Nature & the world books for children

Hungry Hen eats and eats and grows fatter and fatter. High on the hill, the fox watches and grows thinner and thinner, waiting for his moment. When he finally can't wait any longer, things don't turn out as he expected! A funny, very simple story with a brilliant twist at the end.

Try asking: “What happened when the fox couldn't wait any longer?”

When rain comes to the dry African savannah, the animals use all their senses: the porcupine smells it, the zebra sees lightning, the baboons hear thunder, the rhino feels the first drops and the lion tastes the cool water. A bold, beautiful book about the senses and the seasons.

Try asking: “Which animal smelled the rain?”

When Mrs Seahorse lays her eggs, she puts them on Mr Seahorse's belly, and he looks after them until they hatch. On his swim he meets other fish dads caring for their eggs, and see-through pages hide fish among the reeds and coral. A gentle book about caring fathers.

Try asking: “Who looked after the seahorse eggs?”

Pack your bags for a tour of 12 cities around the world: London, Tokyo, Paris, New York, Seoul, Istanbul, Mexico City and more. Busy, detailed pictures to pore over, and first words to learn in new languages.

Try asking: “Which city would you most like to visit?”

From clouds of dust drifting in space to the explosive power of a supernova, two children and their cat take a journey through the life cycle of a star. A friendly, rhyming first science book made with the University of Cambridge.

Try asking: “Where do stars come from?”

Peep through holes and lift the flaps to discover what happens when night falls: who wakes up, who goes to sleep, and what's happening in the dark. A simple, lift-the-flap first non-fiction book.

Try asking: “Which animals wake up at night?”

Two friends plant a tiny seed and look after it through the seasons, hoping for a big, fat, orange pumpkin for Halloween. Along the way they feel excited, anxious, joyful and proud. A simple, poetic story about growing things together.

Try asking: “How did the friends feel while waiting for the pumpkin?”

Oliver Jeffers' note to his newborn son: a guide to planet Earth and the people on it. Land, sea, sky, our bodies, people of all kinds, and the most important thing: be kind. A thoughtful bestseller about the world and our place in it.

Try asking: “What is the most important thing to remember on Earth?”

A collection of short, funny rhymes about the creatures under the sea, from crabs and dolphins to sharks and whales. Bright pictures and bouncy verses make it a great first book about ocean life, and easy to join in with.

Try asking: “Which one was the funniest?”

Because of an acorn, a tree grows; because of a tree, a bird nests. Simple words and clever cut-outs show how every plant and animal in a forest depends on another. A beautiful first look at how nature is connected, starting with one small acorn.

Try asking: “What happened because of the acorn?”

Crocodiles have an awful lot of teeth, and they're very cunning hunters, so beware! But there's more to them than their appetites. A witty non-fiction picture book full of real facts about one of the world's most fascinating animals.

Try asking: “What surprised you most about crocodiles?”

Christopher Nibble loves munching dandelion leaves, and so do all the guinea pigs in Dandeville. But nobody does anything as the dandelions start to disappear. When Christopher finds the very last dandelion, he promises to look after it. A gentle story about caring for nature and how one small creature can make a difference.

Try asking: “Why did the dandelions start to disappear?”

Dot is a clever little girl who knows how to tap, swipe and share on her devices. But she's forgotten how to do things in the world around her, until she rediscovers it with her own imagination. A fun story about balancing screens and real-world play.

Try asking: “What did Dot forget how to do?”

Errol loves gardening, but he lives in a flat without a garden. When he finds an empty rooftop, he has a big idea, but he can't do it all on his own. A heart-warming, inclusive story about one boy's dream bringing a whole community together.

Try asking: “Who helped Errol make his garden?”

Hippo is hot, and he dreams of living in the cool water. He pleads with Ngai, the god of Everything and Everywhere, who agrees, but only if Hippo promises not to eat the little fishes and to come out at night to eat grass. A traditional-style tale of how Hippo came to live in the river.

Try asking: “What did Hippo have to promise Ngai?”

On her first visit to an art gallery with Grandma, Katie discovers that five famous paintings can come alive, and she steps right into them. Expect mischief, cream cakes and a friendly tiger! A wonderful way to introduce children to famous art.

