Science and nature books for kindergartners

Chameleon, Chameleon lets readers explore the tropical world of Madagascar’s panther chameleon. Nic Bishop’s full-color photography captures the lizard’s unusual appearance and behavior in amazing detail — check out the stop-action shot of the chameleon snaring a caterpillar with its long tongue. The brief text of the book is supplemented by notes on the creature and how the photos were taken.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Chameleon, Chameleon at your local library.

Kids will never see dirt the same way again after award-winning photo-essayist Raymond Bial takes you on this eye-opening, fun and “dirty” tour of one of the planet’s most precious resources. As Bial says, “Without soil, there would be no life on earth.” Understanding this concept is vital to teaching little ones about the fundamentals of environmentalism.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find A Handful of Dirt at your local library.

Did you know that one tiny kernel of corn can produce up to 1,000 plants? Students learn about the contributions of Native American cultures in this simple, scientific explanation of how corn came to be. By the time the Pilgrims arrived in America, the Indians were harvesting corn and they used it in many ways. Children will learn how corn grows, as well as why it is known as “The Gift of the Indians.”

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians at your local library.

In this straightforward and clever book, a little boy shops with his mom and learns that what he buys and how he takes it home can have a big impact on the environment. By including a reusable shopping bag, this book gives even the youngest readers a tool for reducing their carbon footprint.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find My Bag and Me! at your local library.

In this book, kids will get a first glimpse of how their everyday observations are connected to the larger life of the planet. Karas takes readers on “a giant ride in space/spinning like a merry-go-round” With minimal text, the book explains in words and colorful pictures the Earth’s daily and yearly cycles. Although the concepts are complex, children will get a rudimentary explanation of the orbit, rotation and tilt of planet Earth, gravity, why we have seasons, and what happens as day turns into night. Vocabulary is simple for early readers, but because the scientific concepts are complex, some adult explanation will be welcome.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find On Earth at your local library.

Who knew that something that surrounds us every day could be so fascinating? Using watercolor artwork and poetic free verse, the author explains what dust is, the different kinds of dust, its many sources (pollen, house dust, dust storms, fires, volcanic ash), and how dust colors the sunsets that we see. There is a two-page section at the end of the book with additional information that will require adult explanation.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust at your local library.

With all the talk of getting back to the garden, this book is the perfect kick start for kids who dream of being green. In Peter Brown’s book, just one small kid and one small garden ignite a transformation of a dreary steel-and-concrete city. Follow redheaded Liam’s adventures as he changes his world. 

Perfect for: Kids who like gardening.

Find The Curious Garden at your local library.

This wonderful winter tale uses real photography and spins an imaginative tale around it. Two wildlife photographers capture the curious reactions of animals and birds when a snowman appears in the woods following a storm. 

Perfect for: Kids who like animals and nature.

Find Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy at your local library.