Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children. Angela Hanscom, $23.95

Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions.

Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program — that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis — author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help children thrive, even in an urban environment.

Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. With this book, you’ll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Barefoot Book of Earth Tales. Dawn Casey & Anne Wilson, $18.99 (ages 6-10)

In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story.

The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea. Helaine Becker, illustrated by Willow Dawson, $10.95

You don't need a day at the beach to learn all about the ocean and discover how important it is to protect them. This terrific collection of experiments, games and earth-friendly ideas will make ocean-science a breeze!

The Bug Book and Bug Bottle. Hugh Danks, $25.95

A Child’s Introduction to the Environment. Michael Driscoll & Dennis Driscoll, illustrated by Meredith Hamilton, $26.95

The air, earth and sea around us — this book is full of fun experiments, projects and activities you can do to help our planet!

The Children’s Book of Green Habits. Sophie Giles, illustrated by Kate Davies, $13.99

Help your child to discover that the world is a happier and more sustainable place if they have green habits!

Counting On the Future. Matt Richter, $10.95

This clever book is so much more than a 1-10 counting book. Each page expresses a number by using pictures of sustainable concepts — from solar panels to carpooling. A lovely book for very young children just learning to count, and for older children as a starting point for discussions about sustainable resources.

Deep Roots: How Trees Sustain Our Planet. Nikki Tate, $19.95 (ages 8-12)

Most of us see trees every day, and too often we take them for granted. Trees provide us with everything from food, fuel and shelter to oxygen and filtered water. Deep Roots celebrates the central role trees play in our lives, no matter where we live. Each chapter in Deep Roots focuses on a basic element — water, air, fire and earth — and explores the many ways in which we need trees to keep our planet healthy and livable. From making rain to producing fruit to feeding fish, trees play an integral role in maintaining vibrant ecosystems all over the world. Facts about trees and hands-on activities throughout help readers discover ways to get to know our giant neighbors better.

Discovering Nature with Young Children. Ingrid Chalufour & Karen Worth, $35.95 (ages 3-6)

Explore the wonders of the natural world with the naturally curious child.

The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming. Laurie David & Cambria Gordon, $17.99

Earth to Kids — You can make a difference! What is Global Warming? Wacky Weather Explained! Why Extinction Stinks! How YOU Can Change the World!

This essential guide will help you understand why global warming happens, how it affects the planet, and the simple steps you can take to get involved in protecting the environment.

Early Childhood Activities for a Greener Earth. Patty Born Selly, $35.95

Help children explore the environment and develop a sense of wonder, curiosity, and joy for nature. Each chapter focuses on a common and important environmental topic, such as waste reduction and recycling, air quality, weather and climate change, and energy reduction, as well as activities that provide a foundation to educate children about our world through experience and play. EARLY CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES FOR A GREENER EARTH is filled with information to excite children, engage families, and encourage your community to be green. 

The Earth and I. Frank Asch, $10.00 (ages 4-6)

This is the story of our very special friendship with the Earth.

Eco Literate: How Educators are Cultivating Emotional, Social and Ecological Intelligence. Daniel Goleman, Lisa Bennett & Zenobia Barlow, $27.95

Hopeful, eloquent, and bold, ECO LITERATE offers inspiring stories, practical guidance, and an exciting new model of education that builds — in vitally important ways — on the success of social and emotional learning by addressing today's most important ecological issues.

The book shares stories of pioneering educators, students, and activists engaged in issues related to food, water, oil, and coal in communities from the mountains of Appalachia to a small village in the Arctic. ECO LITERATE marks a rich collaboration between Daniel Goleman and the Center for Ecoliteracy, an organization best known for its pioneering work with school gardens, school lunches, and integrating ecological principles and sustainability into school curricula. For nearly twenty years the Center has worked with schools and organizations in more than 400 communities across the United States and numerous other countries. 

