Earth Day, on April 22 this year, is the perfect opportunity to head for the hills—or backyard or city park—and celebrate the surrounding flora and fauna. This is also the day when the prestigious Green Earth Book Awards are announced by Nature Generation. These national awards honor the books for young people that “best convey the message of environmental stewardship.” The Nature Generation, in Arlington, Virginia, also provides grants and resources for “educators, communities and institutions to expand environmental engagement.” As you await this year’s winners, you might check out 2025’s choices (two are reviewed below) as well as recently published “green” titles.
This delightful picture book won last year’s Green Earth Award in the Primary category. Author/illustrator Marie-Louise Gay notes that it was inspired by a program in the Netherlands. Like the young protagonist Lily, the actual townspeople regularly volunteer to walk their trees (planted in large tubs) throughout the city, providing shade and beauty along the way. In the story, Lily and her tree (which she christens George) are joined by increasing numbers of people, demonstrating the power of one person to create change.
This lyrical book is perfect for Earth Day and National Poetry Month (April)—and a lovely read-aloud throughout the year. Popular Maryland author/illustrator Joan Waites’ mixed-media illustrations beautifully complement the text. She depicts nocturnal creatures in a landscape rendered in deep, restful hues. The quiet drama builds as the night artists whistle (cicadas), chirp (crickets) and peep (tree frogs). And then, at last, bats “pirouette in an aerial ballet” and “dawn makes an entrance.” Back matter proves both educational and entertaining, with answers to questions like “How do fireflies light up?”
April 11 at 10:30 a.m. Joan Waites at Scrawl Books, 11911 Freedom Drive, Reston, Va. scrawlbooks.com
By Suma Subramaniam Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan Candlewick, 2026, $17.99
Suma Subramaniam’s lively new chapter book series should prove as popular as her acclaimed picture books. At Camp Kurinji, in South India, Malar wrestles with challenges common to this age. She is sometimes homesick, yearns to befriend the other campers and bristles at an aloof boy. Selvi madam, the kindly female camp counselor, helps her navigate these issues. Selvi also acquaints the young characters (and curious readers) with the workings of a wildlife reserve. Malar dreams of seeing a real tiger in the wild. Over time, though, she learns how acting on that desire may impact others, both humans and tigers.
By Loree Griffin Burns Illustrated by Jamie Green MIT Kids Press, 2026, $16.99
Kids interested in being scientists have few books that provide insight into the scientific mindset and actual work. Thankfully, we can now hand these kids Loree Griffin Burns’ Discovery Chronicles series. This book follows Peter and Rosemary Grant as they study two types of finches on isolated Daphne Island, to determine how they change over time. As with her many other compelling books on science exploration, Burns immerses the reader in the fascinating world of research. She shows how the Grants (and other scientists) gather the information to test their ideas—and discusses the larger implications of their findings.
By Fern Davis Anderson and Stephanie McPherson Lerner, 2024, $18.99
The authors offer a clear-eyed account of the benefits and destructiveness of wildfires. They compare the devastation wrought by rampaging fires, like that in Paradise, California, with the Indigenous practice of rejuvenating the land through planned, controlled fire. Might lessons from Indigenous people, farmers and forest rangers help the world to better prevent such widescale destruction even as climate change increases the magnitude and frequency of wildfires? This timely, important book won last year’s Green Earth Book Award for teen nonfiction.
Corey Ann Haydu writes award-winning books for young people across genres and age categories. You may know the picture book “A Place for Feelings,” the Hand-Me-Down Magic chapter book series and the middle-grade novel “Eventown.” We’re lucky now to have her first novel for adults, an intricate, well-paced story that moves back and forth in time. With nuance and grace, Haydu explores the relationship between two mothers, who become friends, and that of their daughters. The daughters are BFFs when young but thirtysomething, pregnant and estranged when the story opens. Will they be able to unpeel all the secrets that bedeviled their mothers’ relationship—and impact their own? And can their re-kindled friendship withstand the truth?
April 14 at 7 p.m. Corey Ann Haydu at East City Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC. eastcitybookshop.com
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
