Reading with Purpose: Selecting and Using Children’s Literature for Inquiry and Engagement by Erika Thulin Dawes, Katie Egan Cunningham, Grace Enriquez, and Mary Ann Cappiello.  

This book by the authors of The Classroom Bookshelf blog provides formal and nonformal educators ideas for using books to help children care for themselves and others and connect with the natural world. 

As the book title implies, it encourages educators to think deeply about the literature they choose and how they share it with K–8 students. The two chapters on using “books to closely observe the world around us” offer not only great lists of books, but also helpful ideas for faculty, environmental educators, and curriculum writers looking to expand how they integrate children’s literature into their lessons.

Instilling positive attitudes and knowledge about the environment are important components of environmental literacy. We also aim to share experiences that spark an interest and concern about the environment, promote curiosity, and motivate audiences to take action on environmental issues. In our role in higher education, we not only provide these experiences for our students, we also prepare them to lead these experiences for their future students and audiences. View more resources in the Higher Education PRO Picks collection >