Reading List for 3rd-5th Grade

Fuel the curiosity of third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade students with this book list of climate-related stories and nonfiction texts, fostering a passion for reading and exploration. Dive into narratives about recycling, healthy habitats, and clean energy to strengthen reading comprehension and text analysis skills. Encourage young readers to develop the habit of reading books throughout the school year using this set of 3rd-5th grade books.

More than Trees

This nonfiction picture book includes information about the many animals, plants, and environments in forests including the canopy, tree trunks, shrub layer, forest floor, and streams. This great book is ideal for elementary school science curriculums.

Forest Essays

This is a downloadable reading comprehension activity about animals that live in Oregon forests, including sketched images of the animals, short reading passages, and corresponding questions for each passage.

Hello Dr. Jane!

This resource includes a video, vocabulary terms, pre-reading questions, journal topics, and a biographical article about Jane Goodall. Immerse your students in the wonder of animal conservation with Dr. Jane!

Still Waiting Read Aloud [English & Spanish]

This poignant story tells the tale of a polar bear cub and its mother in the Arctic, describing the hardships and ultimate sacrifice the mother makes to search for food in the melting Arctic.

"Old Enough to Save the Planet" Read Aloud

Introduce young readers to many of the concepts and topics related to climate change and the environment through this read-along video, narrated by the author Loll Kirby. 

Saving Planet Earthly

The children's book introduces the causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change, encouraging critical thinking and action.

Sven's Search for Clean Energy

This is an illustrated online storybook about the adventures of Sven and Earthly as they learn about fossil fuels, their negative impacts on the environment, and clean energy sources such as wind, water, solar, and nuclear.

Kids Can Change the World

In this digital picture book, Ava, an Indigenous girl from Canada, and her friend Earthly discover that children around the world are working to make the Earth healthier.

Semih's Search for a Healthy Home

This digital picture book follows Semih and his family as they flee their Turkish village because of a prolonged drought. Students will learn that, like Semih, they can raise awareness about climate change in their communities. 

All About Earth: Our World on Stage

This illustrated digital or printable book explains how Earth's many systems are interconnected and important for life on Earth by telling a story about students in a school play.

Why Is Coco Orange?

This colorful book about fascinating chameleons helps children understand the EPA's Air Quality Index and the implications of pollution on the health of living creatures.

Milly Zantow: Recycling Revolutionary

This resource explores a true story about Milly Zantow, an activist who started a global movement to recycle plastics, what motivated her to start this movement, and what challenges she faced in the movement's early phases.

Closing Thoughts

Encourage a love for reading while fostering environmental consciousness with our carefully selected third-grade through fifth-grade reading list. Let these stories inspire young minds to become passionate advocates for a sustainable and harmonious future.