BY MEGAN TAYLOR
April is packed full of holidays, including everything from Easter and Earth Day to Financial Literacy month, and we are going to focus on Earth Day in this month’s column. When looking at Earth Day, there are many different aspects of the holiday to consider. Some people focus on the environmental component, such as recycling, composting, etc. while others give more interest to nature and its beauty. The world is full of amazing places with rich history, culture, and powerful landscapes and there are many books that have captured these sites. While we can’t truly travel right now, reading and flipping through pages of nature books can help provide us with a sense of peace, relaxation, and adventure. Here are three of the best nature books that celebrate its beauty.
The Sense of Wonder: A Celebration of Nature for Parents and Children by Rachel Carson
An oldie, but a goodie by famous scientist and conservationist Rachel Carson. Published in 1965, The Sense of Wonder describes a visit Carson shared with her grandnephew, Roger Christie, at her cottage in Maine in 1955. During this time, Carson and Roger explored the nearby forests, waters, and tide pools. As the two discovered more about nature, Carson was inspired by the natural beauty and wanted to share it with others. Along with her stories, photographer Nick Kelsh adds photographs to match the descriptions. Through the pages, readers are taken on journeys through different forms of nature and are able to see the attractiveness of these landscapes. The Sense of Wonder is a good read for inspiration for both adults and children. Rachel Carson once said, “If a child is to keep alive their inborn sense of wonder, they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with them the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”
You Are Home: An Ode to National Parks by Evan Turk
In these picturesque pages, You Are Home: An Ode to National Parks celebrates our country’s national parks and the animals that live within them. The United States is home to 60 national parks, but only 23 are featured in the book, allowing readers the opportunity to absorb all of the beauty from Maine to Hawaii and all the states in between. Along with images, poetic captions are written to highlight the various national parks. This book is a great way to learn about our nation, pick different travel sites, or to just look at beautiful images.
My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan
Readers, young and old, meet their friend, Earth, and all the many things she does for everyone in this timeless children’s book. Earth shows us how she creates the different types of weather, takes care of the animals, and much more. In addition, readers learn about what they can do to help Earth in return as well as learning about various nature and science concepts within the environment. My Friend Earth is a great celebration for Earth Day and will have readers excited to explore Earth’s elegance and everything it provides for us. Plus, it was awarded the Mighty Girl 2020 Book of the Year.
As with many holidays, celebrations don’t have to last only 24 hours. Earth Day, and looking at our magnificent Earth, can be commemorated throughout the whole year with these books and many more.
