Books about the environment for babies and toddlers
It’s never too early to learn about animals and nature. Here is a selection of books aimed at ages 0-4, that will inspire babies and toddlers to care about their environment.
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First 100 Nature Words
Author: Illustrator: Jean-Claude
Publisher: Priddy Books
Interest age: 2-3
This bright board book introduces babies and toddlers to the wonderful world around them.
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Look After Us: A lift-the-flap book
Author: Rod Campbell
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 0-2
If anyone can talk simply and clearly to little ones about endangered animals and conservation, it’s Rod Campbell, the famed author of Dear Zoo. This lovely flap book is a great one to read together.
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When the Bees Buzzed Off!
Author: Lula Bell Illustrator: Stephen Bennett
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+This fabulous lift-the-flap book subtly encourages everyone to plant lots of bee-friendly flowers and is a fun-filled introduction to conservation for young children.
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Let’s Go For A Walk
Author: Text developed with Terri Langan based on CBeebies’ Ranger Hamza series Illustrator: Katy Kronreif
Publisher: Ivy Kids
Interest age: 5-12
Reading age: 6+Wherever you live, in a town, by the sea or in the countryside, this vividly illustrated picture book by CBeebies favourite Ranger Hamza will make any walk more interesting and exciting.
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Look Touch Learn: Sea (Tummy Time)
Author: Illustrator: Charlotte Archer
Publisher: Child’s Play
Interest age: 0-1
A wiggly, slippery fish, a knobbly spiny starfish and swaying rubbery seaweed are just a few interesting words to listen to and shapes to look at in this seaside-inspired book for babies.
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Tidy
Author: Emily Gravett
Publisher: Two Hoots
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+Pete the badger likes to keep everything neat and tidy, but his over-zealous cleaning begins to have a damaging impact on the forest. This entertaining picture book, with its rich illustrations, carries an important environmental message.
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The Last Tiger
Author: Rebecca Elliott
Publisher: Lion Children's
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+Luka lives in a drab, grey world where there are no more trees, flowers or animals - or so Luka thinks, until he meets the last tiger.
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Little Turtle and the Sea
Author: Becky Davies Illustrator: Jennie Poh
Publisher: Little Tiger
Interest age: 4-5
A beautiful picture book following the life of Little Turtle, as she watches her beloved ocean become home to more and more plastic waste. There's also lots of helpful information on conservation and how we can help save marine wildlife.
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Lily and the Polar Bears
Author: Jion Sheibani
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+This charming, funny, sweet picture book combines concerns about arctic erosion, animal conservation and immigration in a lovely story about polar bears. It’s sure to be a favourite with little ones, who will love Sheibani's illustration.
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The Coral Kingdom
Author: Laura Knowles and Jennie Webber
Publisher: Words & Pictures Press
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+The great beauty and diversity of the coral reef is explored in this stunningly beautiful picture book, which is a true work of art. The rhyming non-fiction text scans well and the information about coral reef conservation is pitched at the right level.
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Clem and Crab
Author: Fiona Lumbers
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+Clem loves going to the beach and tries hard to keep the coastline clean, but soon realises she needs the help and enthusiasm of her classmates, too. An uplifting and inspiring picture book that demonstrates that lots of small actions can have a big impact. The uplifting story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, which bring the seascape to life.
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The Great Big Green Book
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 7+The Great Big Green Book is filled with facts about our planet, and asks lots of questions to help children think about green issues. The book also gives simple tips on how you can save the environment.
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Planet Rescue
Author: Patrick George
Publisher: Patrick George
Interest age: 4-8
This innovative book, which is about helping the planet and looking after the environment, allows readers to literally change the picture using clever see-through pages.
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Somebody Crunched Colin
Author: Sarah Roberts Illustrator: Hannah Jayne Lewin
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 4-5
Colin the crisp packet finds himself on the ground, outside in the leafy garden. The problem is that he doesn’t really belong there... This sweet rhyming book teaches children about some of the perils that litter can cause in the natural environment.
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Rosa's Big Sunflower Experiment
Author: Jessica Spanyol
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 2-5
Rosa and her friends are growing sunflowers. The industrious team of children fill pots with soil, tenderly plant seeds and then carefully label and position their plants. This is one of a series of books following Rosa and her friends as they undertake a range of simple but inspiring projects guaranteed to stimulate children’s interest in STEM subjects.
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Zoom: Farm Adventure
Author: Susan Hayes and Aviel Basil
Publisher: What On Earth Publishing
Every young child will adore joining in with Bo and his duck for a day's adventure at the farm, as they round up animals, pick fruit, harvest corn, and comfort a farm cat who's just had kittens. A brilliant and absorbing gateway to longer picture books that will help build up attention span.
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Counting in Green 10 Little Ways to Help Our Big Planet
Author: Hollis Kurman Illustrator: Barroux
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 2-3
A charming picture book suggesting ten practical ways to help the planet. A positive and simple introduction to the need for conservation for the very young.
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Touch and Feel Baby Animals
Author: Dorling Kindersley
Publisher: DK
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 1+You can explore different textures of the cutest baby animals.
