Five Faves: Picture Books About Nature

Usually I am happiest in the middle of summer when I can be outside kayaking, reading a book, hiking, stargazing, or watching little ones play at a park. When the warm sun beckons me outside I tend to fall in love with nature and the outdoors all over again. Here are five favorite picture books that show some sort of love of nature. Enjoy! 

Apple and Magnolia 

By Laura Gehl 

Illustrated by Patricia Metola 

Flyaway Books, 2022. Picture Book.

This is a story of an unlikely friendship. The friendship between two trees—an apple and a magnolia tree. Britta is a young girl who notices their friendship and then notices one day that magnolia’s branches are starting to droop. Eventually Britta realizes that the best medicine for magnolia’s sagging limbs is to get help and support from the apple tree. A brilliant story about how nature and friendship are the best medicine. 

The Boy with Flowers in His Hair 

By Jarvis 

Candlewick Press, 2022. Picture Book.

One of the most beloved parts of nature are flowers. This book is all about flowers—only the flowers grow in a very unusual place (on David’s head). Everyone loves David’s flowers, especially his best friend. But one day David comes to school with a hat, which when taken off reveals that his flowers aren’t quite the same. This book is all about how friendships can bolster people and how flowers can regrow. Beautiful. 

Lizzy and the Cloud 

By the Fan Brothers 

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book.

Lizzy is a young girl who buys a cloud on a string at a park (even though it isn’t in fashion). She names the cloud Milo and takes it out for walks, waters it, and watches it grow. But what happens when Milo gets too big for Lizzy’s room? (Hint: the answer is very stormy, since this is a cloud after all.) This is a beautiful story that mixes a sort of magical realism with the emotions that come with knowing when to let something go. 

Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play among Figures of Speech 

By Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek 

Illustrated by Richard Jones 

Candlewick Press, 2022. Informational.

In this collection of poetry, Kooser and Wanek share poems in four general categories: air, earth, fire, and water. These delightful poems explore all kinds of figures of speech and take readers on an imaginative journey through the world—especially nature. After reading these poems readers may never look at trees or snow or clouds or cow pies the same way again. 

Once Upon a Forest 

By Pam Fong 

Random House Studio, 2022. Picture Book.

When a fire leaves a forest smoldering, a marmot and a bird set off with a little wagon of supplies to help. This wordless picture book shows how the duo clear off the charred trees and prepare the land to plant new seedlings to help the land recover. The illustrations are gorgeous and this book is basically a love note to nature and helping nature heal.