7 Children Books About Green Living and Healthy Eating for Earth Day

Earth Day is just around the corner, coming up on April 22nd. In honor of that day, I wanted to list some books for children that will spark conversations about healthy eating, sustainable living, and the importance of being good for the Earth.

You can teach your children to want to be good stewards of our environment. When children care about something, they want to take care of it. Use Earth Day as a reminder to have these essential conversations and enjoy these fun books with your children.

1. Vegetable Glue

When my son and I found this illustrated book, we read it in the store and ended up on the floor because we laughed a lot. This book is not only super fun, about a girl whose arms, legs, and other parts are falling because she hasn’t eaten enough vegetables but also encourages a conversation about how important it is to eat healthily. I still sometimes say: “We need to eat our vegetables to make vegetable glue!”

2. Little Pea

Poor pea, he doesn’t like to eat candy every day! But you have to eat all the sweets to get spinach for dessert. My son and I enjoyed reading this sweet illustrated book with a twist, and I’m sure you will enjoy it too.

3. Just a Gum Wrapper

Amazing book that teaches children about why it is important to recycle and reuse and reduce as much as possible.

4. Earth Day – Hooray!

This book doesn’t just teach about Earth Day and recycling cans – it also teaches maths skills!

5. The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

The Three R - Reuse, Reduce, Recycle — **By:** Nuria Roca | **Age range:** 3 – 6 years

Another excellent book that teaches children about why it is important to recycle and reuse and reduce as much as possible.

6. Planet Patrol: a Kid’s Action Guide to Earth

This book tells children that they have the power to affect change. It covers many current issues, such as:

Climate change
Deforestation
Dwindling habitat
Species extinction
Overpopulation
Water
Air
Noise
Light pollution

7. Earth Day Every Day

Little Trina plants a tree and forms an Earth Day club with her friends. What could your child do to help the Earth?

There is a worm-composting activity described at the end of the book. This book is part of the Cloverleaf Books Planet Protectors series.

How often do you talk to your children about our impact on the Earth, about recycling, using less water, or gardening? Reading these books will make it easy. Books about healthy eating can be used as a jumping-off point to have discussions about organic farming or GMO-food.

I can’t think of many other conversations that are as important as talking about green living because our children will be the next generation that has to deal with the already existing environmental issues, like air pollution. And maybe reading one or two of these books or doing some eco-friendly crafts will inspire you to go to a fun Earth Day event with the kids.