Children's books on animals and nature are a great way to introduce kids to concepts such as environmental awareness and the impact human behavior can have on the natural world. Plus, kids books are fun with beautiful illustrations and whimsical words. To that end, here's a look at the five best animal and nature books for kids. Help us build a bigger book list and tell us: what are your favourite animal books for kids?!

1. "Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City"

By Barbara Bash and Sierra Club Books This book is great for expanding the concept of nature for many children. After all, for children living in cities, nature is not always rolling meadows, grassy backyards and trees aplenty. "Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City" shows the resilience of nature through birds making homes in concrete jungles after being shooed out of their natural habitats. Parents can read this book aloud to very young kids; older children may enjoy reading it themselves.

2. "Westlandia"

By Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes Hello imagination! Wesley finds a new civilization during his summer and discovers a new way of living that intrigues even the mean kids. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 9.

3. "Just a Dream"

By Chris Van Allsburg Walter is a boy who scoffs at a neighbor delighting in a new tree, and that may be the least of his misdeeds. His outlook changes after he has a dream (or is it a dream?) about the ways in which humans are hurting the planet. This book is recommended for children in grades 2 to 5.

4. "On Meadowview Street"

By Henry Cole This book features a female protagonist. Caroline is a girl who shows that even small efforts can lead to big differences for one living thing and that a little chaos can be fun. The book is geared toward ages 4 to 8.

5. "Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa"

By Jeanette Winter This story of a young woman who works to bring trees back is based on true events. Children in the United States and other English-speaking countries should enjoy learning more about Kenya and understand just how much of a global issue environmental awareness is.

There are many incredible books for kids about animals and nature. There are so many to choose from, that we decided to add five bonus books:

• "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss
• "The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps" by Jeanette Winter
• "And Then It's Spring" by Julia Fogliano and Erin E. Steads
• "Farewell To Shady Glade" by Bill Peet
• "Not Your Typical Book About The Environment" by Elin Kelsey

So make a trip to your closest library or book store, grab a few books, cuddle up with your kids and happy reading!

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