Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day to remind everyone to care for our planet, including the land, water and air all around us. Getting outside to explore nature is a great way to celebrate this environmental holiday.
One easy way to explore and appreciate nature in the city is to go birding, or birdwatching. Not sure where to start? Get some help in How to Bird. Birds live in every part of the world, so anyone can become a birder simply by using their senses of sight and sound to notice the birds in their environment. The expressive photographic illustrations highlight that, no matter where you live or what you look like, you can bird. The author includes a glossary and a list of inclusive birding organizations so you can find out more about how to get involved.
Beyond observing and recording birds you see, you might want to collect leaves, sticks or rocks. You could draw pictures of animals or their habitats. In The Nature Journal: A Backyard Adventure, Tim and his dad share a love of the outdoors. Just like his dad did as a kid, Tim creates journals of his observations and collections. Even when his dad can't spend the day with him, Tim dreams of adventures they can have together, and they plan the next time they will be able to add more pages to their nature journal together.
Learn why celebrating Earth Day as a holiday matters by reading about how people have slowly changed the Earth. To Change A Planet explores how one person can have an impact, both in contributing to climate change and also in working to solve it. Carefully researched, this informational picture book shares scientific facts in a gentle, age-appropriate way, and focuses on the hope we have for contributing to solutions for our natural world now and in the future.
Most importantly, remember that You Are Part of the Wonder! This beautifully illustrated book encourages children and their families to spend time outside and enjoy the wonder of our natural world, from tiny insects in the grass to huge spaces full of sunlight. By just being outdoors, quietly observing plants, animals, weather and the Earth itself, we can feel the wonder and awe of nature and be inspired to play a part in caring for our planet.
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