A book list for parents and caregivers, curated by The Children’s Book Review, presented in partnership with author Malia Grace.
In our increasingly digital world, children are spending less time outdoors and more time disconnected from the natural world that has nurtured human wellbeing for millennia. Nature therapy—the practice of using outdoor experiences and natural settings to promote healing, emotional regulation, and psychological wellness—offers a powerful antidote to modern stressors. Research shows that time spent in nature can reduce anxiety, improve focus, boost creativity, and provide essential emotional grounding for developing minds.
The following carefully selected books introduce children to nature’s therapeutic power, showing how outdoor experiences can provide comfort, emotional healing, and resilience. Each story serves as a wonderful starting point for conversations about mindfulness, emotional wellness, and our healing connection to the natural world.
Here are six beautifully crafted books that invite children to explore nature’s healing power:
Cody the Coyote is quiet, gentle, and shy—qualities that make him feel overwhelmed by his loud classmates and disconnected from school. When the teasing becomes too much, Cody seeks refuge in the forest, hoping nature will share her wisdom with him. Through heartfelt conversations with the Moon, Sun, Creek, Tree, Fox, Owl, Wolf, Butterfly, and Deer, Cody discovers that he’s perfect just as he is and that the strength to navigate life’s challenges has been inside him all along.
This beautifully illustrated story teaches children about bravery, patience, flexibility, and kindness while showing how nature can provide guidance and emotional healing. Perfect for sensitive children and those who struggle with social anxiety, this book demonstrates how connecting with the natural world can offer profound therapeutic benefits and help children develop resilience and self-acceptance.
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The Wild Robot
Written and Illustrated by Peter Brown
Ages: 8-12 | 288 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2016) | ISBN: 978-0316381994
When robot Roz awakens on a remote island, she must learn to survive in the wilderness and eventually becomes an adoptive mother to an orphaned gosling. This beloved chapter book explores themes of adaptation, compassion, and finding belonging in natural settings. Roz’s journey of learning to communicate with animals and adapt to natural rhythms offers therapeutic lessons about resilience, the importance of community, and how connecting with nature can heal even the most mechanical hearts.
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A child and their father venture into the winter woods on a quiet night to look for owls, sharing a magical and peaceful experience in nature. This Caldecott Medal winner captures the meditative, therapeutic quality of spending quiet time outdoors and shows how nature experiences can create profound bonds and lasting memories. The book’s emphasis on patience, observation, and respectful interaction with wildlife makes it perfect for teaching children about mindful nature connection.
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When a man falls asleep while preparing to cut down a great kapok tree in the Amazon rainforest, the animals that depend on the tree whisper to him about the interconnectedness of all life. This environmental classic teaches children about the therapeutic relationship between humans and nature, showing how forests provide healing not just for individuals but for the entire planet. The book’s message about respect for nature and understanding our place in the ecosystem offers valuable lessons about environmental stewardship and the healing power of forest preservation.
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Follow a dandelion seed on its journey from parent plant to finding its own place to grow, learning about resilience, adaptation, and finding home in the natural world. This gentle story uses nature metaphors to help children understand that sometimes we need to let go and trust that we’ll find where we belong. The book’s therapeutic message about growth, change, and finding our place in the world makes it especially helpful for children dealing with transitions or feelings of displacement.
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A young boy who struggles with stuttering finds comfort and understanding when his father takes him to the river, where he discovers that his speech flows like water over rocks. This powerful story shows how nature can provide therapeutic insight and self-acceptance, helping children reframe challenges as unique qualities. The book’s beautiful watercolor illustrations and message about finding peace and identity through natural connection make it a valuable resource for children dealing with speech difficulties, social anxiety, or feelings of being different.
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