16 Knowledgeable Books About Nature

Mankind has a funny relationship with nature that’s always been contradictory. We need nature because it is what sustains us and allows us to be who we are. Yet nature is full of dangers for us fragile humans and those dangers need to be tamed to ensure survival of the species.

Now, in taming those dangers we’ve certainly overdone it a little. With the rise of civilization, the cutting of the forest was necessary. The contamination of the ocean and air followed the rise of industry, not to mention the continued exploitation of diverse resources to produce some of the vainest accessories and redundant gadgets.

While there have been vast advances in the efforts to preserve mother nature while continuing to develop humanity as sustainably as possible, the real battle begins at a cultural level. It’s necessary that we make the teaching of respect for nature an imperative, because without it “we” would not be anymore. Develop your respect for nature, learn in depth about it with these books.

#1 A Book of Rather Strange Animals by Caleb Compton

Many of us today are fascinated with the strange animals of our wide world, thanks to popular TV series and documentaries such as Blue Planet, our interests have grown on these wonderful inhabitants sharing our earth, and we are gaining a wider understanding of the threats we, Homo Sapiens pose on our planet. This was highlighted recently when Sir David Attenborough drew attention to the impact of human activity on Marine Life with our use of plastic in Blue Planet II.

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#2 Trees Up Close by Nancy Ross Hugo

This book leaves you with your eyes and mouth wide open at the beauty that photographer Robert Llewellyn is able to capture in the bark, leaves, flowers and seeds of common trees like oaks, maples and elms. It’s a treat for the mind and the soul.

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#3 A Trail of Honesty by J.A. Angelo

A Trail of Honesty teaches children camping safety and that dishonesty can result in bodily injury and/or property destruction. Just in time for the warm months ahead.

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#4 My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

A fantastic book on a young man leaving the modern world behind in order to survive off the land. Many people in today’s world of technology and social media no doubt fantasize about a similar adventure.

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#5 Nature’s Healing Spirit by Sheri McGregor

This anthology of true stories, essays, and a few poems by accomplished writers, captures the imagination and engages the spirit. The essays’ settings are diverse: ancient canyons in the Southwest, wooded parks connecting major cities in the East, mountains that stand sentry in the Pacific Northwest, and your own backyard full of bugs. Nature’s Healing Spirit: Real Life Stories to Nurture the Soul provides a window into the personal lives of people like you, experiencing nature and how it heals: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

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#6 Grain by Grain: A Quest to Revive Ancient Wheat, Rural Jobs, and Healthy Food

With the publishing of his first book Grain by Grain, Bob Quinn announces the launch of his year-long book tour starting where it all began, Big Sandy, Montana. In Grain by Grain: A Quest to Revive Ancient Wheat, Rural Jobs, and Healthy Food you’ll hear the story of Bob’s straight-shooting “green economy cowboy” in his own words—following him from the farm fields of Montana to Italian science labs where he discovered the health benefits of ancient wheat.

With his co-author Liz Carlisle, author of the award-winning Lentil Underground, Bob shares the practical wisdom he has learned from a lifetime of farming, from the day he stopped trying to grow food “on the cheap,” to his work creating his own renewable energy.

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#7 The History of Bees by Maja Lunde

Maja Lunde’s debut novel weaves together stories from three generations of beekeepers–past, present, and future–showing our interdependence on bees and why they need our help.

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#8 Sounds of Nature: World of Forests By Robert Frank Hunter

Explore ten diverse habitats-from the Amazon Rainforest, to the Cloud Forest, to Redwood National Park-and listen to animals in the wild with this extraordinary sound book. Simply press the page to hear the exquisite sounds of animals around the world, from the pandas of the bamboo forest of China to the bald eagles of Tongass National Park in Alaska. A stunning interactive book for young nature lovers.

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#9 A Year of Nature Poems by Joseph Coelho

See how animals behave through the seasons, and the cycle of trees and plants, from the first blossoms of spring through to the stark winter wonderland in December. 12 inspiring poems from Joseph Coelho, paired with folk art from Kelly Louise Judd give this book year-round appeal.

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#10 Planet Earth (Life on Earth) by Heather Alexander

Lift the flaps to discover Planet Earth’s place in space, look at the seven continents, learn about earth’s magnetic field, find out about the water cycle, see the world’s amazing habitats, and take a closer look at hurricanes, floods and avalanches.

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#11 Tales From Nature: Bee by Magali Attiogbé

Join little bee as he gathers pollen from a flower, and makes honey with his friends. But what happens when the queen bee arrives? Introducing nature to little ones, Tales From Nature provides simple, entertaining storylines with an animal character as the focus.

Bright and colorful illustrations are sure to engage young children as they learn about each animal’s day, from a cute description, to what it eats, and where it lives. Simple, engaging text explains nature in a playful way for little ones. Each page includes a window or a flap to encourage children to read on and discover more.

Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:

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#12 Tales From Nature: Ladybug by Magali Attiogbé

Join ladybug as she helps gardeners with their aphids and camouflages herself from a swooping bird. But where should she hide her little eggs? Introducing nature to little ones, Tales From Nature provides simple, entertaining storylines with an animal character as the focus.

Bright and colorful illustrations are sure to engage young children as they learn about each animal’s day, from a cute description, to what it eats, and where it lives. Simple, engaging text explains nature in a playful way for little ones. Each page includes a window or a flap to encourage children to read on and discover more.

Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:

• The Book Depository (International)
• Waterstones (International)

Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)

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#13 The Butterfly House by Katy Flint

Step inside the butterfly house, where wonderful, winged insects await. Spot the sleepy oranges mud-puddling, the monarchs migrating, or the green swallowtail beating its shimmering wings. With information on many butterfly and moth families, this gift package is the perfect introduction to the world’s most beautiful insects.

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#14 How to Be a Butterfly by Laura Knowles

Should a butterfly be big or small? Should it be bright and bold, or perfectly pale? A joyous, imaginative, yet informative non-fiction picture book about what it takes to be a butterfly – body parts, behavior and life cycle – with the underlying message that diversity is a wonderful thing and that, in fact, there are 20,000 ways to be a butterfly! With labelled butterflies throughout, there is plenty for young nature lovers to spot and explore time and again.

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#15 Forest Club: A Year of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature by Kris Hirschmann

It’s time to rewild the child! This book of outdoor activities, crafts, nature information, and inspiration ties into the burgeoning interest in forest schools and rewilding the child, with the aim of reconnecting children to nature and the outdoors. The book is divided by season, providing a year-round resource for families.

While all crafts and activities are designed to be carried out outside, these are interspersed with factual pages about forest flora and fauna, which can be enjoyed at home or used as a field guide while out and about. A beautifully illustrated and informative title to spark children’s imagination and free-thinking. With forest school-themed crafts and activities for all seasons, outdoor exploration can be enjoyed twelve months of the year, always with something new to see.

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#16 Bird’s Eye View: The Natural World by John Farndon

Imagine yourself in a magical balloon floating high above the world or as a soaring eagle. Bird’s Eye View: The Natural World takes you on an amazing aerial journey to show you the world in a way you’ve never seen it, in a series of spectacular panoramic views, complete with annotated information.

Some panoramas fold out, making fabulous wide-frieze pictures as big as a poster. In this book, you will trace the remarkable migration of the wildebeest across the East African plain, see the extraordinary changing habitats as you soar past the slopes of the Himalayan slope, and many other natural wonders. Look at the world differently, with a bird’s eye view.

Before buying a book make sure to compare price and outlet, we have included links below to several large book outlets for different regions in the world:

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Read more reviews and buy the book here (Amazon)

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