Picture Books for Earth Day

Earth Day began in 1970 and is celebrated annually on April 22nd. This global event raises awareness about environmental issues and encourages action to protect our planet, with the goal of inspiring people to take care of the Earth and its natural resources. These illustrated books from our collection explain the origins of Earth Day and the history of the environmental movement in the United States.

Black Beach: A Community, an Oil Spill, and the Origin of Earth Day by Shaunna and John Stith; Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

After a devastating oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969 that harmed wildlife and habitats, local citizens, including school children, joined clean up crews to try to help. They picked up debris, rescued seabirds covered in oil, and collected oil in bottles to send to politicians in Washington. Those small actions led to more people across the country taking actions to help the environment. Twenty million people celebrated the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Black Beach explains how children helped draw attention to environmental issues and includes practical ways to protect our environment. 

The Day the River Caught Fire: How the Cuyahoga River Exploded and Ignited the Earth Day Movement by Barry Wittenstein; Illustrated by Jessie Hartland

Have you ever seen a river burn?  

The Day the River Caught Fire describes how industrial waste and sewage in Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River caused the river to burn in 1969 when sparks from a passing railcar fell into the water and ignited. That same year, rivers in other industrial cities like Baltimore, Detroit, and Philadelphia also caught fire. As news spread that the nation’s rivers were bursting into flames, more and more people began to talk about the dangers of factory waste in waterways, energizing the Earth Day movement and leading to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act. 

As part of Forsyth County Public Library's 2025 Nature on My Mind series, experts from Forsyth County Master Gardeners showed patrons at the Hampton Park Library how to plant a spring garden. Upcoming progams in the series include Bat Appreciation: Celebrate Our Night Fliers, Forgotten National Parks, and Living Sustainably: Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap.  

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist