This Thursday, 3rd March, we are celebrating World Book Day. It’s a joyous event in many schools across the country, abuzz with delight and surprise of spotting many fantastic book characters, coming to life in the school corridors.
We are coming to you with a fantastic list of book recommendations from across our team, all with an environmental focus. You will find childhood classics, new releases, stories to stir the spirit, or calm it down. It’s a celebration of storytelling and love for nature, memories to be reflected on and yet to be made. Stories that unify us, inspire and set off a spark of curiosity. We hope you enjoy!
1. The classics
· Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (age range 7+)
· Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann (age range 7+), shared by Sally from our Communication and Fundraising team, who said she “gained a love of wildlife” through this book.
· The Lorax by Dr Seuss (age range 4+), named as a “seminal” read by Ben from our Programmes and Partnerships team.
2. Hidden gems
· The Last Wild by Piers Torday (age range 9+)
· Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo (age range 9+)
· Memory of Water by Emmi Itaranta (age range 13+)
· The Troubled Times trilogy (Water’s Edge, Power’s Out, Earth’s Descent) by Rachel Meehan (age range 12+)
· The Lost Words: A Spell Book by Robert Macfarlane (age range 3+), shared by Emily from our Programmes and Partnerships team, who said it “is amazing for adults and children. It's absolutely beautiful and about nature words that are being lost”.
· Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers (age range 3+)
3. New releases
· Elephant in my Kitchen! by Smriti Halls (age range 3+), recommended by Abi from the Programmes and Partnerships team. She says it’s “all about the problem when all the animals have to come and live at my house because we’ve spoilt their homes”.
· Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (age range 9+), named as a “brilliant” new book by Caroline from our Science, Policy and Innovation team.
· We have a Dream: Meet 30 Young Indigenous People and People of Colour Protecting the Planet by Dr Mya-Rose Craig (age range 7+), shared by Megan from our Education team. We are particularly fond of this one, as Dr Mya-Rose Craig is a brilliant voice in the environmental sector and a collaborator at Earthwatch.
· Earth Heroes: Twenty Inspiring Stories of People Saving Our World by Lily Dyu (age range 8+)
· Slow Down by Rachel Williams (age range 5+)
· We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (age range 3+)
· The Last Garden by Rachel Ip (age range 6+)
· Pip and Egg by Alex Latimer (age range 3+)
Age ranges for the books are listed for convenience, but by no means prescribed.
Which books would you recommend to add to this list? Share your favourites in the comments!