Try asking: “Which painting would you like to step into?”

Once upon a time there lived a jungle, but that was just the beginning. Simple, poetic words and rich pictures show how the circle of life keeps the jungle ecosystem flourishing, with plenty of hidden animals to spot along the way.

Try asking: “Who eats what in the jungle?”

Once upon a star, there were no stars to shine, no sun to rise, no day or night. Poetry and science come together in this beautiful book about the beginning of the universe, our sun, our planets, our Earth, and you.

Try asking: “Where did the sun come from?”

Sophie is a boisterous, lovable Jack Russell from a rescue centre. Her new family learns how to look after her: feeding, walking, training and understanding how she feels. A charming non-fiction picture book full of useful information about caring for a first pet.

Try asking: “What does a dog need to be happy?”

Shark! But most real sharks aren't what you'd expect. Some are no bigger than a chocolate bar, some have built-in fairy lights, and most wouldn't go near a human. A fun, fact-filled Nature Storybook about what sharks are really like.

Try asking: “What surprised you most about sharks?”

Two sisters go fishing at the magic pond and find a little blue Bog Baby. They take him home in secret and look after him, but he starts to become ill. A beautiful, award-winning story about nature, love and doing the right thing.

Try asking: “Why did the sisters take the Bog Baby back?”

A boy loves watching the bees in his garden, and he's puzzled and sad when they disappear one rainy day. Where have they gone, and can he get his bumble back? A gentle, quirky introduction to the cycles of nature and why bees matter.

Try asking: “Where did the bees go?”

A tree is home to birds in their nest, squirrels in their drey and rabbits in their burrow. Then a man and a woman decide to cut it down for their dream house. Can the tree be home to the animals and the people? A gentle environmental fable with a lovely twist.

Try asking: “How did the people share the tree with the animals?”

When Grandma says she's seen a tiger in the garden, Nora doesn't believe her. Tigers live in jungles, not gardens! But then she sees butterflies with enormous wings and plants that try to eat her toy giraffe... A magical, award-winning story about imagination and the wonders on our doorstep.

Try asking: “Did Nora find a tiger in the garden?”

Trees change through the seasons, springing to life, bearing fruit and losing their leaves. They clean the air we breathe and give homes and shade to everyone equally. A lyrical, beautifully illustrated tribute to the trees around us.

Try asking: “What do trees give us?”

Two boys and a dog find a place where a stream meets the sea. Can they build a dam to hold back the water, with stones, driftwood and seaweed? And what is the dog up to? A lovely story about friends working and playing together outdoors.

Try asking: “What did the boys use to build their dam?”

Worms are yucky, aren't they? Not according to Grandma, who shows how amazing the wriggly creatures really are: they mix the soil, turn dead plants into compost and help seeds grow. A fun, informative Nature Storybook about the humble earthworm.

Try asking: “Why are worms important?”

In a grey, concrete corner of the city, one child picks up some chalk and starts to draw. Soon other children join in, and a whole garden grows across the ground. An uplifting picture book about hope, creativity and what happens when people make something together.

Try asking: “What did the children make together?”

Orangutan and her family live in a vast emerald forest. She teaches her babies what to eat, how to swing through the trees and how to build a nest. Then one day a monstrous machine tears her tree from the ground. A moving story about rainforests and why they matter.

Try asking: “What happened to Orangutan's tree?”

When Jeremiah plants a packet of sunflower seeds, the last thing he expects is for vines and leaves to grow overnight and burst through the ceiling of his flat. An award-winning, magical story about nature in the city.

Try asking: “What happened when Jeremiah planted his seeds?”

Strong and proud, the tiger is lord of the jungle, but all his strength can't keep him safe from human hunters. In captivity, the tiger realises that what really matters is not strength or power, but freedom. A moving, thought-provoking fable for our time.

Try asking: “What did the tiger realise mattered most?”

When Pattan finds a yellow-flowered vine wilting, he replants it and cares for it, and it grows into an enormous pumpkin. When a great flood comes, the pumpkin saves his family and the animals. A vibrant retelling of a flood story from the Irular people of southern India.

Try asking: “How did the pumpkin help Pattan?”

