Elliot started preschool last week (cue mom tears) and although it’s quite heartbreaking that my little boy isn’t that little anymore, I couldn’t be happier watching him grow. He is attending a beautiful Waldorf school three days a week and we will be doing our nature studies during the other week days (with a flexible schedule depending on how he feels). We casually dove into some nature curriculum last week and will work up to something a little more structured once we settle into our new daily rhythm. I like to use these general subject nature books as a starting point for Elliot to choose subjects. We then create unit studies for the ones that he shows interest that also contain other resources that are more specialized.
Here are some of our favorite nature books that we’ll be using at home for our nature studies. I’ll be highlighting some general nature guides as well as some great book series that cover a variety of subject matter. These books are great resources whether you’re following a nature-based homeschool curriculum, doing mini lesson nature studies on the weekend or simply are looking to inspire your little one to go outside and explore. I chose books that I felt were versatile and could be applied during any season that have a lot of pictures and information. I hope that you find something to inspire your little one!
August 2020 update– we’re homeschooling this year! We still love and use these books in our home and are excited to incorporate them into our curriculum this year.
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
This book is a staple in our household and is the one that I usually recommend to friends as a good general nature guide. It’s easy to navigate and gives a nice overview of nature without being too overwhelming. It covers a nice selection of flora, fauna and geography and although it is not a comprehensive guide, it has enough variety to hold interest. The pages are separated by subject and contain tons of beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. The drawings are clear and nicely labeled, so it’s easy for children to notice specific characteristics that will help them identify different species of animals and plant life. A wonderful book, either as an introduction to nature or to supplement your nature studies.
The Variety of Life by Nicola Davies
This is another great general nature guide that I love. The pages are separated by subject so it is really easy for kids to navigate on their own. The watercolor illustrations are really lovely and the book covers a nice selection of flora, fauna and other forms of life. I love the sections that cover slugs and mushrooms! Another great book to supplement your nature studies or to introduce your child to basic nature subjects.
Curious Kids Nature Guide by Fiona Cohen
This book is divided into four sections based on habitat — forest, beach, fresh water and urban parks. Each section covers common plants, animals and fungi that you may come across in each of these areas. There is enough subject variety to hold interest without being overwhelming and there’s a good ratio of illustrated pages to pages full of text information. This book is geared towards the Pacific Northwest region, however I felt like the animals and plants covered were common and relatable regardless of your location. I love the illustrations in this one because they are very detailed and scientifically accurate. This is another great addition to your collection and would be a good choice to bring along with you in the field.
The Curious Nature Guide by Clare Walker Leslie
This guide is divided into three sections — begin, discover and connect. It is filled with prompts that encourage you to open your senses, observe your surroundings and connect with nature. There are a lot of exercises that encourage creativity, such as drawing and journaling to record your nature observations. It’s well written, thoughtful and contains a lot of good ideas that you can easily incorporate into your nature studies. A great read to help deepen your connection with nature.
My First Discovery Series published by Moonlight Publishing and Scholastic
This is definitely my favorite book series because the way they are structured is so unique. The detail I love about these books is that they contain several transparent overlay pages that add dimension to the illustrations. These books are great as an introduction to nature for younger children as they are small, compact and contain a great selection of interesting facts. We have several favorites from this series — “The Bee” has a really interesting section showing how cells are built. “Woods and Forests” has a wonderful section with a transparent page that when turned, shows the leaves changing color with the season. The books from this series have transitioned well with us from the toddler stage to our current nature homeschool stage.
Take Along Nature Guide Series by various authors
Small and mighty! These compact guides are packed with interesting information and are great to bring along with you in the field. There are several subjects to choose from and each book is easy to read, well written and contains a lot of facts. Although elementary age children would get the most out of these guides, younger children will enjoy the pictures and can grow into them. You’ll also find prompts and places to record observations. A favorite from the series is “Trees, Leaves and Bark”, which shows you how to identify the leaves, barks and seeds from different trees.
Nature series by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
Each book in this beautifully illustrated series is full of factual information and are great for older children, although younger children can also enjoy them if you break the information up for them. The main text reads like a story and has additional facts on each page. Some subjects also include pages with illustrations of different species. A favorite from this series is “An Egg is Quiet” which has a section that shows the life cycle of an embryo. We’ve used these books during nature studies and for bedtime stories so they are quite versatile!
“About Animals” series by Owen Davey
If you’re looking for a book that has both style and substance — this series is for you! The illustrations are simply stunning, and the information that accompanies them is engaging and well written. There are a handful of books in this series with subjects such as frogs, cats and beetles. Each section of the book is laid out on a two page spread and the illustrations are colorful and appealing for young readers. The text is quite in-depth, so this book would be ideal for elementary age children. I think it’s definitely adaptable for younger children though, since the author does a good job of visually demonstrating a lot of the facts. A favorite from this series is “Fanatical About Frogs” which covers the differences between various species, life cycle, development and other interesting aspects such as body temperature.
About Nature Series for Children by Cathryn Sill and John Sill
This is a great series for very young children as an introduction to nature. There are several subjects such as birds, reptiles and sea life. The text is simple and the stories are short (each page has one short simple sentence in large type) so these would be great books for beginning readers. There is also an afterward section at the end of the book that contains additional facts for extra reading. “About Birds: A Guide for Children” is a wonderful, light hearted and a favorite.
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Cortney says
Thank you for these wonderful suggestions! You led me to finding “The Egg” from My First Discovery Series – the perfect introductory book for my nephew before we get backyard chickens.
Always excited for the content you put out! Thanks again. 🙂
Woodlark says
Hi Cortney! That’s so wonderful to hear. My son is an avid bird lover and “The Egg” is one of his favorites. This book has a really fun layout and he is going to love it! And thank you so much for the kind words 🙂