Favorite Children’s Books for Nature Preschool

What follows is a brief excerpt from a May 2026 interview with ECO Founder Sarah Besse.  See the full interview HERE.

What are a few of your favorite children’s books and nature guides?

Hiking Day by Anne and Lizzy Rockwell and Hike by Pete Oswold are wonderful introductions to nature preschool because they show children and families hiking and exploring outdoors together, observing plants and animals, and deepening their connection with both nature and one another.

Forest Tracks by Dee Dee Duffy invites children into a fun guessing game as they follow animal tracks and guess which creature left them behind.  

Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater and Robin Gourley  celebrates the natural world through playful poetry. One of my favorite memories is a child bursting into laughter at the phrase “socks of moss,” followed by the rest of the group gleefully repeating it. Books like this support language development by celebrating words, imagery, and the expressive possibilities of language.

I Am An Artist by Pat Lowery Collins and Robin Brickman shows us that art begins with paying attention. Through poetic language and nature illustrations, the book celebrates observation, imagination, and creative expression in the natural world.

What Does Brown Mean to You? By Ron Grady is a celebration of identity, family, and belonging.  It is always a special treat when Ron visits our class to share his books through a read-aloud with the children!

The Pocket Naturalist guides, especially Urban Wildlife, and the Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England by Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman help children “talk local” by identifying the plants, animals, tracks, and habitats in our area.