A young girl explores her world and finds water everywhere: in rivers and puddles, in snow and clouds, in her home and even inside her own body. A simple, conversational book with notes on the water cycle and saving water.

Try asking: “Where did the girl find water?”

A little boy sets off on a night train to dreamland with his toy dog. Along the way, all sorts of endangered animals ask to jump on board, and each has a reason they need help. A classic about kindness and protecting wildlife.

Try asking: “Why did the animals need to get on the train?”

From beachcombing to stargazing, watching squirrels, ducks and worms to making berry crumble or a winter bird feast: part poetry, part scrapbook of recipes and facts, this is a glorious reminder that nature is on our doorstep.

Try asking: “What can we find outside this season?”

Old Oak lives happily in his hedgerow by the barley field. When the farmer pulls up the far hedgerow, the birds have nowhere to go, and wind and rain carry away the soil. Can hope be returned? A gentle story about why hedgerows matter.

Try asking: “Why did the hedgerow matter so much?”

A team of scientists sets sail to find the legendary giant Arctic jellyfish. They search high and low, but readers can spot what the explorers keep missing. A prize-winning picture book that blends science, adventure and a lot of looking closely.

Try asking: “Did the scientists find the jellyfish?”

In the heart of the wood stands an ancient oak, home to a badger family for generations. A modern fable about family, growth and adventure, with intricate papercut pages that inspire a love of nature and exploring outdoors.

Try asking: “Who lived in the ancient oak?”

Outside is always calling us, even when we're stuck inside. A mindful, Caldecott Honor picture book about the many ways nature reaches into our everyday lives: in our food, our homes and the light through the window.

Try asking: “How does outside come inside?”

Amara loves bats. But when she moves to a new town, she learns her beloved bats no longer roost nearby because they're losing their habitat. She's just one person, and the problem feels big. What can she do? A charming story about a girl who takes action.

Try asking: “How did Amara help the bats?”

A bee flies into a little girl's high-rise flat, and she's frightened. She traps it, then wonders what to do. A beautiful wordless picture book about a growing friendship between a girl and a bee, and the ecology of the natural world.

Try asking: “How did the girl's feelings about the bee change?”

How does an old building become a brand-new home? Find out all about the people, machines, tools and processes, from demolition to moving day, in this action-packed picture book guide.

Try asking: “What happens first when you build a home?”

A man spoils the Earth with rubbish while he builds a rocket to reach a star. While he's gone, the dinosaurs wake up and clean up the planet. A classic environmental tale about how we treat the Earth.

Try asking: “What did the dinosaurs do while the man was away?”

One summer evening, Gaspard the fox sets out in search of adventure and something to eat. A charming, funny picture book about urban foxes and the humans and animals they share the city with.

Try asking: “What did Gaspard find on his adventure?”

Greta lives in a beautiful forest threatened by Giants who keep chopping down trees to build bigger and bigger cities. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, this picture book uses a fable to make the climate crisis accessible, and shows how one small voice can grow into many.

Try asking: “How did Greta stand up to the Giants?”

A glorious guide to our home planet, written as a letter to a visitor from space, and a call to look after both Earth and each other. Inspired by the thousands of children Sophie Blackall met on her travels around the world.

Try asking: “What would you tell a visitor about Earth?”

Rocket is a science-mad chatterbox who's going to be the greatest astronaut ever. But can she get her big brother to stop looking down at his phone and LOOK UP at the stars? An award-winning, joyful picture book about science and curiosity.

Try asking: “How did Rocket get her brother to look up?”

Omar and his friend plant wildflowers to make a bee corridor through their community. An uplifting, gentle story about looking after nature locally, friendship and cultural identity.

Try asking: “How did Omar and his friend help the bees?”

A seed is sleepy, adventurous, inventive and generous. A poetic, beautifully illustrated introduction to seeds, with a fascinating array of facts about how seeds travel, wait and grow into plants.

Try asking: “How do seeds travel?”

Everybody has a taste for Stanley. The ocean creatures keep mistaking him for a jellyfish, but he's not: Stanley is a plastic bag. A funny, powerful picture book about why plastic bags don't belong in the sea.

