100 Best Nature Books For Kids

Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by Audrey

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Getting kids excited about nature can be as simple as a great book, and that’s why we’ve compiled this list of the 100 best nature books for kids! Whether it’s exploring the depths of the ocean, trekking through forests, or learning about the tiniest creatures in the backyard, books have the power to spark curiosity and inspire a love for the outdoors.

We’ve gathered a mix of beautifully illustrated picture books that will transport young readers into the wonders of the natural world. Whether you’re raising a future scientist, an outdoor explorer, or just looking for a bedtime story with a touch of nature, there’s something here for every child (and adult)!

Gardening Nature Books for Kids

1. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
2. We Are the Gardeners
3. Easy Peasy: Gardening for Kids
4. Hello, World! Garden Time: A Book of Plants and Gardening for Kids
5. How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside

Animal Nature Books for Kids

1. An Anthology of Intriguing Animals
2. The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!
3. The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth
4. Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World
5. The Big Book of Beasts

Bee and Butterfly Nature Books for Kids

1. Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book
2. The Honeybee
3. Monarch Butterflies: Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World
4. The Secret Life of Bees
5. A Butterfly Is Patient

Nature Books for Kids About Birds

1. Bird Watch
2. The Big Book of Birds
3. Bird Builds a Nest
4. Birds, Nests & Eggs
5. An Anthology of Exquisite Birds

Nature Books for Kids About Flowers

1. The Tiny Seed
2. Sunflower House
3. What’s Inside A Flower?
4. Flora: A Botanical Pop-up Book
5. Planting a Rainbow
6. The Big Book of Blooms

Nature Books for Kids About Trees

1. Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book
2. The Busy Tree
3. Trees, Leaves & Bark
4. The Magic and Mystery of Trees
5. The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

Nature Books for Kids About Rocks

1. Rocks, Fossils & Arrowheads
2. Rock Collecting for Kids: An Introduction to Geology
3. When You Find the Right Rock
4. My Book of Rocks and Minerals: Things to Find, Collect, and Treasure
5. All About Rocks and Minerals: An Introduction for Kids

Hiking Nature Books for Kids

1. Hike It: An Introduction to Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking through the U.S.A. 
2. On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find?
3. If You Go Down to the Woods Today: A Search and Find Adventure
4. Let’s go on a hike!
5. The Hike: (Nature Book for Kids, Outdoors-Themed Picture Book for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners)

Camping Nature Books for Kids

1. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
2. When We Go Camping
3. C Is for Camping
4. The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp
5. S Is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet
6. Oliver & Hopes Adventure Under the Stars

Nature Books for Kids About National Parks

1. National Parks of the USA
2. If I Were a Park Ranger
3. B Is for Bison: A National Parks Primer
4. All Aboard! National Parks: A Wildlife Primer
5. All Aboard! More National Parks: A Wildlife Primer

Nature Books for Kids About the Moon

1. Moon: A Peek-Through Board Book
2. Owl Moon
3. The Moon: Discover the Mysteries of Earth’s Closest Neighbor
4. The Usborne Book of the Moon
5. Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight

Nature Books For Kids About The Ocean

1. The Big Book of the Blue
2. Over and Under the Waves
3. Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea
4. Who’s Hiding at the Beach?
5. Seashells by the Seashore
6. The Snail and the Whale

Spring

1. Plant the Tiny Seed Board Book
2. The Hidden Rainbow
3. Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms
4. Spring In The Forest Deluxe Lift-a-Flap & Pop-Up Seasons Children’s Board Book
5. Worm Weather
6. Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring
7. An Egg Is Quiet

Summer

1. Summer In The Forest Deluxe Lift-a-Flap & Pop-Up Seasons Children’s Board Book
2. Summertime in the Big Woods
3. Blueberries for Sal
4. Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer
5. Fireflies in the Night
6. A Day When Nothing Happened

Autumn

1. Autumn In The Forest
2. Pumpkin Jack
3. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
4. Hello, Harvest Moon
5. Leif and the Fall
6. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

Winter

1. Over and Under the Snow
2. Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story
3. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
4. The Mitten
5. Animals in Winter

Activity Books

1. Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids
2. 1000 Hours Outside: Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time 
3. Play The Forest School Way: Woodland Games and Crafts for Adventurous Kids
4. The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book
5. Nature Play Workshop for Families
6. Forest School Adventure: Outdoor Skills and Play for Children

Nature Journals

1. Nature Journal: A Kids Nature Study Journal
2. Exploring Nature Journal for Kids: Observe and Record the Outdoors
3. Nature Journal For Little Explorers

More Nature Books for Kids

1. Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature
2. Tiny, Perfect Things
3. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature
4. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World
5. The Wonders of Nature
6. A World Full of Nature Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends

Conclusion

Encouraging a love for nature through books is a wonderful way to spark curiosity, inspire adventure, and nurture a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors. Whether your child enjoys stories about animals, science-packed explorations, or whimsical nature adventures, this list of nature books offers something for every young reader.

By sharing these books, you’re not only fostering a love for reading but also helping children build a deeper connection with the world around them. So grab a book, step outside, and let the wonders of nature come alive!

For more nature inspiration for kids, check out this post about creating your own backyard explorer kit or this bucket list of outdoor activities!