Educating Young Children through Natural Water: How to Use Coastlines, Rivers and Lakes to Promote Learning and Development. Judit Horvath, $49.95

The natural environment and its almost daunting size touches something deep within the children and — surprisingly — the large space brings them closer together. This book provides a comprehensive guide to Natural Water School provision by exploring its special pedagogy, the organisation and management of the Water School session and discussing the learning environment and its implications for children’s wellbeing and development. It clearly explains the key principles of this recently developed, contemporary approach and sets out a framework for setting up and leading a Natural Water School programme. The book shows how the aims and outcomes of early years education, including the Early Years Foundation Stage can all be achieved within the Natural Water School environment and is supported by examples and case studies throughout. Full of practical suggestions and activities, it includes:

• Activity ideas covering topics such as wildlife, sensory activities, crafts, social development, physical play and construction in different seasons
• Unique teaching tools to observe and develop the children
• Ideas for working with children of different ages and learning styles
• Detailed guidance on health and safety including risk assessments

Energy Island: How One Island Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World. Allan Drummond, $19.95 (ages 6 and up)

It’s windy on the Danish island of Samsǿ. Meet the environmentally friendly folks who, in a few short years, worked together for energy independence, and who now proudly call their home Energy Island!

Every Breath We Take: a Book about Air. Maya Ajmera & Dominique Browning, $18.95

Clean air is essential for all living creatures — plants, animals, and people — to live healthy lives. Every Breath We Take is a positive, life-affirming look at clean air, with a subtle message about how air can be dirtied — and how it can be cleaned up. 

Exceptional Women Environmentalists. Frances Rooney, $10.95 (ages 9-13)

EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN ENVIRONMENTALISTS profiles ten advocates for the earth and shows how ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Gabby & Grandma Go Green. Monica Wellington, $21.00 (ages 4-6)

Gabby and her grandmother have a wonderful “green” day together doing crafts, going to the market and going to the library.

The Geography of Childhood: Why Children Need Wild Places. Gary Nabhan & Stephen Trimble, $26.95

In this unique collaboration, two naturalists ask what may happen now that so many more children are denied exposure to wildness than at any other time in human history.

The Goodness of Rain: Developing an Ecological Identity in Young Children. Ann Pelo, $39.95

To nurture ecological identity in young children, we invite them into relationship with the world beyond walls and with the creatures that live there. We invite them into ethical thinking anchored by the compassion that comes from caring and engaged relationships. We invite them to come home to the Earth, and to live honorably in that home. Join author Ann Pelo on her year-long journey as she nurtures the ecological identity of a toddler and discovers for herself what it means to live in relationship with the natural world.

The Great Big Green Book. Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith, $20.99

From a simple introduction to our home in Space,  the authors explain what we need for life on Earth, and show the importance of the rainforests and the oceans; they stress the need to look after our planet and show how some of the things we take for granted are running out, and how we have polluted so much of our planet. The action plans include saving water, saving energy, recycling, repairing, growing seasonal food, cooking fresh food, saving on packing, asking questions… and thinking of new inventions and big ideas.

Green Babies, Sage Moms: the Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby. Lynda Fassa, $16.50

A practical guide for new mothers in raising a "green" family-and doing it simply and inexpensively. Filled with necessary and convenient advice that takes the reader from the first months of pregnancy and beyond, this indispensable book explains:

• The safest ways to get the house ready for the baby
• The best baby gear-from clothes to crib mattresses
• Organic recipes for health-conscious breastfeeding moms
• How to throw a green baby shower
• The best solutions for storing breast milk safely
• How to keep play areas safe from chemicals
• How to handle the diaper dilemma: wash vs. toss
• And much more!

Green Guide Families: the Complete Reference for Eco-friendly Parents. Catherine Zandonella, Editor,  $26.95

Here’s a guide to eco-friendly parenting that's expertly organized and filled with practical advice, definitive explanations, and imaginative ideas. Addressing the key environmental issues faced by parents of young children today, this book takes a straightforward approach to such urgent concerns as lead-painted toys; the risks and benefits of vaccinations, antibiotics, and vitamins; the potential side effects of plastic bottles and containers; how to manage food allergies and avoid fat- and sugar-filled snacks; and much more.

Green Kids, Sage Families: the Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Kids. Lynda Fassa, $16.50

A guide to going green that will fit your lifestyle — and save you money — while protecting your kids and the environment.

Green Mama: Giving Your Child a Healthy Start and a Greener Future. Manda Aufochs Gillespie, $19.99

From choosing environmentally friendly diapers to identifying the hidden toxins in children’s food, cribs, car seats, and toys, Green Mama discusses topics that are vitally important to new parents.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie, shares what today’s science and Grandma’s traditional wisdom tell us about prenatal care for mothers-to-be, breastfeeding, detoxifying the nursery, diapering, caring for baby’s skin, feeding a family, and healthy play — redefining the “basics” of parenting for today’s world. With an upbeat tone, stories of parents who have “been there,” real-world advice for when money matters more, and practical steps geared toward immediate success, Green Mama helps parents become what they were always meant to be: experts on the care of their own children.

