It is known that kids have much more strong imagination skills than adults. Something gets lost once we grow older, that’s why it is important to encourage kids to use their imagination, and more importantly, use it for good. Recycling is a topic kids should be exposed to at a young age, if not practicing it, at least to learn more about it.
This list of great recycling books will help you achieve this goal, and hopefully inspire the next generation to come up with creative ideas about how to help clean the world and improve the habit.
And even if not, knowledge is power so this is just one of the many topics young students should learn about.
Quick tip:
Before you choose a book on recycling have a conversation with your child about the topic so he will know what it is all about. Some kids need preparation before dwelling on a book.
Recycling books by age range
Below is a table of the same books you can find on the full list below, but organized by age groups for easy sorting
| 2+ to 3+ | 4+ to 6+ | 7+ |
| Save the Ocean | You can change the world | The plastic problem |
| Recycling is Crab-ulous | This class can save the planet | Can I recycle this? |
| Adventures with Finn and Skip | What a waste: Trash, Recycling and protecting our planet | Make and learn projects with recycling and reusing |
| Compost stew | The mess we made | Jazzie Beans saves the planet |
| Don’t throw that away | Are you eating plastic | |
| I’m trying to love garbage | What Milly did | |
| Recycle and Remake | ||
| A dolphin’s wish | ||
| Don’t waste your food | ||
| Dear Earth, from your friends in room 5 | ||
| Trash Magic | ||
| Stuff! Reduce Reuse Recycle | ||
| One plastic bag | ||
| Zero waste kids | ||
| We Recycle | ||
| See inside recycling and rubbish | ||
| Nature recycles – how about you? | ||
| Magic Trash | ||
| Fly Guy Presents | ||
| One little bag | ||
| I had a favorite dress |
1. You can change the world ( a kids’ guide to a better planet ) by Lucy Bell
This is a great book about the topic of recycling and provides real world examples to kids about the topic and how to apply them. The book actively encourage kids to be more mindful about their surroundings and live a more sustainable life for them and the planet.
This book is appropriate for ages 5+
2. This class can save the planet by Stacie Torino
The best thing about this book is that it is great at taking the huge problem of waste and recycling and ables to shrink it down into bite size nuggets that young kids can understand much better and maybe help them get a better idea of what needs to be done.
This book is appropriate for ages 5+
3. Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl
This book is part of a series of book titled ” Save the Earth ” and is focused more on the ocean using fictional characters to describe the real world problem and how to fix it.
This book is appropriate for ages 2+
4. Recycling is Crab-ulous by Sophie Erranto
Hermit crabs are master re-users, and in essence recycling creatures, this book will teach the kids about how to reuse their items in creative ways and maybe adopt the way of the hermit crabs. It’s a great book about the topic.
This book is appropriate for ages 3+
5. What a waste: Trash, Recycling and protecting our planet by Jess French
This book is a treasure of facts and information about recycling and reusing items in our daily lives. It also provides info for the kids about what is already being done in the world on the subject.
This book is appropriate for ages 4+
6. The mess we made by Michelle Lord
Looking at the great Pacific Garbage Patch in a very illustrated way. This is the book on recycling for that. It also shows the effect on the wildlife, the book itself takes time to build up, but also offers practical solutions to the problem.
This book is appropriate for ages 5+
7. Don’t throw that away by Lara Bergen
Step inside the eyes of a recycling super hero in this book about how plain trash might not be just that, and can actually be reused again and again. The kids will love this book and will get some great ideas from it.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
8. I’m trying to love garbage by Bethany Barton
A great about that explains how garbage is created, where does it go, and what you can do with it. In a very easy to understand way and entertaining. This one will surely have the kids asking questions and learning.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
9. Recycle and Remake: Creative projects for Eco kids by Dk Publishing
If you’re looking for a great book about recycling and reusing garbage, this is it. This book touches on a lot of topics related to recycling and reusing and doing it in a very kid friendly way.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 6+
10. A dolphin’s wish: How you can help make a difference and save our oceans by Trevor McCurdie
A great book from the point of view of a family of dolphins that will educate us about the trash we throw into our oceans and how it affects the fish life. It also exposes us to the lives of dolphins and how we can help them.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
11. Don’t waste your food by Deborah Chancellor
It’s not surprising to learn that kids do not yet understand how food wasting is affecting the planet. This recycling book will focus on food waste and how to avoid it and how it affects our world.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 6+
12. Dear Earth, from your friends in room 5 by Erin Dealey
A very creative and original book about students in room 5 that start a pen-pal journey with the Earth, they learn about it and all the troubles and how to fix them. A truly original work of art that is great for kids to learn about the planet.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
13. The plastic problem: 60 small ways to reduce waste and help save the Earth by Aubre Andrus
If you want to get the tweens to learn more about how to reduce plastic waste in the world and in their lives, this is the book you need to read. The book will teach them how to reduce the usage of it in their lives and the issues with it.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 9+
14. Trash Magic: A book about recycling a plastic bottle by Angie Lepatite
This book will teach your kids about the journey a plastic bottle makes from being created to being waste. A very important book to read to your kids.
