With school out for the summer, now is the time to explore nature. The following books touch on some of the wonderous creatures and ecosystems on our planet.
MOUSE’S WOOD: A YEAR IN NATURE (MOUSE’S ADVENTURES), by Alice Melvin, Thames & Hudson, May 5, 2026, Board Book, $12.95 (ages 2 and up)
A board edition of the bestselling lift-the-flap picture book following the woodland ramblings of Mouse through the change in seasons.
The story follows Mouse, who first ventures out in wintry January to visit his friend Squirrel. Mouse moves on to wake up Hedgehog for the arrival of spring and as he continues along the path in the wood, Mouse’s journey from friend to friend maps out the changes in seasons from January through to December, from picnicking among the bluebells with Mole in May and picking berries with Dormouse in June, to taking refuge in Fox’s cozy caravan as winter draws in. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
This sweet board book is hard to resist. With charming illustrations and rhythmic text, it’s a beautiful introduction to the months, seasons and nature.
BECAUSE OF A BEE, by Lola M Schaefer and Frenci Sanna, Chronicle Books, May 19, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
Because of a bee, a strawberry sprouts, a butterfly sips, celery grows, and we can all gather to share a feast around our table!
The interconnected networks between pollinators and plants can be quite complex, but this deceptively simple picture book showcases the spiraling circles of nature and the importance of even the tiniest creature in all our lives. Wander through the farm to learn how every fruit, vegetable, bug, and bird connect to each other before food arrives on your plate. A bee is just the beginning. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
Because of a Bee helps young readers understand how bees set off a chain reaction with wide-reaching impact. Simple text and imaginative die-cut pages bring this concept to life. Excellent backmatter goes into greater detail on how bees play a critical role in our food ecosystem.
NATURE KNOWS, by Yvette Farmer and Chloe Jasmine Harris, Thames & Hudson, May 5, 2026, Hardcover, $16.95 (ages 4-8)
Sometimes life gets busy.
Really busy.
Mom calls it feeling foofy.
Dad calls it time-to-go-camping!
Journey into the wild and discover what nature knows about unfurling busy minds and bringing us home to ourselves.
Backed by current research, this adventure-filled story includes scientific facts about the benefits of nature-based play on children’s well-being. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
Nature Knows celebrates the power of the natural world to calm and regulate ourselves. This peaceful book is a joyful read that makes you want to get outside and explore.
GOOD MORNING, MORNING! by Maya Myers, Jennifer K. Mann, Neal Porter Books, April 7, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
Just before daybreak, a child steps outside to plant warm feet on the cool ground.
Though it’s quiet, there’s so much sensory magic to see and feel and hear: lacy slug trails on the porch; spiderwebs rippling in the grass; birdsong in the air; wet dew and spiky pine needles to walk through in the woods beyond the yard.
Expertly modeling mindfulness, the child breathes in the still-sleepy world, taking in every little detail. But when the sun’s warm rays arrive, it’s time to run and jump and cartwheel! GOOD MORNING, MORNING! —Synopsis provided by Neal Porter Books
This peaceful look at the moments before dawn is a beautiful celebration of both big and little moments in nature. It’s a mostly quiet book, but has a wonderful energy to it.
IF YOU WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, by Brooke McIntyre, Gordy Wright, Chronicle Books, May 5, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 5-8)
An awe-inspiring, deep-sea‑themed picture book that explores the mysterious marine life that dwells within and below the waves, all the way to the very bottom of the ocean!
Dive into this compelling, content‑rich nonfiction picture book and find yourself on an underwater adventure: a marine mission that takes you past reefs, beyond the near‑shore sea floor, down, down, down through the sunlight layer, the twilight layer, the midnight zone―all the way (as in seven miles!) down to the bottom of the ocean!
Keep your eyes peeled―if you’re lucky, you might see a 400-year-old shark, a dumbo octopus, or . . . a xenophyophore! Layer by layer, you will get to know all of the mysterious sea life that dwells in the deepest depths while finding out just how interconnected―and crucial―the ocean’s ecosystems really are. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books
Travel through an ocean’s layers and learn about all the incredible creatures that live in them in this informative nonfiction book. Kids will love how, as they travel deeper, the orientation of the book changes from horizontal to vertical. A beautiful narrative offers an overview and a foldout final page offers more detailed information.
THE COLORFUL WORLD OF REPTILES, by Matt Sewell, Princeton Architectural Press, April 14, 2026, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 5-12)
A beautifully illustrated introduction to reptiles with colorful watercolor art and descriptions full of fun facts.
From the creator of the bestselling The Colorful World of Dinosaurs, this follow-up volume introduces fifty amazing reptiles with striking watercolor art and fun facts on each. Beloved author-illustrator Matt Sewell delves into the fascinating, mysterious, and sometimes downright bizarre lives of reptiles, including spectacular snakes, lizards, crocodiles, bearded dragons, turtles, and tortoises. —Synopsis provided by Princeton Architectural Press
This is the type of book kids — or grownups — will pick up and not want to put down. It’s factual, compelling, and boy, are the illustrations beautiful. Matt Sewell’s book is well researched, and his use of white space really make the reptiles pop.
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