How to Raise a Wild Child: the Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature. Scott Sampson, $22.95

American children spend four to seven minutes a day playing outdoors — 90 percent less time than their parents did. Yet recent research indicates that experiences in nature are essential for healthy growth. Regular exposure to nature can help relieve stress, depression, and attention deficits. It can reduce bullying, combat illness, and boost academic scores. Most critical of all, abundant time in nature seems to yield long-term benefits in kids’ cognitive, emotional, and social development. Yet teachers, parents, and other caregivers lack a basic understanding of how to engender a meaningful, lasting connection between children and the natural world. 

How to Raise a Wild Child offers a timely and engaging antidote, showing how kids’ connection to nature changes as they mature. Distilling the latest research in multiple disciplines, Sampson reveals how adults can help kids fall in love with nature — enlisting technology as an ally, taking advantage of urban nature, and instilling a sense of place along the way.

I Love Our Earth. Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson & Dan Lipow, $9.95 (ages 4 and up)

There are so many wonderful things to love about our Earth, our shared home.

An Inconvenient Truth: the Crisis of Global Warning (Revised and Adapted Edition for Younger readers). Al Gore, $20.00 (ages 8 to 14)

Former Vice President Al Gore's New York Times #1 bestselling book is a daring call to action, exposing the shocking reality of how humankind has aided in the destruction of our planet and the future we face if we do not take action to stop global warming. Now, An Inconvenient Truth has been adapted for the most important audience of all: today's youth, who have no choice but to confront this climate crisis head-on.

Dramatic full-color photos, illustrations, and graphs combine with Gore's effective and clear writing to explain global warming in very real terms: what it is, what causes it, and what will happen if we continue to ignore it. An Inconvenient Truth will change the way young people understand global warming and hopefully inspire them to help change the course of history.

It’s a Jungle Out There! 52 Nature Adventures for City Kids. Jennifer Ward, $16.00

Just because you live in the city doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nature! This compact guide offers 52 nature-focused explorations, adventures, observations and games that can help children connect to nature while living in the city.

Turn your gaze to the cracks in the sidewalk, the trees on the street, and the green spaces every city offers. Become an urban birder, make observations and keep records of what you find. Discover the not-so-hidden pockets of nature right where you live.

Kenya's Art: Recycle! Reuse! Make Art! Linda Trice, illustrated by hazel Mitchell, $18.95

Kenya’s class is on spring vacation and their teacher asked them to write a report about how they spent their time. But vacation is almost over and Kenya hasn't done anything worth noting. A late visit to a museum's recycling exhibit and a walk through her neighborhood with her daddy inspire Kenya to use her old, broken toys and other items to make art with her family. Now she's prepared to teach her whole class how to Recycle! Reuse! Make Art!

A Kids’ Guide to Climate Change & Global Warming. Cahtryn Berger Kaye, $7.95 (Grades 6 & up)

Do you want service learning activities and projects for middle and high school kids that make a difference on the local, national, and global scene? This workbook is what you need.

The workbooks encourages kids to explore what others in the world have done and are doing to address the issues; to find out what their own community needs, and to develop a service project. The workbook includes facts, quotations, real-life examples, write-on pages, resources, a note to adults — and a lot of inspiration to get out there and make a difference in the world.

Kids & Nature In a Jar®: Easy Ways to Love and Learn About the Outdoors. $14.99

Green ideas, fresh facts, inspiring quotations, and nature activities will stir kids to explore nature.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Richard Louv, $23.95

As children’s connections to nature diminish and the social, psychological, and spiritual implications become apparent, new research shows that nature can offer powerful therapy for such maladies as depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv talks with parents, children, teachers, scientists, religious leaders, child-development researchers, and environmentalists who recognize the threat and offer solutions. Louv shows us an alternative future, one in which parents help their kids experience the natural world more deeply — and find the joy of family connectedness in the process.

Learn Every Day about Our Green Earth: 100 Best Ideas from Teachers. Kathy Charner, $18.50 (PK to K)

100 classroom-tested activities that engage young learners and help teachers incorporate discussions about caring for the Earth into any curriculum.