Try asking: “What was Stanley really?”

A little girl finds a mischievous orangutan in her bedroom, shouting OOO! at her shampoo and her chocolate. Why? Because her rainforest home is being destroyed for palm oil. Based on the Greenpeace film that went viral.

Try asking: “Why was the orangutan in the girl's bedroom?”

Follow one day in the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda and Russia. What they eat, how they get to school, what games they play. Their days differ, but the rhythm of their days, and the world they share, unites them.

Try asking: “What's the same about the seven children's days?”

On board the Oceano, a big red sailing boat, set off around the world: from busy port to icy Arctic, through storms and sunsets. And what lies under the ocean will surprise you most. A stunning pop-up book.

Try asking: “What did you find under the ocean?”

How does a toaster work? A child imagines weird and wonderful explanations, until they meet Dudley the dog, who explains how machines really work. A witty, imaginative book from poet Roger McGough and Chris Riddell.

Try asking: “How did the child think the toaster worked?”

Children all over the world are very different, but they also have much in common. Find out what children in other countries eat, wear and play, and how they say hello, in this beautifully illustrated book.

Try asking: “How do children say hello around the world?”

What do you see when you look at a tree? Leaves and twigs and branches, or a real, living thing that moves and breathes and dances? A gentle picture book that explores our connection with nature.

Try asking: “What do you see when you look at a tree?”

On a beautiful spring day, a ladybird searches for the right place to lay her eggs, but everywhere she lands is already taken by other creepy crawlies. A bug's-eye view of camouflage, habitats and the creatures that share our world.

Try asking: “Where did the ladybird lay her eggs?”

There is a river outside my window. Where will it take me? An imaginary journey from the city to the sea, through factories, farmlands, jungles and storms. A beautiful geographical story with lush landscapes.

Try asking: “Where did the river lead?”

A gorgeously illustrated book of 366 poems about animals, one for every day of the year, from unforgettable classics to contemporary poems from around the world. Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year.

Try asking: “What is today's animal poem?”

Why do octopuses have eight arms? Why do crabs run sideways? Are jellyfish made of jelly? Quirky illustrations and answers to many fishy questions about slippery, shimmery and surprising sea creatures.

Try asking: “Are jellyfish made of jelly?”

Isaac empties his jar of water into his favourite mountain pool, then races the water downhill as it travels to the sea and around the world. An award-winning picture book about the water cycle and our connection to everything.

Try asking: “Where did Isaac's water go?”

An old man lives in a junkyard, tidying the rubbish and dreaming of a better place. With faith, hard work and imagination, he builds a forest of tin, and then real wildlife begins to arrive. A poetic, award-winning modern fable.

Try asking: “What did the old man build?”

Through one window, we watch a boy grow up as the wild landscape outside slowly fills with houses and roads. A stunning, wordless picture book made of collages, about how our environment changes.

Try asking: “How did the view from the window change?”

A father, daughter and their dog wash up on a small island. Little do they know the island isn't what it seems. It shows them the wonders of life at sea, before a surprising twist. A colourful picture book.

Try asking: “What was the island really?”

In a grey city, a boy called Liam finds a few struggling plants on an old railway line. He looks after them, and the garden slowly spreads through the whole city. A hopeful book about what one small person can do for nature.

Try asking: “What did he do to help the plants?”

On a trip to the gallery, Katie reaches into Van Gogh's Sunflowers to take some seeds. A girl called Mimi climbs out of a painting nearby to help, but her dog Zazou comes too, and soon there's chaos. A fun first introduction to Van Gogh, Gauguin and other famous painters.

Try asking: “Who came out of the painting nearby?”

With six pop-ups, come eye to eye with history's most incredible prehistoric beasts: a pack of speedy Deinonychus, a giant Brachiosaurus stretching to the tallest treetops and more. An interactive non-fiction book bursting with dinosaurs.

Try asking: “Which dinosaur was the biggest?”

Deep in the ocean, the earth quakes. A new volcano rises, and where hot meets cold, chimneys form, and a colony of unexpected creatures makes its home. A lyrical non-fiction picture book about underwater volcanoes and life in the deep.

Try asking: “What grew around the underwater volcano?”

