We Love These Children’s Books About Plants

Sweet little Lala can be found carrying a pot of water around the corner from her home to a patch of dirt where tiny weeds sprout. “Hello, hello friends,” she says to the patch. She waters the plants daily and whispers kind words to them, too. Though her mom tries to keep Lala from playing with weeds and dirt, Lala continues encouraging her plants, even whispering to them from her window when her mother makes her stay inside. Soon the plants go strong and tall, shading and nourishing the neighborhood. We love the way Lala’s kind words nourish not just the plants, but her community as well. This is a beautiful and touching children’s book about plants that showcases the power of kindness through a lovely metaphor.

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This is a beautiful story about a boy in a dreary town who discovers a straggling garden while out on a walk one day. He decides to care for it, nurturing the garden with love, patience, and perseverance, even after it is harmed by the elements. Under his care, the garden grows and grows, bringing life to the city and blue to the skies. This book is stunning both in story and illustration, with themes of determination, environmental activism, and community improvement. It is one of our all-time favorite children’s books about plants!

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I love books that fabulously depict lifecycles, and so do kids! This wonderful story illustrates the transformative life cycle of a sunflower. The flower begins as a tiny seed, with winding roots growing below the soil. With sun and rain, the seed grows, leading up to a stunning fold out of a full-grown sunflower. I love how this beautiful kids’ book about plants showcases each stage of a plant’s lifecycle! 

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A young boy plants a carrot seed and, despite warnings that the seed will not grow, he tends to it carefully, believing in his heart that it will flourish. I love this story of a child’s steadfast conviction, his dedication, and how he stands his ground, despite the naysayers and opponents whispering in his ear. This classic children’s book about plants was first published in 1943 and has never been out of print since. That’s the best testament to this quiet and tender story. Such a gem!

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This is the true story of one man’s effort to revitalize the “haunted garden” near PS 175, an underfunded public school in Harlem.  With the students having only infrequent access to healthy foods, the author, Tony Hillery, invited one class to get their hands dirty and clean up the abandoned space, while also teaching them a thing or two about gardening. Five years later? The garden grows thousands of fruits and vegetables, all of which are given to the students and their families. One man’s vision — and one classroom’s efforts — changed the lives of a neighborhood, while simultaneously teaching the students about hard work, sustainability, and community engagement. I fell for this one instantly, not just for the way it reminds kids that we can all make a difference in the world, but for the way it champions environmentalism and sustainability, too.

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This is another beauty, one that intrigues young kids who have obsessions with seeds! Whether your children love collecting them, planting them, or imagining what may sprout from them, this book answers so many of the big questions kids have about seeds. A perfect introductory read. Gorgeous illustrations combine with fascinating facts to make this one a total gem! 

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Oh my gosh, this book is exquisite! You won’t want to miss this one if you teach your kids or students about our four seasons. The illustrations are intricately made from pressed plants and include leaves, seeds, and petals. The result? A uniquely gorgeous feast for the eyes, majestically capturing natural wonders.

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I love this beautiful book, and Nelson’s illustrations are just dreamy. If you plant a carrot seed, a carrot will grow. The same goes for cabbage. But what happens when you plant a seed of kindness? We adore the message this book conveys. Fighting will not bring you happiness and can destroy a foundation you have worked so hard to build. Communication is key, sharing is caring, and the world is more harmonious and fruitful when we are kind and cooperative. Such a beauty! 

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If you are looking for a lively and fun interactive book to get your kids excited about the coming of spring, this sweet story is a must! Plant the Tiny Seed is a fabulous book to get little ones engaged in the idea of planting gardens – they can wiggle their fingers to water the seeds, clap to make the sun shine, and even shoo away pesky snails. Your kids will delight in watching tiny seedlings grow into beautiful flowers, resulting in a vibrant garden filled with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds too.

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Winter has ended, and a young boy decides it is time to brighten up the world outside. He and his trusty dog thus work hard to cultivate a garden. They dig and plant and water, and then they wait and wait. And then, at last, after much patience, perseverance, and dedication, the garden slowly, slowly, starts to bloom. We love this children’s book about plants that celebrates the arrival of spring!

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Telling the truth can be downright scary — especially when you fear it will result in grave consequences. But this beautiful story masterfully illuminates how telling the truth can be the most courageous action one can possibly take — and it can result in great, great rewards. This is the story of Ping, a young boy hoping to grow the most beautiful flowers and become heir to the emperor. When the seeds given to him by the emperor fail to grow, he faces two tough options: exchange his failed plant for a beautiful new one and lie, or tell the emperor that despite his best efforts, his seeds did not bloom. What will he do? So in love with this stellar story!

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If you’re looking for a great nonfiction text, this is a wonderful picture book primer that introduces our youngest readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination. It is a great book to help readers learn the different parts of plants, various seeds, and how they grow. Use this in conjunction with simple science lessons and experiments, and you’ll be amazed at how much your kids will learn! 

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Gardens take many different shapes, and they all look different too! But one young girl looks longingly at her neighbor’s garden, where the plants are so much prettier, not like the “black-purple-green vines, fuzzy wrinkled leaves, prickly stems” and small flowers she grows with her mother. Yet, her mother reassures her that their plants are better than flowers. Soon enough, the girl realizes her mother is right – those ugly vegetable plants become the tastiest soup they have ever known. Three cheers for the ugly vegetables! I love how this story reminds children never to judge a book by its cover!

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In this darling book, Millie has just moved to America from a place across the ocean. Life in her new city feels gray until Millie has a grand idea that’s soft and bright and makes her bounce. A garden! Her school has just the perfect roof for it, too, but now she has to convince her classmates and teacher to implement her idea. When everyone jumps on board, Millie and her classmates realize it takes patience and lots of work to build a garden. In fact, it takes a whole community! But thanks to the garden, the community comes together and helps Millie’s new city feel more like home.

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While not about gardening, we had to include this book about one unique plant! A cactus named Hank is prickly to everyone around him. Why? Hank staunchly believes he likes to be alone and doesn’t — absolutely does not — want a hug. But is this truly what he wants for himself? When Hank suddenly realizes that no one is even offering to give him a hug, he discovers that maybe he is a little lonely after all. Maybe life is a little sweeter— and a little less painful— when we let others in for just a moment. But who wants to hug a cactus?

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