If you’ve followed my blog for any time you’ll know I absolutely love nature-based picture books! This past year was a great one for introducing new nature-based narratives with beautiful illustrations to inspire children to grow their love for the natural world and get out and explore and enjoy it as well.
Most of the books on my favorites list below are aimed at children ages 3-8 years old, though a few are aimed a little older. I’ve noted the target age range just so it’s clear.
Books are a great way to connect children and the natural world. And, when we combine beautiful literature with daily time outdoors or regular nature-based experiences, children will have a solid foundation of connection to the natural world. For more ideas on connecting children and nature, see my relevant blog posts here.
Let’s start with my Top 10 favorite picture books from the full list. This was really hard to narrow down, and I want to say that all the others on my list featured in this post are wonderful. I just wanted to provide sort of a narrowed-down favorites list for those of you who appreciate brevity.
Top 10 Favorites
The Last Rainbow Bird by Nora Brech
September 6, 2022 from Floris Books* (Ages 4-7)
Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmermann
March 15, 2022 from Sleeping Bear Press (Ages 4-8)
How to Make a Mountain by Amy Huntington
May 17, 2022 from Chronicle Books* (Ages 5-8)
Berry Song by Michaela Goade
July 19, 2022 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (ages 4-8)
Be A Good Ancestor by Leona Prince
May 17, 2022 from Orca Book Publishers* (ages 3-5)
Once Upon A Forest by Pam Fong
February 8, 2022 from Random House Studio* (ages 4-8)
Bioblitz! Counting Critters by Susan Edwards Richmond
November 15, 2022 from Peachtree (ages 4-8)
Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion
March 1, 2022 from Peachtree* (ages 8-12)
Be Thankful for Trees by Harriet Ziefert
March 29, 2022 from Red Comet Press* (ages 4-8)
Itzel and the Ocelot by Rachel Katstaller
June 7, 2022 from Kids Can Press* (ages 3-7)
Other 2022 Favorites
Fiona the Fruit Bat by Dan Riskin
September 13, 2022 from Greystone Kids* (ages 3-7)
Dark on Light by Dianne White
December 6, 2022 from Beach Lane Books* (ages 3-8)
The Secret Stream by Kimberly Ridley
October 18, 2022 from Tilbury House Publishers* (ages 6-8)
Maybe You Might by Imogen Foxell
October 4, 2022 from Lantana Publishing* (ages 4-6)
Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood
November 8, 2022 from Peachtree (ages 3-7)
Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuo
November 22, 2022 from Greystone Kids* (ages 4-8)
Luna’s Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh
August 30, 2022 from Sleeping Bear Press* (ages 4-6)
Alexander von Humboldt by Danica Novgorodoff
February 22, 2022 from Crown Books for Young Readers (ages 3-8)
Look and Listen: Who’s in the Garden, Meadow, Brook by Dianne White
June 14, 2022 from Margaret Ferguson Books (ages 4-8)
One Million Trees by Kirsten Balouch
March 1, 2022 from Margaret Ferguson Books (ages 4-8)
Rooftop Garden by Danna Smith
May 16, 2022 from Barefoot Books* (ages 3-7)
The Poem Forest by Carrie Fountain
September 13, 2022 from Candlewick (ages 4-8)
Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree by Tanya Rosie
July 19, 2022 from Candlewick* (ages 3-7)
I Hear You, Ocean by Kallie George
September 27, 2022 from Greystone Kids* (ages 3-7)
Of Walden Pond by Lesa Cline-Ransome
November 15, 202 from Holiday House* (ages 6-9)
A Parliament of Owls by Devin Scillian
July 15, 2022 from Sleeping Bear Press* (ages 4-8)
We Are Better Together by Bill McKibben
April 19, 2022 from Henry Holt & Co. (ages 4-8)
Bright Winter Night by Alli Brydon
December 1, 2022 from Two Lions* (ages 3-7)
When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Togo
February 1, 2022 from Berbay Publishing* (ages 3-7)
Miguel’s Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood
March 1, 2022 from Peachtree* (ages 3-7)
Only One by Deborah Hopkinson
April 5, 2022 from Anne Schwartz Books* (ages 4-8)
The Fairy Garden by Georgia Buckthorn
April 5, 2022 from Ivy Kids* (ages 4-7)
Little Pine Cone by Johanna Wagstaffe
May 17, 2022 from Orca Book Publishers* (ages 6-8)
Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl
February 6, 2022 from Flyaway Books* (ages 3-7)
Nature is an Artist by Jennifer Lavallee
May 17, 2022 from Greystone Kids (ages 3-8)
Behold our Magical Garden by Allan Wolf
March 8, 2022 from Candlewick* (ages 8-12)
Breaking Through the Clouds by Sandra Nickel
March 8, 2022 from Harry N. Abrams* (ages 6-9)
The Spring Rabbit by Angela McAllister
April 5, 2022 from Frances Lincoln* (ages 4-7)
It Starts with a Bee by Jennie Webber
April 5, 2022 from QEB Publishing* (ages 6-9)
*Starred books were provided by the publisher for review. Opinions are my own.
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THE SILVAN REVERIE 
What a great list! Thanks for including Luna’s Green Pet!
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This is such a wonderful list to be a part of…thank you for including Mushroom Rain!
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Such a great list! I just requested most of them from our library, they love me there:)
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Libraries are the best!
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