April 22, 2025 is Earth Day. Earth Day, as most people know, is a global event to help raise awareness about environmental issues as well as to promote environmental conservation and protection.

The first Earth Day was held in 1970. Sadly, I don’t recall anything about Earth Day growing up. I guess the school district I attended didn’t think much about it. I’m grateful that schools (at least the district I work in) does do activities to help children understand the importance of Earth Day, as well as way they can help our planet. 

As a parent myself, I think that even young children (such as Kindergarteners) and older can understand Earth Day related things, as well as be taught ways to help protect our planet. From recycling to planting trees, even the youngest family member can help with those things (and more!). 

If your school doesn’t celebrate Earth Day, or you want to do something together as a family, there are plenty of wonderful ideas available online. There is an official website, EarthDay.org. There are also a plethora of ideas found on Google and places like Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram. 

One way you can get your child excited about Earth Day, or help them learn about important issues pertaining to protecting our planet, here are some wonderful book suggestions from publishers such as Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree.

The Great Pollinator Count

Written by Susan Edwards Richmond and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

** This book will not be released until April 15, 2025

Mellie joins other Science Club members for the Great Pollinator Count and discovers the value of teamwork in community science. Young readers will be inspired to join a pollinator count in their own community!

If I ask you what insects help to pollinate plants, what would you say? I bet almost everyone would say bees. While that is a correct answer, there are also MANY insects (as well as birds and animals) that help with pollination. Even though I consider myself a smart person, I often forget that other insects have a role to play in the pollination process.

This book is a great way to teach children to respect insects by realizing the important role they play. I love that this book also has great illustrations to help children come to know more about the various insects.

In the back of the book the author also provides a detailed glossary, resources, and information about America’s largest regional pollinator count. I think it’s great that the author included ways to learn more.

I appreciate that this book also details a great way for schools and classrooms can learn more about pollinators by having a class/school community garden. I have seen stories about schools with their own gardens. I think that is a fabulous idea and I wish more schools would get on board with something like that.

I like how this book highlights teamwork too.

Rock’s Journey

Written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Kim Smith.

Rolling boulders here and there . . . In the launch of her first board-book series, an award-winning nonfiction author brings the youngest explorers close to nature’s wonders in action.

When you come across an interesting rock or pebble when you are out and about, have you ever given any thought as to how it got there? Did you know that rocks, pebbles, even sand come from mountains and cliffs in the form of giant boulders? That’s right… gains of sand were once boulders (or parts of boulders). But how did they whittle down to such a tiny size?

In this book, young readers will learn about how rocks go from mountains to the beach, and what happens to them along the way. This book is based on factual information.

The illustrations even include prehistoric times, seeing as how many rocks have been making their journeys for thousands, if not millions, of years.

After reading this book, you and your child will never look at a rock the same way again, and you’ll learn to appreciate their special journey that brought them to where you find them today.

River’s Journey

Written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Kim Smith.

River flowing, where’s it going? In the launch of her first board-book series, an award-winning nonfiction author brings the youngest explorers close to nature’s wonders in action.

Just like with Rock’s Journey, the author teaches young readers how rushing rivers are formed. Ms. Smith’s illustrations in both books also bring the information “alive.” I think her illustrations are beautiful and ideal for both of these books.

It’s hard to believe that a mighty river starts out as a little trickle along the way. Factors such as melting snow and rain also contribute to the formation of rivers.

I like that the author keeps asking the reader where the water is going. I like that it asks questions of the reader to challenge them to think about the material and make hypothesis of what they think will happen next.

As it is with Rock’s Journey, I won’t look at a river the same way again and I will appreciate how each and every drop of water came to be in the river.

Speaking of rivers, I happen to live about ten minutes away from the Hudson River in New York. The Hudson River extends from near our capital, Albany, all the way down to New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.

The following book is ham packed with the history of the Hudson River, as well as it’s importance to the region (and more!).

Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River

Written by Nancy F. Castaldo

**This book will be released on April 22, 2025

Dive headfirst into the history of environmental activism in the Hudson River watershed and learn how you can help organizations like Riverkeeper protect clean water around the globe!

I grew up near the Hudson River all my life. Before I moved to where I live now I lived about 15 minutes or so from the Hudson River. I’ve swam in the river, picnicked near the river, been on a boat in the river, and taken a lot of photos of the river. When I was in college working on my Associates Degree I took a conservation course that met at a satellite site next to the river. I did learn A LOT about the river and the creatures that call it home, but honestly, that was decades ago and I forgot a lot of what I learned. We also didn’t learn about the history of the river and the organizations that protect this beautiful river.

This book is geared more towards older children (and adults). It’s geared towards children 10-13 years old, but as an adult, I found the information very interesting. I didn’t know that back in the 60’s there was so much pollution, including oil, in the river. I mean, I see pollution along the river banks, but I didn’t know that back in the day it was so bad that it was killing the watershed and the creatures that called the river home.

This is not included in the book, but dolphins, sharks and even whales have been seen in the Hudson River (closer to the river’s end in the New York City area). Sightings of such creatures indicate that the water is cleaner than it was and that the fish are alive and well for feeding. Pretty cool, right?

There are plenty of other great books from Candlewick Press, Holiday House and Peachtree in regards to Earth Day, as well as everyday reading books.

For more information visit Candlewick Press at Candlewick.com, Holiday House at HolidayHouse.com and Peachtree Publishers at PeachtreeBooks.com.

You can also check them all out on social media.

Instagram: @candlewickpress, @holidayhousebks, @peachtreeteen

X: @candlewick, @holidayhousebks, @peachtreeteen

TikTok: @candlewickpress, @holidayhousebks, @peachtreeteen

Facebook: @candlewickpressbooks, @holidayhousebks, @peachtreepub

These books are available at many retail locations including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.