Adventure Awaits: Summer Reading Adventures for Elementary and Middle School Students

Summer is here, and what better way to embark on an adventure than through the pages of a book? We’re inviting young readers to explore the wonders of our planet through an exciting collection of favorite reads. From lush rainforests to deep ocean mysteries, these stories will transport children to fascinating ecosystems and faraway places. Here are some of our top picture-book picks for elementary and middle school students, guaranteed to spark imagination and inspire a new generation of environmental stewards!

"Anywhere Farm" by Phyllis Roo
This book shows young readers that gardens can sprout anywhere - in a bucket, boot, or tin can! With rhythmic text and delightful illustrations, it introduces the basics of gardening and encourages children to get creative with growing their food, no matter where they live. After reading this book, we recommend planting a few seeds of your own.
“Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth” by Mary McKenna Siddals
This simple picture book is a fun "recipe" for turning food scraps and other household waste into nutrient-rich compost. With its catchy rhymes and vibrant collage illustrations "Compost Stew" takes readers through the alphabet, identifying a wide range of compostable items - from apple cores to zinnia heads. Older students can try making their own compost stew, and drawing their own “recipe” book!
"The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry
Journey to the heart of the Amazon rainforest in this beautifully illustrated tale. When a man falls asleep while trying to chop down a kapok tree, the rainforest animals whisper in his ear about the importance of their home. Pair this with some YouTube videos of rainforest animals so students can appreciate the incredible biodiversity of our planet’s rainforests.
"The Water Princess" by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel
Inspired by the childhood of African model Georgie Badiel, this book tells the story of a family’s daily journey to collect water. It sensitively addresses water scarcity issues while celebrating the strength and determination of its protagonist.
"One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia" by Miranda Paul
Based on a true story, this inspiring book follows Isatou Ceesay as she finds a creative solution to her village's plastic waste problem. It's a wonderful introduction to recycling and community action for young environmentalists. If you want to go the extra mile, you can make a recycled craft project from found materials suitable at home.
"The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng" by Sophia Gholz
This true story follows Jadav Payeng, who began planting trees as a teenager and grew an entire forest over 30 years. It's a powerful example of how small actions can lead to significant changes.
"Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney
This book tells the story of Alice Rumphius, who seeks to make the world more beautiful. It has a great message for kids. For older children, pair it with a conversation about native vs. invasive species and why selecting the seeds you plant carefully is important!
"The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs" by Kate Messner
Dive into the colorful world of coral reefs with this book about Ken Nedimyer's reef restoration work. It's a hopeful story that shows how passion and hard work can help heal our planet's ecosystems.
"Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World" by Allan Drummond
This book is set on a small island in Denmark and shows how a community came together to harness wind energy and become energy-independent. It can spark conversations about the different ways people can create and collect energy. It’s also a great reminder that even if nobody else is doing it yet, you can lead the way for others by making a small change.
"We Are Water Protectors" by Carole Lindstrom
This Caldecott Medal-winning book, inspired by Indigenous-led movements across North America, issues a rallying cry to safeguard Earth's water from harm and corruption. Younger children may find the concept of the “black snake” (oil pipelines) confusing or even frightening, so we recommend saving this book for older children. Middle school students can read about the topic and explore opinions on both sides of the issue to spark thoughtful discussion at home.

These books offer a mix of fictional adventures and real-world inspiration, all centered around environmental themes. They're sure to captivate young readers while nurturing a love for nature and understanding our planet's delicate balance. Pair these books with videos and projects, or take action on some environmental preservation at home! We encourage families to add activities to their summer reading adventures. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Get your hands dirty with planting projects inspired by "Anywhere Farm" or "The Boy Who Grew a Forest."
Explore your local parks and nature reserves, looking for wildlife and plant species you've read about.
Start a composting project at home after reading "Compost Stew."
Create artwork or write stories about nature and conservation themes.
Encourage older students to write their own stories or start a project that someone else might write about someday!

Looking for even more great resources? Check out the EEK! website. Designed for upper elementary and middle school students, this website offers environmental education for kids. Created by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, EEK! provides more than 900 pages of content for families who want to learn about local environments.

Summer reading is an excellent opportunity to foster a love for literature and our planet. By exploring these environmentally-themed books, children can embark on exciting adventures while developing a deeper understanding of nature and conservation. Find another book you love? Let us know about it! We know your local library has many excellent books, and we’d love to hear from you about what your elementary and middle school students are reading this summer.