Now that June is almost here and the weather is perfect for nature hikes, I thought it was worth a profile of some of the nature books on the shelves at our house. I selected non-fiction picture books about nature, with my children piping in to make sure I included their favorites. This list is by no means comprehensive – just a snapshot of what’s at our house. Maybe there are a few on here that you can add to your “Must Read” list.

General Nature/Weather

The Magic School Bus: Inside a Hurricane (Joanna Cole, ill. Bruce Degen)

Cactus Hotel (Brenda Z. Guiberson, ill. Megan Lloyd)

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (Verna Aardema, ill. Beatriz Vidal)

Here is the African Savanna (Madeline Dunphy, ill. Tom Leonard)

Are Mountains Growing Taller? Questions About the Changing Earth (Melvin and Gilda Berger, ill. Robin Carter)

Animals/Insects

Big Sharks! (Toru Kosara)

Birds (K.M. Kostyal- National Geographic Nature Library)

Where Butterflies Grow (Joanne Ryder, ill. Lynne Cherry)

Gray Wolf Pup’s Adventure (Stephanie Smith, ill. Robert Hynes)

Predators of the Sea (Mary Jo Rhodes, ill. David Hall)

Whales (Kevin Boon)

Insects (Robin Bernard)

Gorillas: Gentle Giants of the Forest (Joyce Milton, ill. Bryn Barnard)

Penguins (Jane P. Reznick)

Ants (Christine Young, ill. Andrea Jaretzki)

Additionally, we have 2 fiction favorites that should be mentioned: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer.

I’m sure you have other good nature books that you enjoy – please share them in the comments. We’ve love to discover some new nature books!