There are many ways to teach children to take care of the natural world, and one simple yet powerful approach is through books.
On this page we're putting together our favourite inspirational books that offer meaningful messages about nature and the environment.
Happy reading!
P.S. On the Suntrap You tube channel watch our Storytime videos!
Written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson
Published by Walker Books £6.00 Board Book
Age range: Three to five year olds
Touchingly beautiful ... Drawn with exquisite delicacy ... The perfect picture book. ― The Guardian
Authors Anna Taylor, Loll Kirby Illustrator Aledina Lirius
Published by Magic Cat Publishers
Age range Six to eleven years old
Written and illustrated by Melanie Walsh
Published by Candlewick £9.99 (p/b)
For age range: 3 - 7 years
Discover how to reduce, reuse, and recycle and conserve energy through vibrant illustrations and simple ideas.
Published by Millbrook Press £9.99 h/b
Age range: 4-9 years old
Crack, crack...animal babies are hatched all over the place. Can you figure out who's who?
Written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris
Published by Hamish Hamilton £14.99 (h/b)
Age range: 5 years upwards
It’s a celebration of the nearby wild. If there is a message there, it is simply wonder and awe at the beautiful complexity of the non-human. And respect, for the wisdom of trees, the shape of a bird, the wild of the fox.”
Written by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Published by Alison Green Books £6.99 p/b
Age range: Two - seven year-olds
Superworm is a must for all Julia Donaldson fans, it really is a lovely story about the power of friendship.
Written and illustrated by Mary Woodin
Published by Search Press Ltd £8.99 p/b
For all ages
Will help you turn simple steps into beautiful nature images in just ten steps.
By Nicola Davies and illustrated by Laura Carlin
Published by Walker Books £7.99 (p/b)
Age range: Five years and
'Inspired by the belief that a relationship with nature is essential to every human being..'
Written by Merlin Sheldrake
Published by Vintage Books £20.00 h/b
Age range: Adult
'A mind-bending journey into the hidden universe of fungi'
Written by Jennifer Bell and illustrated by Alice Lickens
Published by Walker Books £6.99 p/b
Age range six to eight years old
'Fun-packed young fiction with wildlife conservation themes'.
By Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Published by Penguin Random House £9.00 digital
Age range 9 - 12 years
Inspirational and memorable concoction of hilarious childhood anecdotes of the natural world.
Retold and illustrated by Helen Ward
Published by Millbrook Press £9.99 (h/b)
Age range: Readers five years upwards
Watch Sasha the Suntrap tortoise reenact this story on the Suntrap You Tube channel.
By Mike Unwin, illustrated by Tony Sanchez
Published by Bloomsbury Press. £7.99 (H/B)
Age range: 5 years-old +.
Take a journey through the garden and discover the bugs that are living there.
By Charlotte Voake
Published by Random House £8.99 (P/B)
Age range: 5 years-old +
Discover the names of the flowers that you see every day.
Written and illustrated by Owen Davey
Published by Flying Eye Books £12.99 (h/b)
Reading age 7+
Interest 5 - 9 years old
Shortlisted for the 2020 Blue Peter Book awards.
By AA Milne, illustrated by EH Shepard
Published by Egmont UK Ltd £8.99 (p/b)
Pooh is the bear for all ages
'You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes'. Winnie-the-Pooh
Author Vivian French Illustrated by Charlotte Voake
Published by Walker Books Ltd £7.99 p/b
Age range five years upwards
'A great book for any children who love learning about nature'.
Written by Michael Holland, illustrated by Philip Giodano
Published by Flying Eye Books Hard/Back £14.99
Age range: Nine to fourteen years old
Author Franck Prevot and illustrated by Aurelia Fronty
Published by Charlesbridge £5.99 (p/b)
Age range: Seven to ten years old
Wangari Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts to lead women in a non-violent struggle to bring peace and democracy to Africa through its deforestation.
By Nathan Bryon and illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Published by Puffin £6.99
Age range: Three to seven years
Bursting with energy and passion about science and space.
By Mark Kurlansky, illustrated by Frank Stockton
Published by Workman Publishing £9.99
Age range ten upwards
This book issues a call to action to kids by outlining what will happen due to ill effects of over-fishing, pollution and climate change.
