Curious George and Other Books about Nature for Kids
Today is the birthday of John James Audubon, naturalist and and birder, who famously said, “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”
If our responsibility to our children is to leave the world better than we found it, then it’s also our responsibility to teach children all we can about the natural world. To help get them started, here are six books about nature for kids that are sure to get your children or grandchildren excited about the outdoors.
1. Curious George Goes Camping — Margret and H.A. Rey: Everyone’s favorite mischievous monkey gets into trouble setting up camp, and learns to love nature and succeed in an outdoor emergency.
2. The Lorax — Dr. Seuss: The quintessential read for young conservationists, this book will have your young reader speaking for the trees right along with the story’s diminutive hero.
3. Winnie the Pooh and Nature’s True Colors — K. Emily Hutta: Pooh and Piglet and the rest do a cleanup of the Hundred-Acre Woods—thanks to a mess created by Tigger—and take in the color of autumn’s bounty.
4. The Giving Tree — Shel Silverstein: This timeless story about a boy and tree will inspire young readers to love nature, and provide lessons that will well into adulthood.
5. The Call of the Wild — Jack London: For older kids, this classic about adapting to nature’s sometimes brutal conditions provides great lessons for finding love, and the actions scenes will captivate and startle parents as well.
6. Birds — David Burnie: In honor of Audubon, this Smithsonian DK guide to the world of birds includes photos and descriptions that will have children of all ages—yourself included—watching the skies and the feeder for your favorite feathered friends.
Do your children or grandchildren have a favorite book about nature? What books do you think teach some great lessons about taking care of the Earth?
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