Lens on Outdoor Learning. Wendy Banning & Ginny Sullivan, $55.95

The outdoors is filled with rich learning experiences for young children. Packed with colorful photographs and detailed stories about children exploring and experiencing nature, Lens on Outdoor Learning will inspire you to facilitate and encourage children's learning as they spend time in nature. Each story describes how children naturally explore and create their own learning experiences outdoors. Using images, children's dialogue and actions, you will see how the natural world supports joyful and meaningful learning.

Luz Sees the Light. Claudia Dávila, $8.95

Change is in the air! One minute, Luz and her friends are snacking on chocolate bars and getting rides to the mall. The next, Luz's mom can't afford gas or groceries and the city is dimmed by blackouts. Luz is NOT the type to sit in the dark, so she sets her heart on transforming her fossil-fueled world. But how much can one twelve-year-old do?

My Singing Arboretum/Mon arboretum chanté/Mi arboretum cantado: Three Trees of North America. Mélanie-Rose Cantin, $28.00

Did you know that every tree has a story that we can sing? In a musical garden, discover the trees of the world. let yourself be carried away by the music, words, and images with this beautiful book/CD set. Ideal for use in a preschool setting, this is the first volume in a series of five that will explore trees from each continent.

The Native Stories from Keepers of the Animals, Told by Joseph Bruchac. Michael Caduto & Joseph Bruchac, $14.95

Perennial favourites with educators, the bestselling "Keepers" series presents environmental issues from a Native perspective.

Not Your Typical Book About the Environment. Elin Kelsey, illustrated by Clayton Hanmer, $12.95

This is a world where video games are connected to gorillas and bees can help bring world peace. Where buses can be powered by poop and geckos can teach surgeons about bandages. This is a world where hope is possible and so much is sustainable — food, energy, cities and even happiness.

On Thin Ice. Jamie Bastedo, $14.95 (novel, ages 13+)

In a tiny Arctic hamlet, a teenager's mangled body is found lying on the ice. COuld a rapidly changing Arctic climate have driven a polar bear, starving and afraid, this close to human habitation? On Thin Ice is the story of Ashley Anowiak, a gifted northern youth struggling to understand her spiritual connection to polar bears. While seeking answers about her culture, climate and environment seem to be crumbling all around her.

This 2006 Alberta YA Book of the Year also has a Companion Teacher's Guide, Polar Bears in a Climate of Change, which includes a novel study. (Available online when the book is purchased).

One Well. Rochelle Strauss, illustrated by Rosemary Woods, $19.95 (Grades 3 and up)

Almost 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered with water. And all that water is connected — every raindrop, lake, underground river and glacier is part of a single global well. A single splash can sprout a seed, quench a thirst, provide a habitat, generate energy and sustain life. How we treat the water in the well will affect every species on the planet, now and for years to come. One Well shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect our global well — and why we need to pay attention.

Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet. Janet Wilson, $18.95

Here is a wonderful collection of true stories about kids from around the world who each had an idea that started small and turned into something big. All of them — helping our planet.

Raising Baby Green: the Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care. Alan Greene, et al, $18.99

In this illustrated and easy-to-use guide, noted pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, a leading voice of the green baby movement, advises parents how to make healthy green choices for pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care — from feeding your baby the best food available to using medicines wisely. Consumer advocate Jeanette Pavini includes information for making smart choices and applying green principles to a whole new universe of products from zero-VOC paints for the nursery, to pure and gentle lotions for baby’s delicate skin, to the eco-friendly diapers now in the marketplace, as well as specific recommendations for hundreds of other products.

The Secret of Water: for the Children of the World. Masuru Emoto, $16.99

The Secret of Water introduces children to the wondrous world of water and shows why treating this precious resource with respect is so vital to our personal health and the well-being of the planet.

Severn and the Day She Silenced the World. Janet Wilson, $14.95

When Severn Cullis-Suzuki was just nine years old, she and four friends travelled to Brazil, to the very first Earth Summit, to speak to politicians and environmentalists. They challenged them to take action, and to create change.

Sheila Says We're Weird (but we're just green). Ruth Ann Smalley, illustrated by Jennifer Emery, $9.95

Sheila is either hanging over the back fence or hanging out with her neighbors. They’re interesting, but they're weird. Why do they hang their laundry outside instead of using the dryer? Why are they riding their bikes to the library instead of just using the car? Why do they mow their lawn with a push mower when a gas mower is much faster? But Sheila discovers that their homemade soup sure tastes good, that she likes picking cherry tomatoes and strawberries in their garden, and it’s pretty cozy to sit around the woodstove in the winter. Are Sheila’s neighbors really weird, or do they have some good ideas going on?

