It’s almost time to celebrate Earth Day (April 22)! It’s the perfect opportunity to help students build awareness about taking care of our planet—while also boosting literacy skills using Earth Day read alouds.
Whether you’re planning a full Earth Day unit or just looking for read-alouds with meaningful activities, these books are sure to engage & inspire.
Read on for 5 must-read Earth Day books with activity suggestions for your Earth Day lessons.
Conserving Resources by Marne Ventura
Conserving Resources, a non-fiction text uses kid-friendly language to explain natural resources & how to conserve them. It includes simple explanations, real-life examples, & even QR codes for further exploration.
Why It’s Great:
- Clear connections to science standards
- Encourages student discussion and real-world connections
After Reading Activity:
- Sort images of common items into man-made vs. natural resources
- Discuss how human activities impact land, water, air & living things
Garbage and Recycling by Chris Oxlade
This is a go-to nonfiction book, Garbage and Recycling dives into what garbage is and how it affects our planet. It clearly explains the dangers that garbage poses to animals and the different types of waste we create.
Students are often shocked by how much garbage is thrown away daily, making the topic both real and relevant.
The Earth Day read aloud book also emphasizes solutions, showing how we can all help reduce waste through recycling.
After Reading Ideas:
- Reflect on the data & brainstorm possible ways to reduce, reuse & recycle trash
- Discuss the photographs—Why do you think the author included each one?
- Create a classroom tally chart or bar graph of the day’s trash
- Collect trash data for a day or week
Recycle by Gail Gibbons
Gibbons’ signature style—bright illustrations & simple, clear text—makes Recycle a kid-favorite. It explains how items are recycled and why it matters (impact of waste on the environment & natural resources).
After Reading Ideas:
- Find and sort items in the classroom into natural vs. man-made resources
- Discuss how small changes (like reusing paper) can make a big difference
- Sort pictures of different man-made and natural resources
Perfect addition to your elementary activities for Earth Day, this book helps young learners see how small actions can make a big difference!
The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle by Nuria Roca
This book breaks down the Three R’s into manageable chunks, perfect for Earth Day . It also includes extension activities for home and school.
Suggested Lesson Breakdown:
- Lesson 1-The Three R’s and Reuse
- Create a class list of things that can be reused in the classroom
- Lesson 2-Reduce
- Reduce-decorate a reusable shopping bag
- Lesson 3-Recycle and composting
- Decorate containers for classrooms to collect batteries to be recycled
- Recycling sort-Sort items from school & home that can be recycled/not recycled
Earth Day, Birthday! By Maureen Wright
A class favorite! Students adore the silly monkey who confuses Earth Day with his birthday. It’s a playful and fun way to kick off the topic of Earth Day with laughter but it also opens up a discussion about why Earth Day is important.
As we read, students point out all the ways the other animals are celebrating—planting trees, picking up litter, and taking care of the Earth.
After Reading Ideas:
- Throw a “birthday party” for the Earth, with decorations made from recycled materials.
- Students write their own versions of the story, imagining another animal who misunderstands Earth Day in a funny way.
This book is a perfect book for your Earth Day storytime & always leaves kids eager to help the planet.
Read Alouds for Your Earth Day Lesson Plan
From nonfiction facts to silly stories, each book brings a unique perspective that helps students understand why caring for the Earth matters.
These books make it easy to blend literacy, science, math & Earth Day.
Don’t forget to grab you FREE Earth day printables by clicking here.