Melting glaciers. Increased wildfires. Polar bears losing their habitats. It’s difficult not to feel unnerved by the destruction that humans have wrought upon the planet—and harder still to keep youngsters from picking up on our worry. As I reflect on Earth Day this year, however, I’m heartened. Last fall, I interviewed U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón about her book In Praise of Mystery, illustrated by Peter Sís (Norton Young Readers, 2024). A meditation on the marvels of the universe, the work is a picture-book adaptation of her poem of the same name, which was engraved on the space probe Europa Clipper. Limón’s fervent passion for the natural world reinvigorated me, and her words have lingered: “I hope, if there is life outside our planet, that [it] understands how much we love our Earth. It might not seem like that, but we truly love it.”
That’s the message I want young readers to embrace this Earth Day—and all year round. To help cultivate that sense of wonder, I urge parents and caregivers to pick up the following picture books, starting with Limón’s latest, And, Too, the Fox, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro (Carolrhoda, Jan. 7). Paying tribute to a scrappy creature who manages to survive—and thrive—on the edges of a suburban town, Limón invites children to find sublime beauty in seemingly simple things, such as the fox’s “four black feet” and his habit of napping in the “soft and green” grass.
Henry Cole and Drew Beckmeyer each take the long view with odes to nature spanning centuries and even millennia. Author/illustrator Cole’s Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem (Peachtree, April 29) relies on intricately detailed black-and-white images to depict the passing of time. Over a period of 200 years, a tiny acorn grows into a tree that becomes a crucial part of its surroundings. From a raccoon peering from a hole in a branch to an owl swooping after a fleeing rabbit, Cole’s illustrations are rife with treasures for careful observers.
With Beckmeyer’s Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale From a Little Cave (Atheneum, March 18), the author salutes some unsung natural phenomena: the rocks that have seen eons of life come and go, from the extinction of dinosaurs to the rise of humans. The banter between the titular protagonists is alternately immensely funny, poignant, and contemplative; few other children’s books ask readers to consider the universe and “their place in its endless giganticness.” After reading these works, kids will truly grasp the big picture—a tall order, considering that for many young readers, five minutes can feel like an eternity.
Drama, danger, and caterpillar goo—Papilio (Viking, March 4) has it all. In a spectacular example of artistic collaboration, friends Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser each wrote and illustrated a section of this book chronicling the life cycle of Papilio polyxenes, better known as the black swallowtail butterfly. Though the vibes are quirky and cartoonish, the authors gently fold in some science as their earnest protagonist rises to each challenge with aplomb. “What a sweet world,” concludes Papilio. Readers will agree.
Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.