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health. Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie, $19.95

Funny, thought-provoking, and incredibly disturbing, Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals that just the living of daily life creates a chemical soup inside each of us. Pollution is no longer just about belching smokestacks and ugly sewer pipes now, it s personal. Ultimately hopeful, the book empowers readers with some simple ideas for protecting themselves and their families, and changing things for the better.

Snow Children. Masako Yamashita, $17.95

This lovely picture book introduces the topic of global warming to young children, through the story of two snow children who wonder what the problem is.

The Specific Ocean. Kyo Maclear, illustrated by  Katty Maurey, $18.95

In this gently told picture book, a young girl is unhappy about having to leave the city for a family vacation on the Pacific Ocean (which she used to call the Specific Ocean). As the days pass, however, she is drawn to spend more time in and near the water, feeling moved by its beauty and rhythms. By the end of the vacation, the girl has grown to love the ocean and now feels reluctant to leave it behind.

This book would make a lyrical read-aloud that could lull young children into an appreciation for the peaceful joy found in nature. It also presents a compelling emotional component to why conserving our natural spaces is important, and would work well for any classroom science discussion on the environment or on the ocean as a habitat and ecosystem.

Spit That Out! The Overly Informed Parent's Guide to Raising Healthy Kids in the Age of Environmental Guilt. Paige Wolf, $16.95

From BPA in baby bottles and asbestos in crayons to misleading "natural" labels — it can despair even the most steadfast parent. Lighthearted yet authoritative, Spit That Out! cuts through the information overload, sorts cloth from disposable, and empowers readers to make simple but impactful changes.

Hot-button topics include food, toys, breast milk and diapers, clothing, the hidden toxins in schools, and how to spot green-washing from a mile away. Bursting with valuable advice on green vacations, how to handle unsupportive friends and family, and how to be green on a budget.

This Is My Planet: the Kids’ Guide to Global Warming. Jan Thornhill, $12.95

This Is My Planet offers a clear and fascinating view of our world’s interconnections. By seeing how we all fit in, readers will discover how even small actions can add up to big changes.

The Three R’s — Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Núria Roca, illustrated by Rosa Curto, $8.50 (ages 4-6)

To Look Closely: Science and Literacy in the Natural World. Laurie Rubin, $28.95

Discover how nature study can help students become careful, intentional observers of all they see, growing into stronger readers, writers, mathematicians, and scientists in the process. From setting a tone of inquiry-based thinking in the classroom to suggesting specific units of study for reading, writing, and science, this book will guide you step by step through the basics of integrating the skills acquired during nature study into every subject. You will also discover all the ways that this purposeful work nurtures "green" citizens who become determined to respect and protect the natural environment.

Vitamin N: 500 Ways to Enrich the Health & Happiness of Your Family and Community. Richard Louv, $23.95

From Richard Louv, the bestselling author who defined the term “nature-deficit disorder,” Vitamin N (for “nature”) is a complete prescription for connecting with the power and joy of the natural world right now, Vitamin N is a practical guidebook for the whole family, offering parents eager to share nature with their kids tips, activities, and ideas for young and old alike.

Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City. Debroah Hodge, photographs by Brian Harris, $16.95

A city is a great place to grow food. Front years, backyards, balconies, rooftops, windowsills, parks — people are planting gardens and growing delicious, healthy food for themselves and others to eat; and making the city a better place to live!

We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers. Lauren Child, $18.50

Charlie, his little sister Lola and all their friends are very good recyclers indeed. They have some extra-specially special tips for readers on how to take care of their planet and they’ve even included a completely useful and fun recycling poster!

What Can You Do with Only One Shoe? Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent. Simon & Sheryl Shapiro, $9.95

This book explores some of the things you can do with old cans and wire, a toilet, or shoe.

Repurposing's clever, and fun to do too!

Where's the Elephant? Barroux, $20.00

A simple game of hide-and-seek quickly takes a new twist as a growing city encroaches on the jungle the animals call home. A thoughtful introduction to the topic of deforestation and conservation.

You Are the Earth: Know Your World So You Can Help Make It Better. David Suzuki & Kathy Vanderlinden, Illustrated by Wallace Edwards, $22.95

This beautifully illustrated book explains how everything on Earth is connected and interdependent. It’s packed with scientific facts, fun activities, stories, traditions, and tips for how you can make the world a kinder, healthier, better place.