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EARTHDAY.ORG’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, the Earth Day Network, also known as EARTHDAY.ORG, has been mobilizing more than 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.

Earth Day’s 2025 theme is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean energy by 2025.

Our environmental legacy is a testament to the power of collective action, and it calls upon individuals, businesses, governments, and the private sector to join hands in safeguarding our planet. Now, more than ever, we must step up our efforts to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and preserve our ecosystems.

Check EARTHDAY.ORG’S website for a wealth of information, current news, opportunities for advocacy, resources, stories and events.

In honor of Earth Day 2025 – and every day – Tana Lucero, Youth Services Librarian at the Duluth Public Library, has provided a list of books for youth and parents focused on environmental topics. The library does not own all the titles, but the library’s symbol appears next to the ones that are available there. Other book outlets can assist readers in obtaining titles.

Many thanks to Ms. Lucero for creating this list. Duluth is fortunate to have a dedicated library staff that serves the educational needs of our community.

Ants in your Pants, Worms in your Plants!
(Gilbert Goes Green)
by Diane deGroat
Gilbert seems to be the only one in his class who cannot think of any ideas for an Earth Day project.

Earth Day
by Emma Carlson Berne
Earth Day is a celebration of our beautiful planet. On this holiday, people come together to clean up land and water, plant trees, and enjoy nature. Sing along as you explore Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme! Includes online music access.

Earth Day, Birthday!
by Maureen Wright
When Monkey proclaims that it is his birthday, all the other jungle animals protest, claiming instead that it is Earth Day and telling Monkey what he should do to honor this special day.

Earth Day – hooray!
by Stuart J. Murphy
A drive to recycle cans on Earth Day teaches the children of the Maple Street School Save-the-Planet Club about place value.

It’s Earth Day, Cookie Monster!
by Mary Lindeen
On Earth Day, people celebrate what makes Earth special. Follow Cookie Monster and his friends from Sesame Street as they learn to be kind to Earth, on Ea...Show more 

Earth Day Every Day
by Lisa Bullard
Explores how to celebrate Earth Day and how to make it Earth Day every day.

Every Day Is Earth Day
by Jane O’Connor
When Nancy, the girl who loves to use fancy words, learns about Earth Day and “being green, “ her enthusiasm causes problems at home.

Every Day Is Earth Day
by Jordan Brown
When Jet learns that humans celebrate Earth Day, he can’t help but wonder, why can’t every day be Earth Day?

Earth-friendly Earth Day Crafts
by Veronica Thompson 
Crafty readers will delight in celebrating Earth Day by making age-appropriate, Earth-themed projects from odds and ends they already have! 

Earth Day Girl
by Thom Wiley
The adorable, but super-evil Birthday Girl has gone too far this time when she tries to take over the City’s Earth Day celebration. As everyone else learns about the importance of the three R’s-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-Birthday .

My Friend Earth
by Patricia MacLachlan 
Die-cut pages invite reader to explore how Earth is a friend to all creatures, watching over us as the year cycles through the seasons.

The Earth Gives More
by Fliess, Sue
While delighting in all nature offers, we need to remember to respect and treasure the world around us. This sweet rhyming story follows the change in seasons and illustrates how we can all be stewards of the Earth.

This Tree Counts!
by Formento, Alison
Before they begin planting new trees, Mr. Tate tells his students to listen closely as the lone tree behind their school counts out ten ways it serves the needs of different animals.

Katie Saves the Earth
by Manushkin, Fran
With Earth Day coming up, Katie decides to have a yard sale with her friends and recycle her old toys.

Save the Earth!
by Klein, Abby
Learning about Earth Day with his first-grade classmates at school, Freddy aspires to complete all the points on an Earth Day Challenge list so that he can join Team Green, in a story complemented by easy-to-do, planet-friendly activities.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, Oscar!
by Mary Lindeen
Oscar the Grouch knows a lot about trash, including how to reuse it! Read along as Oscar and friends show young readers that reducing, reusing, and recycling lessens their impact on the planet.

Choose to Reuse
by Lisa Bullard
Explores how to reuse old things instead of throwing them in the garbage.

The New Create An Oasis With Greywater
Integrated Design for Water Conservation : Reuse, Rainwater Harvesting & Sustainable Landscaping
by Art Ludwig
This 20th-anniversary edition of the world’s best-selling greywater book features a dozen more pages.

Save and Mend: A Story About Why It’s Important to Reuse Things
by Deborah Chancellor
Good to be Green is a series of six environment education books that help children age 6+ explore green issues and find out what they can do to help the planet.

Little Fixes: 54 Clever Ways to Extend the Life of Kids’ Clothes - Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose, Restyle
by DisneyPowless
Disney Powless proves that whether it’s ripped, stained, too small, or out of season, nothing is lost when it comes to a child’s wardrobe. This step-by-step guide to re-fashioning clothing features 54 simple restyling tutorials.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
by Miranda Paul
Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred.

Art Without Waste: 500 Upcycled and 
Earth-friendly Designs
by Patty K Wongpakdee
Art Without Waste features 500 upcycled and Earth-friendly designs from cutting-edge designers, illustrators and artists around the world.

Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of your Trash
by Clapp, Alexander
“The total mass of the world’s manmade materials has recently come to equal the entire biomass of the earth. 

101 Tips for A Zero-waste Kitchen
by Kellogg, Kathryn
Our kitchens can produce a shocking amount of waste and, even though food scraps may seem harmless, they can’t properly decompose in a landfill.

Zero Waste: How One Community Is Leading A World Recycling Revolution
by Drummond, Allan
Kamikatsu, Japan is known worldwide for its sanitation innovations. This small community of 1700 people is leading the way in recycling and up-cycling, and as of 2022, had nearly achieved its goal of zero waste.

Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-dollar Trash Trade
by Minter, Adam
When you drop your Diet Coke can or yesterday’s newspaper in the recycling bin, where does it go? Probably halfway around the world, to people and places that clean up what you don’t want and turn it into something you can’t wait to buy.

Happy Earth Day!
by Hopkinson, Deborah
“This fact-filled Little Golden Book is about Earth Day--what it is and why it’s important--and offers suggestions for actions kids can take to help protect and heal our planet.”

Dear Earth ... From your Friends in Room 5
by Dealey, Erin
“When the kids in room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back.”

Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build A Sustainable Planet
by Ritchie, Hannah
This book offers hope that we are not doomed, and we can build a sustainable future. Scientific research and practical advice are combined in helpful graphics.

We Are Water Protectors
by Carole Lindstrom
"When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand."

The Wild
by Yuval Zommer
“An environmental fable about protecting our planet, in which Earth is imagined as a beautiful, precious, and vulnerable creature called the Wild.”

The Earth Book
by Todd Parr
“Presents an introduction to environmental protection, describing a variety of ways that young people can work together to support the planet.”

My First Earth Day
by Katz, Karen
“Wonderful storytelling and vibrant collage art invite readers to celebrate Earth Day with a grandmother-granddaughter duo who spend the day recycling, picking up litter, supporting local businesses and caring for our wonderful planet.”

The Big Beach Cleanup
by Offsay, Charlotte
“Cora’s sandcastle-building contest is canceled due to litter on the beach, but determined to save her favorite place she, along with a few friends, gets to work picking up single-use plastics that have washed onto shore.”

Maya Makes Waves
by Maya Gabeira
“Professional surfer Maya Gabeira, known for surfing Guinness World Record-breaking big waves, shares a story--inspired by her own life.

Super Manny Cleans Up!
by Kelly DiPucchio
“Manny and his friend Gertie join forces to clean up their local park--because every superhero needs a planet worth saving.”

The Earth Is Good: A Chant in Praise of Nature
by Michael DeMunn
“Simple text and illustrations introduce the earth and its treasures, including its trees, flowers, animals, and weather.”

