Nourishing Nature Kindergarten Book List
One of the most beautiful ways to begin a child’s education is with stories.
In the early years, a Charlotte Mason kindergarten is rooted in living books with stories that spark wonder, nurture imagination, and gently introduce children to the world around them. Rather than relying on dry textbooks, this approach invites children to learn through rich language, meaningful ideas, and connection.
In our nature-based kindergarten homeschool, books become the heart of learning. This carefully curated collection of the best nature picture books for kindergarten weaves together themes like trees, gardens, animals, weather, and the changing seasons that help children fall in love with both reading and the natural world.
These books are perfect for homeschool read-alouds, morning baskets, or quiet, cozy afternoons together. Many can be found at your local library or through free read-alouds online, and we’ve included links for convenience if you’d like to add them to your home library.
If a particular title isn’t available, feel free to substitute a similar book as the goal isn’t perfection, but presence. To fill your days with stories that inspire curiosity, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning.
Download a free sample lesson here!
TREE GUIDE
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Because of an Acorn by Adam and Lola Schaefer
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Seeds and Trees by Brandon Walden
Trees, Leaves, and Bark by Diane Burns
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry
“The Swing” by Robert Louis Stevenson
How do Apples Grow? by Steven Kellogg
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall (if out of print, check out The Apple Pie That Papa Baked for an alternate)
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Chapter Book Read Aloud: Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Download The Peaceful Press Master Book List Here!
FARM GUIDE
Right This Very Minute by Lisl H. Detlefsen
On The Farm, At The Market by G. Brian Karas
How Did That Get in My Lunchbox by Chris Butterworth
My Chickens Lay Eggs by Sherry Crelin
Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Sleep Tight Farm by Eugenie Doyle
From Milk to Ice Cream by Bridget Heos
It’s Milking Time by Phyllis Alsdurf
Milk: From Cow to Carton by Aliki
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
Chapter Book Read Aloud: Charlotte’s Web by E.B Webb
SKY GUIDE
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
National Geographic Kids: Weather by Kristin Baird Rattini
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
The Skies Above My Eyes by Charlotte Guillain
The Planets in Our Solar System by Dr. Franklyn M. Branley
National Geographic Kids: Planets by Elizabeth Carney
Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman
What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid
Sun: One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty
Chapter Book Read Aloud: The Drinking Gourd by F.N. Monjo
MOUNTAIN GUIDE
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Let’s Explore Mountains by Lonely Planet Kids, Christina Webb
The Rocky Mountains by Marion Dane Bauer
Over on a Mountain: Somewhere in the World by Marianne Berkes
There’s a Mountain in This Book by Rachel Elliot
A Day on the Mountain by Kevin Kurtz
Where is Machu Picchu by Megan Stine
A is for Alpacas by Sue Carolane
María had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez
Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown
Explore My World: Snow Leopards by Jill Esbaum
Chandra’s Magic Light by Theresa Heine
Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by Alexandra
Stewart*
Where Is Mount Everest? by Nico Medina*
Chapter Book Read Aloud: Snowshoe Thompson by Nancy Smiler Levinson
*These titles are longer read-alouds. Feel free to choose one or the other and enjoy it slowly over the course of the week rather than reading it all at once.
CITY GUIDE
Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton
What Do You Do If You Work At The Zoo by Steve Jenkins
The View at the Zoo by Kathleen Long Bostrom
Sleepover at the Museum by Karen LeFrak
First Big Book of Dinosaurs by Catherine D. Hughes
A Rock is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston
A Child’s Introduction to Natural History by Heather Alexander
Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Look & Learn: Pets by National Geographic Kids
Blue Ethel by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Check It Out!: The Book about Libraries by Gail Gibbons
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn
The Library Book by Tom Chapin
Chapter Book Read Aloud: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
GARDEN GUIDE
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
How a Seed Grows by Helene Jordan
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
A Seed is Sleepy by Aston/Long
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller
Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson (optional)
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards
Lola Plants a Garden by Anna McQuinn
Chapter Book Read Aloud: A Beatrix Potter Treasury by Beatrix Potter
MEADOW GUIDE
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Flowers are Calling by Rita Gray
Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
Hello Bugs, What Do You Do? by Loes Botman
Flutter, Butterfly by Shelby Alinsky
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Bird Builds A Nest by Martin Jenkins
The Fox Went Out On A Chilly Night By Peter Spier
Big Tracks, Little Tracks by Millicent E. Selsam
Little Beaver and the Echo by Amy Macdonald
Chapter Book Read Aloud: Trumpeter of the Swan by E.B. White
RAINFOREST GUIDE
Life in San Miguelito by David Dudenhoefer
Tree of Wonder by Kate Messner (or see Youtube read aloud)
The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gohlz
Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner
“Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” Said the Sloth by Eric Carle
A Walk in the Forest by Maria Dek
A Walk in the Deciduous Forest by Rebecca L. Johnson
Tall Tall Tree by Anthony Fredricks
What Forest Knows by George Ella Lyon and August Hall
The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
The Forest in the Trees by Connie McLennan
Chapter Book Read Aloud: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Many families pause during the month of December to do holiday themed learning. Check out our Christmas Guide and these lovely books.
CHRISTMAS GUIDE
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl Buck
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moor
What’s Cooking Jamela by Niki Daly
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson
Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon
If You Take A Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
We also have a summer supplement which includes The Ocean, Freshwater, and Desert units. It’s a great resource for continuing to strengthen motor skills and enjoy learning through the summer months.
OCEAN GUIDE
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
National Geographic Readers: At the Beach
Seashells by the Seashore by Marianne Berkes
What Lives in a Shell? (Let’s Read and Find Out Science 1) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
On Sand Island by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Grandma Summer by Harley Jessup
National Geographic Readers: Sea Otters
DESERT GUIDE
Desert Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
Desert Night, Desert Day by Anthony D. Fredericks and Kenneth J. Spengler
Cactus Desert by Donald W. Silver
Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson and Megan Lloyd
Over In The Arctic by Marianne Berkes and Jill Dubin
North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migrations by Nick Dowson
Counting On Snow by Maxwell Newhouse
Arctic Tundra by Donald W. Silver
Arctic White by Danna Smith and Lee White
FRESHWATER GUIDE
Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
National Geographic Readers: Frogs! by Elizabeth Carney
The Frogs And Toads All Sang by Arnold Lobel
The Freshwater Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
Follow the Water From Brook to Ocean by Arthur Dorros
Rivers of Sunlight by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
River Beds: Sleeping in the World’s Rivers by Gail Langer Karwoski
A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry
Wild World by Angela McAllister (Mangrove poem)
The Sea, The Storm, And The Mangrove Tangle by Lynne Cherry
The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees To Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Swamp Chomp by Lola M. Schaefer
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