By Emily Gravett
Published by Two Hoots £6.99
Age range: Three to seven years old
Funny, rhyming woodland story with an environmental message.
By Nicola O'Byrne
Published by Nosy Crow £7.99 (p/b)
Age range two to five years old
Watch our storytime video on the Suntrap You Tube channel.
By Jeanne Willis
Published by Puffin Books £6.99 (p/b)
Age range two to six year olds
Story to explain how animals have to live in different places.
Compiled by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Published by Big Picture Book £14.99
Age range: Seven-to-ten-year-olds to read alone.
Anthology of poems about the natural world.
Written by John Lewis-Stempel
Published by Transworld £9.99
Age range: For young adults
Story of English woodlands as they change with the seasons.
Illustrated by Alison Jay
Published by Old Barn Books £6.99
Age range: Two - five years old
Introduction for small children to the ecology of the natural world.
Written by Zoe Tucker and illustrated by Zoe Persico
Published by Francis Lincoln Children's Books £6.99
Age range: Four - seven years old
Inspired by Greta Thunberg and role in environmental activism in the climate and ecological emergency.
Author Micha Archer
Published by Amazon £16.00
Age range: Five to eight years old
'Poetry and nature belong to city children too..'
Author Ben Hoare
Published by Dorling Kindersley £20.00
Age range: Seven to nine years old
Discover the wonders of planet Earth
Author Madeline Kloepper
Published by Tundra Books £14.99
Age range: Four to seven years old
Reminder of the beauty and magic that can be found away from the city and our screens.
Authors Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris
Published by Hamish Hamilton £15
Age range: 3 up for adults to read (or sing) with children
'Book of spells' which seeks to conjure back the magic and strangeness of the natural world...
Written by Mary McKenna Siddals illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Published by Random House Children's Books £11.99 (H/B)
Age range 3 - 7 years old
'An imaginative and engaging introduction to the concept of composting'.
Written by Joe Harkness
Published by Unbound Publishing p/b £9.99
Age range: Adult
'This joyous journal celebrates the redemptive power of nature'.
Written by Robert MacFarlane
Published by Penguin Books £10.99
Age range: Adult
The Guardian 100 Best Books of the 21st Century
By Christine Evans, illustrated by Yasmin Imaura
Published by Innovation Pres £14.99 h/b
Age range Five to nine years old
'Great messages about doing what you love, overcoming obstacles and taking care of this world'...
Written and illustrated by Ruth Orbach
Published by National Trust Books £9.99 h/b
Age range: Two to five years old
A timeless classic this beautifully illustrated tale of an apple tree that grows too many apples.
Written by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Schiffler
Published by Alison Green Books £6.99 (p/b)
Age range: Three to seven-year-olds
A heart-warming rhyming tale of family, courage and adventure from the creators of The Gruffalo.
Written by Brett Westwood and Stephen Moss
Published by John Murray Press £12.99 p/b
Age range: Adult
‘A beautifully written love letter to the astonishing variety of Britain's wildlife, animal, vegetable and fungal. Although such an elegantly written book can be read cover to cover, it could also function as a day-to-day reference.' Sunday Times
Written by Paul Wood
Published by Safe Haven Books £14.99 p/b
Age range: Adult
It will make everyone who lives in this amazing city look at their own street in a new way.
Written by Richard Louv
Published by Atlantic Books £11.99 (p/b)
Age range: Adult
This timely book shows how our children have become increasingly alienated and distanced from nature, why this matters and how we can make a difference.
Written by Rob Dunn
Published by Hatchett p/b £7.99
Age range: Adult
From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live
Edited by Melissa Harrison
Published by Elliot and Thompson £12.99 (h/b)
Age range: For all ages
Be inspired on a winter walk by writers who adore the frosty season
Written by Mark Hamer
Published by Vintage £8.99 p/b
Age range: Adult
A captivating, life-affirming memoir of a life in nature that celebrates finding wonder in our world. The perfect gift for nature lovers.
Written by Dara McAnulty
Published by Little Toller Books £16.00 (h/b)
Age range: Young adults
Like reading William Black or Ted Hughes, it really is a strange and magical experience.
