5 Ways to Fun Up Your Reading from Alexandria!
April 8, 20268 Earth Day Books 2026
Celebrated Books You Will Fall in Love with this Earth Day!
1
Listen to the Language of the WILD
Wildspeak
by Sangma Francisv
Illustrated by Lexi Vangsnes
(Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, April 14, 2026)
This Earth Day, WILDSPEAK is the perfect way to introduce kids to the "wild wild words" waiting to be spoken: SUNGLITTER, STONELIGHT, BOTTOMSHIMMER, ROCKGLISTEN, & a whole lotta wild words more!
2
Building Communities of Food Love
Growing Together
by Ruth Spiro
Illustrated by Paola Escobar
(HarperCollins, February 24, 2026)
Celebrate Earth Day sharing the benefits of community gardens on eliminating food scarcity and spreading love. A child talks to a plant and claims she will give it a new home as this book opens and shares the heart of good gardening.
It's springtime! It's green time!
You need a good room to grow.
Your new home is waiting.
Ready? Let's go!
3
Up-Valuing What We Take for Granted
Just One Oak, What A Single Tree Can Be
by Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated by Diana Sudyka
(Beach Lane Books, April 7, 2026)
One author that hits high marks for her books about loving the wild is Maria Gianferrari. Just One Oak pays tribute to all one Oak can be and do and see. A shining tribute to all a tree gifts us.
Just one oak...
from the tip
of its crown
down to the ground,
with roots all around,
sustains so very
many creatures.
4
A Tribute to Trees & Reason to Hug Trees
The Mother Tree
by Sybil Rosen
Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
(Anne Schwartz Books, March 17, 2026)
This book is special. It comes from editor, Anne Schwartz, whose work has given us many brilliant titles and this one is no different. It's shares the many ways big ancient trees are worth valuing more and every fighting to keep the towering among us.
In a really spectacular book, there are those arresting moments were words and art shake hands and beg the reader to give a nod. This is an example:
"We share breath with trees," Sadie's momma tells her. "We breathe out carbon dioxide, and they take it in through their leaves. Then they give off the oxygen we need to live."
"We help each other," Sadie says, and blows her next breath toward the nearest tree.
We recognize this as Photosynthesis, but this is a different, original, telling of how that works. And that scene? Looking up with critters to find in the tree scape? Pretty awesome.
5
See How Tiny Gardens Boast Big Surprises
Tiny Garden
by Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by Jax Chow
(Harry M. Abrams, March 3, 2026)
Written by a legend in kid lit, Deborah Underwood does not disappoint on this one. When tiny goes large and buggy, it's a celebrated explosion of discovery for picture book readers of all ages.
In this story, readers meet a determined boy who makes a claim and places it on repeat:
"This will be a tiny garden," said Andrew.
And after smelling soil and getting his hands dirty, Andrew is excited by the possibilities, as...
Something unexpected pops into the scene, something with compound eyes, who claims:
"This is exactly what I've been looking for, but I never knew it," she said.
6
What is a Tree to a Little Outdoor Warrior
More Than A Tree
by Sarah Kurpliel
Illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel
(Rocky Pond Books, March 17, 2026)
This Earth Day, celebrate that a tree is not just a tree. It's a play space, a protective place, a look out, a shady spot, and letting go, letting something new step into its land-loving space is just as tough as making room in the interior space of the heart.
It wasn't just a tree.
All my life it had watched over me.
7
A Tribute to How Oceans Gift Our Lands
The Ocean's Heart, The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life
by Jilanne Hoffman
Illustrated by Khoa Le
(Millbrook Press, March 3, 2026)
Written by the talented author, Jilanne Hoffman, this is book is an awesome tribute to what the ocean does for us and how it provides for life on Earth. It's a perfect Earth Day read and share and reminder how very important ocean health is for all life on Earth.
This opens:
Far below the ocean surface
live silent restless creatures
called zooplankton.
They are the ocean's Heart.
8
How Might We Become Habitat Warriors?
Habitate Heroes
by Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrated by Carolina Coroa
(Disney Hyperion, March 31, 2026)
Learn how to provide habitats for the wild we share our Earth with. It's a great lesson for young environmentalists to see how navigating how to care for our wild cousins provides us with a happy, carefree world of joy and happiness.
