Make learning about nature fun with these books about plants for kids of all ages. Read about unique flowers, trees, gardening, and more.
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One of our favorite ways to learn about nature is with hands-on activities. If you can get outdoors an explore, you might be amazed at what you can find in your own backyard. That isn’t always an option though, and books are the best portal to the bigger world around us!
We read through a stack of plant books for kids and picked out our favorites. All of these books have a fun and unique point of view. They teach while making plant science approachable for kids. Illustrations and photos bring the words to life.
Plant book list
Find our reading list here, then scroll down to get a detailed look inside each title.
- Flowers Are Pretty Weird | written by Rosemary Mosco and illustrated by Jacob Souva
- Plants Can’t Sit Still | written by Rebecca E Hirsch and illustrated by Mia Posada
- Seed to Plant | written by Kristin Baird Rattini
- Super Powered Plants | written by Soledad Romero Mariño and illustrated by Sonia Pulido
- Fantastic Flora | written by Ann McCallum Staats and illustrated by Zoë Ingram
- Field Guides: Trees | written by Maria Angeles Julivert
- My First Garden | written and illustrated by Livi Gosling
- Let’s Go to the Pumpkin Patch | written by Lisa J Amstutz
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Books about plants
1. Flowers Are Pretty Weird
Flowers Are Pretty Weird | written by Rosemary Mosco and illustrated by Jacob Souva
What it’s about
A cute bumblebee narrator takes readers on a quick introduction to some weird facts about flowers. Learn about flowers that are edible (and poisonous), bloom during the day (and night), and smell good (and stink). The back of the book has quick facts about each plant mentioned.
What we like
This would make a fun read-aloud story. Although its nonfiction, the cartoon bee narrator has a playful tone that introduces the world of flowers in a memorable way. The illustrations have a lot of interesting texture and color that is eye-catching.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Flowers Are Pretty Weird on Amazon.com
2. Plants Can’t Sit Still
Plants Can’t Sit Still | written by Rebecca E Hirsch and illustrated by Mia Posada
What it’s about
This picture book introduces readers to the world of plants and all the ways they move. It includes a bit of everything from creeping vines to the snap of a venus flytrap, and even rolling tumbleweeds and parachuting seed pods. This is a simple book, perfect for young readers and includes more scientific information in the back, along with a glossary.
What we like
For an energetic kid who’s always exploring, plants can seem kind of boring. This is a cute and engaging way to teach little ones about the interesting things that plants do. The beautiful illustrations are made with cut paper and watercolor, giving it a nice organic feel.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Plants Can’t Sit Still on Amazon.com
3. Seed to Plant
Seed to Plant | written by Kristin Baird Rattini
What it’s about
This is an easy reader by National Geographic Kids for kids who are starting to read on their own but still need some adult help. It provides a general overview of the plant life cycle, along with photos on every page.
What we like
National Geographic books focus on science in a kid-friendly format. Photos have captions and words that may be unfamiliar have a phonetic pronunciation guide. This is a smart and simple book for kids who want to read about plants on their own.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Seed to Plant on Amazon.com
4. Super Powered Plants
Super Powered Plants | written by Soledad Romero Mariño and illustrated by Sonia Pulido
What it’s about
This book is all about plants as green super heroes! Learn about 22 plants from around the world. Each plant gets a full page illustration, along with a detailed list of its superpowers. Each one also includes stats, like size, color, lifespan, and habitat.
What we like
This book has such a fun premise! It presents all of the plant facts like super powers. Some plants move and others are extra resilient. Some focus on flowers or leaves, while others mimic the characteristics of other plants. There is a lot of information in this book and its pretty text-heavy, so it will appeal to older readers. The artwork is really detailed. This would be a wonderful reference book for learning about specific plants.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Super Powered Plants on Amazon.com
5. Fantastic Flora
Fantastic Flora | written by Ann McCallum Staats and illustrated by Zoë Ingram
What it’s about
Learn about a dozen unique and interesting plants in a narrative style for big kids. Chapters are divided into the big, the bad, the smelly, and the exceptionally strange. Each one includes a detailed look at a specific plant.
What we like
This book is packed with info! Each chapter focuses on a single plant and provides lots of facts and ties it into the bigger nature world. There are illustrations of each plant, but this is largely a text-focused book. It’s a great resource if your child wants to learn more about plants like giant sequoia, deadly nightshade, ginko, and flying duck orchids.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Fantastic Flora on Amazon.com
6. Field Guides: Trees
Field Guides: Trees | written by Maria Angeles Julivert
What it’s about
Like a standard field guide, this is packed with everything you might want to know about trees in a kid-friendly format. It includes a lot of text, along with photos and illustrations on everything from types of trees to all of the parts of a tree.
What we like
This might not be a book you sit and read cover to cover (it has a lot of info) but would make a great resource for someone learning about trees. The information is presented in easily-digestible sections and paragraphs. There are detailed illustrations, labeled diagrams, and photos of real trees. And if you like this style, there are other books in the series about birds, weather, and space.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Field Guides: Trees on Amazon.com
7. My First Garden
My First Garden | written and illustrated by Livi Gosling
What it’s about
This book is an introduction to home gardening for kids of all ages. It includes the basics of planting seeds and tending plants, whether you’ve got a windowsill, porch, or community garden plot. You’ll find practical information not just on growing plants, but on things like compost, wildlife, and water conservation.
What we like
The watercolor illustrations in this book are lovely and include diverse kids. The tone of this book is really kind and encouraging. The author joined a community garden in 2020 as a way to seek joy and connect with others. That really comes through in the way she writes.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order My First Garden on Amazon.com
8. Let’s Go to the Pumpkin Patch
Let’s Go to the Pumpkin Patch | written by Lisa J Amstutz
What it’s about
This book is narrative nonfiction about visiting a pumpkin patch. It includes the highlights of a trip: a hay ride, face painting, petting animals, and exploring a corn maze. It ends with picking and decorating a pumpkin. The story includes photos of a pumpkin farm and a glossary for unfamiliar terms.
What we like
If you’re looking for virtual field trip ideas, either because it’s not pumpkin season or you don’t have a farm nearby, this is a fun option. This is a simple story, perfect for reading aloud or for young kids to read on their own. This book is part of a Fall Field Trips series that also includes an apple orchard.
Find this book in your local library or indie bookstore, or order Let’s Go to the Pumpkin Patch on Amazon.com
We hope you enjoyed this list of plant books for kids. If you found it helpful, be sure to share it with a friend or save it so you can find it again later.
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