How much bamboo can a giant panda eat? Do aliens exist? Why do hammerhead sharks have such strange heads? A curious question for every day of the year, answered by experts, from chefs and illustrators to astronauts.

Try asking: “Which question surprised you most?”

There are living things everywhere: the more we look, the more we find. On the tallest jungle trees, at the bottom of the coldest oceans, even under birds' feathers. An award-winning introduction to biodiversity and why we must protect it.

Try asking: “Where can living things be found?”

Discover the beautiful world of bees and their journey from flower to flower. Find out how much they matter to our planet, and what you can do to help them. An award-winning introduction to bees and bee conservation.

Try asking: “Why do we need bees?”

Learn about the sport of "dwile flonking", find out where black diamonds come from and meet the supernatural animals of legend. A big, bright book about the wonders, history, culture and customs of the United Kingdom.

Try asking: “What surprised you most about the UK?”

Dinosaurs were mean, green and not very smart, right? WRONG! This book busts dinosaur myths and shows what scientists really know, turning dinosaur fans into dinosaur experts.

Try asking: “Which dinosaur myth surprised you?”

A delightful compendium of the most unusual features in the animal kingdom, from puzzling toes to weird ears and funny bums, and why each one helps the animal survive.

Try asking: “Which animal had the weirdest body part?”

In 1666, London woke to see the skyline ablaze. A beautiful visual retelling of one of the city's most famous disasters, created for the 350th anniversary, with striking illustrations.

Try asking: “How did the Great Fire start?”

From beetles and butterflies to puffins and polar bears, animals all over the world need our protection. Seventy everyday ways children can help save endangered animals and make the world a better place. Published with the National Trust.

Try asking: “Which way to help could we try first?”

There are more than seven billion people in the world. If the world were just 100 people, how many would speak Chinese? How many would have clean water? A prize-winning book that makes big numbers understandable.

Try asking: “If the world were 100 people, how many would have clean water?”

From predators to pollinators, there are seven keystone species that ecosystems and the planet can't live without. But which is the most important animal of all? An informative, inspiring look at seven super-animals.

Try asking: “Which animal do you think is most important?”

Pippin is an ordinary girl who lives with her ordinary granny in the ordinary town of Funsprinkle. But when she discovers a broken forest, she finds she isn't ordinary at all. A funny, magical chapter book with a chatty narrator.

Try asking: “What did Pippin discover about herself?”

An award-winning, double-sided fold-out book that takes you on a journey down through the street, the soil, fossils and rocks, all the way to the Earth's core.

Try asking: “What's beneath the street?”

The very first Wombles book, introducing Great Uncle Bulgaria, Orinoco, Tobermory and Madame Cholet, who live under Wimbledon Common and turn the rubbish humans leave behind into something useful. A classic about recycling and community.

Try asking: “What do the Wombles do with rubbish?”

What does a panda do all day? How does your heart pump blood? What makes a rainbow? Funny comic-strip diaries of animals, body parts and natural things answer these questions and more. Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award.

Try asking: “Which day in the life was funniest?”

Here we are 4.6 billion years ago, and the curtain rises on the story of life! The entire history of planet Earth told as a show, with jokes, wild imagination and a lot of time to fit into one book.

Try asking: “What came first in the story of life?”

Eight of the world's deadliest snakes, 49 countries without a coastline, five fearless female warriors: 263 fun, fascinating, fact-filled lists from around the world.

Try asking: “Which list was your favourite?”

Everything is made of something. Plunge deep into the world of atoms, materials and the science of the very, very small, with a clear, beautifully illustrated introduction to nanoscience.

Try asking: “What is everything made of?”

Where do pebbles come from? This book follows one pebble from a fiery volcano 480 million years ago to a busy modern landscape, showing how rocks form and wear away all over the world.

Try asking: “Where did the pebble come from?”

Visit the penguins of Antarctica, join the Holi festival in India or canoe the Amazon. A lavishly illustrated trip around the world with more than 100 activities and challenges to inspire adventurers of any age.

Try asking: “Which adventure would you choose first?”

The search for life on Mars, told from the point of view of Curiosity, the rover NASA sent to explore the red planet. How it was built, launched and landed, and what it has found. Stylishly illustrated non-fiction.

