Recommended Reads, Featured Post
Earth is our home and home should be celebrated. In this particular case, not with a housewarming party but with appreciation, care, and love. The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old and is host to over 8 billion humans, and 8.5+ million different species of animals, plants, fungi, protist, and chromista (with many still unidentified in the deepest depths of the ocean). We are constantly learning more and more every day about our home.
To bring awareness and action to environmental issues, the first Earth Day celebration was observed on April 22, 1970. One way to take action this April 22 is to educate yourself about the power of wildlife and the natural world and the steps needed to protect it. So borrow one of these nature books on the Libby app, go plant a seed, smell a rose, touch some grass, and say thank you to Mother Nature.
🎧 Audiobook
The author, a Potawatomi botanist woman and professor of plant ecology, has a unique perspective on Earth and its relation to us. Robin believes in a symbiotic, reciprocal relationship between humans and the land with a focus on plant botany and Native American traditions. She sees this relationship as a gift that must be acknowledged and celebrated. Robin pulls from her direct experience with plants and draws similarities between her work as a professor and her heritage.
If you like this one, you should also check out her latest book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
🎧 Audiobook
Peter Wohlleben is a German forester, former ranger, and beech forest manager who makes the case that the trees have their own relationships amongst themselves and have a way of communicating to one another. He shares with readers the social network of trees: how they send signals to each other, share nutrients if a nearby tree needs it, or even warn each other when danger is coming. This book is the first in Wohlleben’s Mysteries of Nature trilogy, and it's a great read for any tree lover who wants to understand them more.
🎧 Audiobook
Rachel Carson, an American marine biologist, originally wrote Silent Spring in 1962 with the goal of sending a message about the hazardous use of harmful pesticides like DDT. John F. Kennedy was President at the time, and his Science Advisory Committee scientifically supported her claims. DDT was largely banned in America because of her activism, but her legacy extends beyond that. She’s a National Book Award winner for her renowned book, The Sea Around Us. She fundamentally changed our ability to hold large corporations accountable—some even credit her for being the spark that led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
🎧 Audiobook
If you loved Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, then this similar tale of backdoor birdies is for you. Tan recounts finding an unexpected safe space that she can escape to while observing with keen detail and fascination—her backyard. This book of daily entries and lovely original sketches gives the reader a glimpse of Tan’s exploration into birding and the wonders of nature that can be found in your own backyard.
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This book was widely celebrated as a New York Times bestseller, winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, BBC’s Book of the Week, and more. Yong also received a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting in 2021. In 2022, he published this book, where he explains how each human or animal has their own unique, singular perspective, so they are only experiencing a small part of our vast world. Yong aims to expose the reader to everyday occurrences in nature that will open their eyes to the immense world. The fascination with the Earth and all of its habitats and forms is clear and infectious in this book.
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Bestselling nature author Leigh Ann Henion invites readers to explore a world that is mostly unbeknownst to us. Henion reminds us that when we get sleepy, there is a whole other world just waking up. She paints a picture for readers of animals that awaken late, flowers that bloom in the moonlight, and local festivals across the U.S. that celebrate these night dwellers. This book lends itself perfectly to every reader fascinated with the night.
🎧 Audiobook
Greta Thunberg rose to prominence at just 15 years old when she became an environmental and climate activist in Sweden. She protested Swedish policy and called for immediate action to fight climate change when she began striking by skipping school. Since her launch into activism and fame, she’s given speeches at protests and spoken with politicians around the world. She wrote this book in 2022 as a plea for citizens to take climate change seriously and think of the world that future generations will inherit. With expert opinions from scientists, she gives us the tools needed to combat climate disaster. This book offers hope for the positive impact that could be made if we make it together.
The Green Witch’s Garden: Your Complete Guide to Creating and Cultivating a Magical Garden Space by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
🎧 Audiobook
Part of the Green Witch Witchcraft series, this book is a delightful read for those who’d like to plant an herb or flower garden at home and put those perennials to use. Learn how to plan your garden layout for the most magical set up and eventually harvest the fruits of your labor. Chanel your inner Elphaba, get your hands dirty, and become attune with nature right at home or at your local community garden.
🎧 Audiobook
I’m a firm believer that a healthy dose of nature can immediately uplift the spirit. I mean really, I feel invigorated when springtime comes around and I’m outside more often again. This book explains the scientific evidence behind this theory. Willis informs us that the invigorated feeling I get is natural. In fact, it’s good for me. She does a lovely job of showing the reader how subtle additions of nature, green, or certain scents in your life can affect your mood and immune system. Once you read this book, you’ll know exactly what you need to get a green boost in your life.
🎧 Audiobook
Bradley’s love for the ocean shines through in this thrilling blend of history, science, nature writing, and environmentalism. From the formation of our bodies to intricate coral reefs, Bradley educates readers on the vast mystery that is our oceans such as fish migrations guided by electromagnetic sensing—pretty cool stuff. He also covers the current climate struggles we’re facing and the impact it’s already having on our lives. Ultimately, this title is a celebration of our oceans and the vital role they play in our world and future sustainability.
*Title availability may vary.
Go green and check out one of these (paperless!) books on the Libby app from your library.
RELATED READ: 11 climate fiction books to inspire action (while they’re still fiction)
Titles featured in this article:
- Braiding Sweet Grass: Indigenous Wisdom Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong
- Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion
- The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg
- The Green Witch’s Garden: Your Complete Guide to Creating and Cultivating a Magical Garden Space by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
- Good Nature: Why Seeing, Smelling, Hearing and Touching Plants is Good for Our Health by Kathy Willis
- Deep Water by James Bradley
Published Apr 16, 2025
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