The best children's books that inspire love and respect for the Planet

Children's books are a means of bringing the little ones closer to environmental issues, showing them the greatness and beauty of nature.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Environmental awareness is the gateway to start adopting the care of nature as a lifestyle, without just looking at it or studying it. For this reason, transmitting love and respect for the environment to children from an early age is a small seed that will grow throughout their life and allow for a more sustainable future.

I libri per bambini they are a simple and fun way to bring the little ones closer to environmental issues, showing them the greatness and beauty of nature, including all the beings that inhabit it. Not only that, through family readings they learn to observe the world around them more carefully, feed their curiosity and creativity and discover environmental problems in a friendly way.

Here is a list of illustrated books - some recent, some not so - through which children and adults can learn together, further strengthening the family bond and that with nature:

Index

The great adventure of the Kalù by Anuska Allepuz (Lapis, 2020)

The best children's books that inspire love and respect for the Planet

Minikalù, Grankalù, Dolcekalù and Nonnokalù are part of a sweet family who love adventures who one day decide to leave in search of a very exotic tropical island. Finding it, they are amazed by its beauty and abundance, so given the quantity and variety of plants they decide to use them to build many boats and prepare endless cakes. But soon they will realize that the island is actually the nose of a hippo who will have to leave his land because they, without thinking, have ended up cutting almost all the plants that surrounded and protected the area from the heat. All together as a big family they will find the solution and remedy the damage they have caused. With simple words and colorful illustrations "The great adventure of the Kalù" speaks of respect for nature and tells how together we can change and improve even adverse situations.

One World by Michael Foreman (Camelozampa, 2020)

How to tell young children about the importance of protecting the Earth? This wonderful book with fascinating illustrations can be a good place to start. Two children create a problem with a simple action, filling a bucket with sea water and to play and make it their world they fill it with everything they consider beautiful. They soon realize how much they have stolen from the real world and understand how it is everyone's job to take care of the planet. The world is one, and its future is truly in our hands.

An Extraordinary Garden by Sam Boughton (Terre di Mezzo Editore, 2018)

A delightful picture book that tells the story of Joe, a child with a vivid imagination that pushes him to bring his gray and boring urban environment to life. Inspired by an idea contained in his favorite book, he finds and plants a small apple seed that, slowly, begins to grow and make an extraordinary garden bloom that fills not only his house, but the whole city with color. An illustrated book about the power of dreams, the magic of nature and the power of sharing.

The woodcutter by Alain Cancilleri (The Green Lion Editions, 2016)

Alain Cancilleri with his silent book makes a lot of noise in the heart. Through his illustrations, in which the protagonist is the woodcutter, he poetically addresses the problem of the exploitation of resources by the human being, showing us how, simply by looking around, we can realize that we are part of a whole and that our actions have of the consequences, for better or for worse. Tagliaboschi is a story of silence and poetry to reconcile with nature, to stimulate interdependence and respect for life.

Small guide for ecoschiappe by E. Saroma-Stepniewska and I. Wierzba, illustrations by Emilia Dziubak (Sinnos, 2015)

Do you leave the tap running while brushing your teeth? Don't you do separate collection? Do you throw papers on the street? Do you use the car for short journeys? Do you waste food and electricity? If you answered yes, then you are echoes, but don't worry, you can change. A fun book in which you will find information and advice to stop consuming without criteria, safeguard the earth and transform yourself into eco-heroes.

The Woman Who Loved Trees by Claire A. Nivola (Jaca Books, 2020)

This book chronicles the life of Kenyan environmentalist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai and his fight against deforestation. With beautiful watercolors and lyrical prose, Claire A. Nivola tells the wonderful story of a woman's improvement and effort to change the fate of the earth by teaching her how to take care of her. A story that makes children aware of the importance of biodiversity and that tells how often small gestures, such as planting a tree, are enough to do great things.

The Magic Tree by Christie Matheson (Gribaudo, 2015)

Through this book we can play and observe the cycle of nature, page after page, sometimes with a hint of waiting, we will look closely at the seasons. In the beginning there is only a bare tree, but if you touch it, clap your hands and shake it, the magic will work! Leafing through it you will immediately think of a book by Herve Tullet but in nature version. Here the protagonists are the tree and the child and by reading it you will infect yourself with love and respect for nature.

Dal Ramo al mare by Shelley Moore Thomas illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Edt - Giralangolo, 2020)

Sometimes it is enough to raise your head to realize that outside there is an immense and wonderful world that awaits us. Living in contact with nature gives us strength and energy, and if we take the time to look and listen to it, we could learn from her wisdom. Trees, stones, sun, bees, birds, the moon, each element has something to teach us. The book tells a whole day of observation of the small and large beauties of nature teaches us what "being human" really means.

Green Girls by Christiana Ruggeri illustrated by Susanna Rumiz (Giunti, 2021)

Available from 21 April in bookstores, this book is an unusual world tour, through the eyes of 32 young environmental activists, who took to the field to denounce and heal the wounds of the planet. Before and after the Greta effect. Young and old can discover unusual corners of the earth, thus becoming passionate about the defense of the world that hosts us: from the Amazon rainforest to the Maori lands, from the Canadian native reserves to the American metropolises, passing through Africa and Europe. A tribute to active youth, which invites you to reflect and invites you to leave the sofa to join them.

The books of Luis Sepúlveda

The stories of the Chilean writer could not be missing. You can read the dedicated article: Not only the seagull and the cat, the Sepúlveda books that teach respect (for the environment, animals and others).

Fortunately, there are many books that talk about respect and love for nature. What other book would you add?