Try asking: “What has Curiosity found on Mars?”

A science-minded boy goes to the beach to collect flotsam, and finds an old underwater camera. When he develops the film, he discovers incredible pictures of the secret world beneath the waves. A wordless, Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.

Try asking: “What was on the camera?”

A stunning anthology of 366 poems celebrating the wonder of nature, one for each day of the year, from William Blake and Emily Brontë to modern poets, with beautiful seasonal illustrations.

Try asking: “What's today's nature poem about?”

Explore the world with 52 highly illustrated maps showing not just borders, but places of interest, famous people, native animals and plants, local peoples and cultural events.

Try asking: “Which map would you explore first?”

A boy and his father take a boat to a rainforest beside the sea in North Queensland. Exploring, the boy imagines the forest long ago, with ancient animals and Aboriginal children playing there, and wonders how much longer it will last. Told through Jeannie Baker's amazing collages.

Try asking: “What did he imagine from long ago?”

Did you know a squid has a brain shaped like a doughnut? Or that some butterflies drink turtle tears? A wonderland of 400 crazily connected facts, every one verified by Britannica, where each fact leads to the next.

Try asking: “What was the most amazing fact?”

On an expedition to find the magical creatures of the mountains, blue-haired Hilda spots a troll. While she draws it, she nods off, and wakes up lost in a snowstorm with the troll gone. A beautiful graphic novel adventure, now a Netflix series.

Try asking: “What happened when Hilda fell asleep?”

Use a see-through magic lens to look inside some of the world's most incredible machines and inventions, and learn about maths, physics, chemistry and engineering as you go.

Try asking: “Which machine was the most amazing inside?”

What's it like to live in space? Is there life on other planets? What is a black hole? Join Professor Astro Cat and friends on a tour of the galaxy, the solar system and the universe, from asteroids to alien life.

Try asking: “What is a black hole?”

An atlas of the most extreme natural events: volcanoes, earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis and more. Clear information about how and why they happen, with striking illustrations.

Try asking: “How do earthquakes happen?”

If all the dead people on Earth came back as zombies, there'd be 101 billion of them! Check your worryometer: a tiger shark will eat you. Eye-popping facts about the world, shown in bold, funny infographics.

Try asking: “Which fact was the most epic?”

When robot Roz opens her eyes, she's alone on a remote, wild island with no idea how she got there. She must learn to survive, and becomes mother to an orphaned gosling. The heart-warming illustrated novel behind the DreamWorks film.

Try asking: “How did Roz learn to survive?”

Why is the sea salty? How do volcanoes form? What's the weather on other planets? Awesome questions about the Earth, answered by scientist Emily Grossman, for budding scientists and eco-warriors.

Try asking: “Why is the sea salty?”

Meet the bacteria, viruses and other microbes that are all around us but too small to see. What do a glowing squid and yoghurt have in common? A science book by science comedian Steve Mould, shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize.

Try asking: “Are all germs bad?”

See the world through the eyes of 50 of the greatest explorers, with first-person accounts in their own words, maps and illustrations.

Try asking: “Which explorer would you travel with?”

From the horse to the honeybee, the history of the world told through 100 animals that changed it. An illustrated edition for younger readers by Simon Barnes, with pictures by Frann Preston-Gannon.

Try asking: “Which animal changed history the most?”

From the Brooklyn Bridge to building on the moon, the stories behind the world's most awesome structures, told by engineer Roma Agrawal. A visually stunning book for young engineers.

Try asking: “Which structure was the most amazing?”

Look inside the human body with a magic three-colour lens and X-ray from head to toe: skeleton, muscles and organs. An anatomy lesson like no other.

Try asking: “What can you see with the red lens?”

Velcro from burrs, bullet trains from kingfishers: meet the animal inventors whose super powers have inspired human technology. A Blue Peter Book Award winner.

Try asking: “Which invention came from an animal?”

Discover the weird and wonderful things that go on inside your body with doctor and author Adam Kay. A fun-filled, slightly repulsive anatomy book covering everything from bogeys to brains.

Try asking: “What's the most disgusting body fact?”