarine / 2043 posts
These are awesome, thank you! If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Nature Cat on PBS. It’s all about nature, exploring, the environment, etc. My almost 3 year old loves that show and I’m going to add these books to her collection to keep supporting that interest.
blogger / coffee bean / 43 posts
Thanks @Mrs. Carrot, we’ll check it out!