Nature Books for Kids
Literacy changes lives, and we’re dedicated to making quality books accessible to every young reader. This collection connects young readers ages 5 to 9 with the wonders of the natural world. Each book explores forests, oceans, gardens, and wildlife through engaging stories that foster environmental awareness.
A Spot to Nap
A sleepy sloth climbs higher and higher up a tall tree searching for the perfect spot to nap. But every branch seems to have someone—or something—already occupying it! Will the sloth ever find a cozy place to rest? Join this determined little climber on a funny adventure filled with unexpected encounters.
In the Deep
Anika wants to explore the sea, but she’s a little scared. With encouragement from her mum, she takes a deep breath and ducks her head underwater. What begins as a nervous first try soon becomes an incredible adventure! She discovers floating algae, a baby turtle, and even a flying fish. When she finds a colorful reef full of amazing creatures, Anika can hardly believe her eyes. What other surprises are waiting for her in the deep?
Make it Rain
Kaa lives in a dry land where nothing grows. His special job is to walk from place to place, singing songs to call the clouds and rain. One day, he hears a mysterious thumping sound behind him. When he turns around, he discovers a dinosaur who loves his music! Together, they sing to the sky. Will their song be powerful enough to bring the rain and change their dry land forever?
Pup Hears a Noise
Pup is trying to take a nap, but a mysterious sound keeps waking him up. Chirp! Chirp! What could be making that noise? Pup sets off on a search through the grass, meeting different animal friends along the way. He finds Trunk, Spike, and even some birds, but none of them are making the chirping sound. Can Pup discover who is responsible for all that noise so he can finally get some rest?
The Lost Bee
Bella, a clever princess bee, ventures into the forest to gather nectar for the queen’s special elixir. But when she spots an enormous purple flower high above, she decides to go alone—ignoring her helpers’ safety in numbers. What dangers await Bella in the mysterious flower, and will she learn that friendship and teamwork matter more than doing things alone?
There Are Ants!
Ants have invaded the house, and they’re on a mission to find food! Watch as these tiny explorers search high and low, sniffing out sweet treats and slipping through tiny spaces. They check out roller skates (silly ants, that’s not food!), discover yummy candy and cookies, and follow mysterious smells around the kitchen. But will they find enough food to bring back to their home? Join these busy little ants on their delicious adventure!
A Green Thumb for Ned
Ned has a cozy little shed, but it needs something special to make it feel like home. His magical Book sends him on an adventure to the beach to find mysterious blue clay. With his trusty iron shovel, Ned discovers he can transform the clay into something amazing! But when he tries to gather colorful flowers to brighten up his place, some angry bees have other plans. Will Ned outsmart the buzzing bees and turn his boring shed into a beautiful home?
A Special Flower
Meet a little white oak flower who feels different from all the other blossoms. While other flowers seem so much more beautiful with their bright colors and pretty shapes, this flower wonders why it looks so unusual. One night, the stars seem to whisper a secret message. What will the flower discover on its magical journey through the world? Can being different actually be something wonderful?
My Comb
While visiting a farm, a curious child discovers that many birds wear beautiful feather crowns called combs. The proud rooster shows off his fancy red comb, the peacock displays his wonderful feather crown, and even the heron has her own special crest. But none of the birds will share their crowns! When the child asks for a comb crown too, each bird says no. What will this creative kid do to get a crown of their own?
Ned, King of the Bees
Ned discovers a bee and becomes curious about where it lives. Following the bee to a hidden hive in a tree, Ned learns that bees make delicious honey. But how can Ned get the honey without making the bees angry? Join Ned on an exciting adventure to uncover the secrets of the hive and discover what it means to be a good neighbor to nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do nature books combine reading practice with science learning?
Nature books introduce concepts like habitats, seasons, and life cycles through stories, so children build scientific vocabulary and background knowledge while practising decoding. The National Council of Teachers of English emphasises that reading across content areas is essential for literacy development, and nature books are one of the most accessible ways to bring informational content into a child’s reading diet.
Why are children drawn to nature books?
Children are naturally curious about the world around them — why leaves change colour, where animals sleep, how storms form. Snow, Burns and Griffin (1998) found that reading about topics children find meaningful builds the background knowledge that supports comprehension growth across all subjects. Nature books channel that curiosity into reading practice.
Do these nature books use decodable text?
Yes. Each book uses decodable text matched to a specific phonics level, so children sound out words using patterns they have already learned. The nature content provides meaningful context for that practice — a child decoding a word like nest or pond is learning both a phonics skill and a science concept.
What formats are these nature books available in?
Nature books are available to read on the Bookbot website, with many titles free to access. Depending on the title, you may also find options such as PDF downloads, printable versions, audiobooks, or read-aloud mode with word-by-word highlighting. Learn more about the benefits of reading aloud.
What reading levels are available?
The nature collection ranges from simple CVC words (like sun, bug, mud) for beginning readers through consonant blends, digraphs, and multi-syllable patterns. You can filter by grade level or check the scope and sequence to find the right starting point.