Arthur Turns Green
by Marc Tolon Brown
“When Arthur starts talking about his school project involving a Big Green Machine, D.W. imagines a scary contraption that will turn everyone green.”

The Pout-pout Fish Cleans up the Ocean
by Deborah Diesen
“Mr. Fish and an increasing number of sea creatures investigate, then decide how to deal with, a huge mess in the ocean. Includes tips for the reader to help clean up and protect the ocean.”

One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of An Urban Garden
by Diane C. Mullen
“Count the ways two hands, three days cleaning up, four planter boxes, and many more steps show how city neighbors transform one little abandoned lot into a beautiful community garden.”

Rocket Says Clean Up!
by Nathan Bryon
“While visiting her grandparents, who run whale-watching tours in Jamaica, Rocket sees first-hand how plastic is harming ocean creatures, and organizes a crew to clean up the local beach.”

These Seas Count!
by Alison Formento
“When Mr. Tate’s class helps out on Beach Clean-Up Day, Captain Ned teaches the children the importance of the sea and the impact of not keeping it clean.”

Green Green
A Community Gardening Story
by Marie Lamba
“In the city an abandoned lot squeezed between two buildings becomes a community garden.”

100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet
by Rose Hall
An illustrated book full of information about unexpected ways we can help our planet.

Nutshimit in the Woods
by Melissa Mollen Dupuis
Endearing, fun, and educational. Learn about nature and the rich culture of the Innu people on a guided walk in the forest.

Let’s Get Creative: Art for A Healthy Planet
by Jessica Rose
How can singing, dancing, painting, and crafting help us build a more sustainable future? This book discusses the work done by environmental artists and the ways in which kids can use their creativity to make a difference.

Walking Trees
by Marie-Louise Gay
 Book - 2024
A sweet and inspiring story. After Lily gets a tree for her birthday, she decides to take it for daily walks so that it can see the world outside her apartment. Her actions inspire others.

Beauty and the Beaker
by Sue Fliess
A hopeful story combining female empowerment, STEAM and sustainability. Beauty is a scientist and, after a cyclone hits her community, she discovers a new alternative source of energy.

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A beautiful illustrated and well-researched book combining Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge. Provides insights about on nature, symbiosis, and our relationships with plants.

Wings in the Wild
by Engle, Margarita
A novel in verse about two teens fighting for human rights and trying to stop climate change. After Soleida escapes Cuba, where her parents have been arrested for illegal art, she meets environmental activist Dariel.

Fault Lines
by Carpenter, Nora Shalaway
A slow-burn romance with a focus on environmental ethics. Seventeen-year-old Vivian (Viv) Spry vows to take down a gas company after their fracking almost kills her aunt and destroys a place that is important to them.

Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey Toward Personal and Ecological Healing
by Grenz, Jennifer
A hopeful and informative memoir. Dr. Jennifer Grenz combines Western science with Indigenous ecology, addressing the ways in which multiple world views can help us save our planet.

Treekeepers: Race for A Forested Future
by Oakes, Lauren
Many businesses promise to save the planet by planting trees. This book explores the realities of these acts: Who plants the trees? Where are they planted? What impact do they have? How do forests fight climate change?

Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build A Sustainable Planet
by Ritchie, Hannah
This book offers hope that we are not doomed, and we can build a sustainable future. Scientific research and practical advice are combined in helpful graphics.

The Climate Book
by Thunberg, Greta
Brings together the wisdom of more than100 experts and stories from Greta Thunberg in a knowledge bank that can help us avoid climate disaster.

Connecting With Nature: Mindful Stitching and Textile Art Through the Seasons
by Rose, Tilly
A collection of 12 seasonal projects to exercise your creativity and build connections with nature.

Dynamic Planet
 DVD 
A journey spanning three year and seven continents, focused on the ones fighting for our planet on the front lines and preparing for our future.

Planet Earth III
by Zimmer, Hans
The soundtrack of BBC’s Planet Earth III, with music inspired by our planet and the animals that call it home.