this book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
15. Can I recycle this? A guide to better recycling and how to reduce single use plastic by Jennie Romer
The bool will teach you what you CAN and CAN’T recycle, Kids can be eager to learn and contribute, but it’s important to know what is and what not to put inside the recycle bin. Great read for sure
This book is appropriate for kids ages 12+
16. Make and learn projects with recycling and reusing by Louise Spilsbury
A great book about reusing and converting old items sitting around the house into something new. Reuse, recycle, a very simple concept but very important one to teach the young ones right
This book is appropriate for kids ages 8+
17. Stuff! Reduce Reuse Recycle by Steven Kroll
A sweet tale about a character that learns how reuse reduce recycle is more than just a slogan and that practicing it can actually improve your world
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
18. One plastic bag: Isatou Ceesay and the recycling women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul
One person can truly make a change in the world, this book is inspired by real events and tells the tale of convenience that can easily turn into a major issue.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 5+
19. Zero waste kids by Rob Greenfield
Get students to be more aware of waste and how it mixes into their world. The activist Rob Greenfield shares a lot of useful information about this important topic.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 6+
20. Adventures with Finn and Skip by DK and Brendan Kearney
This book will help raise awrence within kids about the growing problem of polluting and trash in the ocean. The book also suggests solutions and not only highlighting them. A great read
This book is appropriate for kids ages 3+
21. Jazzie Beans saves the planet by Cara Brzezicky
A cute little dog named Jazzie will take you on a journey about saving the planet one bottle at a time. The kids will learn about recycling and reusing objects that should and could be recycled.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 8+
22. Are you eating plastic by Maria Simon
An interactive book that will teach the kids in a fun way about recycling and reducing the amount of waste in the world by taking action. The main purpose of the book is to raise the discussion about waste.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 8+
23. We Recycle by Torrey Maloof
One of the first books you should read to your kids about the concept of reduce reuse recycle. It’s easy to follow and a great entry book into the world of recycling. It’s a non fiction book that should be read.
This book is appropriate for kid ages 5+
24. What Milly did: The remarkable pioneer of plastic recycling by Scot Ritchie
A great book about the wonders of recycling, for little kids who want to learn about how recycling work and what goes into it. Don’t let this one slip away, read it and educate yourself.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 8+
25. See inside recycling and rubbish by Alex Frith
A cute book that explains how rubbish made, glass, plastic and paper and how these can be reuse to make new things. It also explains what happens when an item can’t be recycled.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
26. Nature recycles – how about you? by Michelle Lord
A great book to introduce the idea of reuse recycle to young kids. The book inspires us to imitate animals by showing us how they reuse and recycle almost anything they come in contact with. This is a great book to get started.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 5+
27. Magic Trash: The story of Tyree Guyton and his art by J.H Shapiro
A great inspirational book about a man who decided to turn old junk and garbege to beautiful art pieces and by doing so inspired his town of Detroit. The book puts an emphasis on the fact that anyone, no matter where in the world can contribute, sometimes in unconventional ways to fight waste and also get more involved with their community.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 5+
28. Fly Guy Presents: Garbage and Recycling by Tedd Arnold
Another book that will take you through the journey of trash and where it goes from your trash bin to the end. Learn about trash trucks, sorting garbage and how recycling improves the world. The funny illustrations will help the kids visiualize what garbage is all about and what we do with it.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 5+
29. One little bag: An amazing journey by Henry Cole
Follow the story of a little paper bag all the way from a tree to being a bag on a grocery store. The bag itself can hold precious memories and be past on for generations in this book. What’s unique here is that this book is wordless, so the kids will use their imagination and critical thinking to understand the context from the black ink drawings.
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
30. I had a favorite dress by Boni Ashburn
This book tells the tale of a young girl who really loves wearing a specific dress. But when the dress gets old and worn down, her mother uses her skills to reuse it and turn it into something new every time. A great book about the concept of reuse reduce recycle that kids will love
This book is appropriate for kids ages 4+
31. Compost stew by Mary McKenna Siddals
A great graphic book that shows how to make the dark and earth friendly thing that is called compost. Learn how food can be recycled and not go to waste, this book is filled with awesome illustrations to help them follow along
This book is appropriate for kids ages 3+
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between reading ages
Children develop at different stages, and each age has it’s own strengths and things to put emphasis on and also what not. For example, a 3 year old is too soon to start learning about complex sentences and sometimes even light reading might be too hard.
Think about books with more illustrations and colors at that young age. However a 5 year old might enjoy the challenge of trying to read, getting to know the letters and starting to understand full sentences.
That’s why children books often recommend the age range for each book, you don’t want to read a book that is too complicated for a young kid and also don’t want to read a simple book for a 7 year old who knows how to read and understands.
What to do to encourage my kid to recycle
First, like a lot of things, lead by example, kids mimic their parents in a lot of things, they learn by viewing and following, and the parents and teachers are the most influential characters of a young kids’ life.
By looking at you doing it, the child will want to follow your steps, you can also explain what you are doing and why it is important.
Lastly, try making a fun game out of it, to encourage cooperation. Recycling can be a fun thing if we make a game of it or a fun activity to do together.
How many books should I read to my child
Young kids have medium to short attention spans, so we don’t want to overwhelm them by reading too much, too soon.
A good rule of thumb is 1 short book per day, usually before bed is a great idea, but sometimes during the day is better because their level of attention might be higher. Try and see what works best with your child.
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