“The Earth is what we all have in common.”
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22nd, coinciding with the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. First put forward by John McConnell in 1969, the first Earth Day a year later became the largest single-day protest in history when twenty million people took to the streets to advocate for greater awareness of environmental issues. Earth Day continues to be one of the most globally impactful on our climate change efforts, observed by over one billion people in 140 countries. Ahead of Earth Day 2024, join us today at What We Reading as we present some of our favourite climate change, conservation and nature books that all celebrate our home planet. From the power of trees and plants to cutting down on plastic, these Earth Day books are perfect for both young readers and adults alike!
Animals Lost And Found: Stories Of Extinction, Conservation And Survival – Jason Bittel
First up on our list of Earth Day books is Jason Bittel’s Animals Lost and Found. Featuring illustrations from Jonathan Woodward, this 2022 hardback is a vibrant look at some of the most stunning extinct and endangered animals across the planet, illuminating these species through beautiful drawings and interesting facts.
Designed for young readers aged 7+ but with plenty of information any adult reader is sure to learn something with, it is one of the most helpful resources for understanding how natural and man-made events can cause extinctions, and how they impact the world around us today. It is also an incredibly positive and hopeful read, describing some of the most incredible tales of conservation being done to help ensure the survival of other species.
How To Give Up Plastic: A Guide To Changing The World, One Plastic Bottle At A Time – Will McCallum
The theme for Earth Day 2024 is ‘Planet vs. Plastics’, which makes Will McCallum’s How To Give Up Plastic one of the best books to read on the environment in time for the holiday. This 2018 read, penned by one of the most prominent anti-plastic campaigners in the world, is an accessible guide to understanding how much plastic is hitting our oceans, why this is such a potentially catastrophic problem, and how we can go about being a part of the solution.
One of the best Earth Day books for demonstrating how the smallest of changes can unite and conjure up a big difference, McCallum teaches readers everything from how to hold a plastic-free party to how to lobby for the removal of unnecessary packaging in this impassioned call to action.
A Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And A Vision For The Future – David Attenborough
Is there a more beloved naturalist than David Attenborough? For over seventy years, his passion for the natural world and advocacy for restoring biodiversity, switching to renewable energy, preserving natural spaces and fighting climate change has helped him become one of the most eminent and vocal figures in support of environmental causes.
In his book, A Life on Our Planet, Attenborough chronicles his life in the natural world, and how much biodiversity has been lost throughout his time. The book serves as his witness statement as well as his vision for the future, documenting how man-made climate change came about, and how we can put it right.
The Frozen Worlds: The Astonishing Nature Of The Arctic And Antarctic – D.K. Publishing
From polar bears to penguins to whales and walruses, The Frozen World is a beautifully illustrated guide through the poles and one of the best Earth Day books for conservation enthusiasts and young animal lovers.
Featuring illustrations by Claire McElfatrick, The Frozen Worlds is a book designed for readers aged 7-9, and includes a stunning array of pictures and photographs for them to learn all about the Arctic and Antarctic. From the array of animals who make their home there, frozen rivers to Antarctic volcanoes and how we can remedy the crucial issues facing these regions today, The Frozen Worlds is sure to inform, inspire and entertain any kid with a fascination for planet Earth.
Seeds Of Hope: Wisdom And Wonder From The World Of Plants – Jane Goodall
Renowned naturalist and bestselling author Jane Goodall unveils the critical part trees and plants play in our world in her 2013 nature book, Seeds of Hope. Blending her experience in the natural world with her infectious enthusiasm for botany, Goodall takes readers on a tour from her back garden in England to the heart of the chimpanzee-filled Gombe forest in Africa.
Throughout the book, she introduces readers to other leading botanists from the natural world, and to the places that offer real hope for healing the planet in the future. One of the best Earth Day books for understanding the power of plants in our ecosystem as well as providing obtainable goals we can all use to protect the planet around us, Seeds of Hope is a whimsical and magical read that is sure to inspire.
What It’s Like To Be A Bird: From Flying To Nesting, Eating To Singing – What Birds Are Doing, And Why – David Allen Sibley
Wondering what it would be like to be a bird is something everyone has found themselves thinking about at some point or another. And, in What It’s Like to Be a Bird, David Allen Sibley attempts to answer some of the most common questions asked about the species closest to our homes.
Tailored for nonbirders as much as serial birdwatchers, the book covers over two hundred species and includes over 330 illustrations by Sibley. From the Atlantic Puffin to backyard Blue Jays, Sibley’s combination of stunning artwork and new scientific behavioural research makes this easily one of the most compelling books for Earth Day. And whilst the text on offer is designed for adult readers, the bright and bold illustrations are perfect for sharing with younger readers too.
SOS: What You Can Do To Reduce Climate Change – Seth Wynes
Another one of the best Earth Day books for demonstrating how even the smallest of actions have profound effects on protecting the planet, SOS is a sustainability book by Seth Wynes. Backed by the latest scientific research, it is a comprehensive guide through the simple ways readers can make impactful changes at home and work, as well as how they can speak up and vote in ways that truly contribute to change.
The end result is a book that dismantles the idea of things being too far gone and showcases how each of us has more power in changing our communities and countries than we realise. Impassioned, informed and empowered, it is one of the best reads for Earth Day.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
