Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day draws attention to the importance of protecting and taking care of the place we call home. Discover the climate fiction genre, learn savvy secondhand shopping tips, or start a garden with our librarian-curated blogs and lists for children, teens and adults.
Read, Watch or Listen to these Suggested Materials
Lists are arranged from younger audiences to older audiences.
Explore Outdoors – Kids can use these titles to renew their relationship with nature through backyard exploration, camping, crafts and experiments, or even just stories about the importance of the natural world.
From Zinnias to Tomatoes – Check out some garden stories for children and learn the gardening basics from these colorful reads.
Read a Book, Save the World – These eco-fiction titles for kids show what has happened, or what could happen, if we don't clean up our act and protect our planet.
Must Love Animals: E-books and E-audiobooks for Teens – Bask in appreciation for the creatures in our world. The strength of the animal kingdom shines through these stories, whether fiction or nonfiction, realistic or fantastic.
Movies to Stream: Nature Documentaries to Satisfy Your Curiosity – From movies about Earth's most dangerous forces to documentaries about interesting animals, Kanopy and Hoopla have streaming titles to whet your appetite for the natural world around you.
Celebrate Earth Day with E-audiobooks – Demonstrate your support for environmental protection by listening to these earth-friendly nonfiction e-audiobooks.
Climate Change Fiction – The "Cli-fi" genre focuses on stories that discuss the impact of climate change. Discover a new perspective with one of these picks.
Find Your Inner Peas: Vegetarian Cookbooks – Whether you grow or buy your veggies, these cookbooks will help you turn those gifts from the earth into yummy dishes.
Vegan Lifestyle – Whether you're a seasoned vegan, a curious omnivore, or just want to include some Meatless Mondays in your meal planning, check out these delicious titles.
Organic, Eco-Friendly Gardening Picks – I beg your garden? Whether you are a novice or an experienced gardener, these titles will help you create an organic, eco-friendly, beautiful garden in no time.
Discover Additional Resources, Tips and Local Interest
Activism and Community Involvement
Earth Day: Lend a Hand to Save the Land – People of all ages can pitch in to help keep the planet a clean and happy place to live. Here are a few easy ideas kids can try right away.
Trash is Trashy: How to Reduce Your Waste – Environmentalism is hot right now. Reduce your waste while staying on top of current trends with these hip tips.
Citizen Science Opportunities – Want to flex those scientific muscles? Be part of something big and help out by learning and engaging in "citizen science."
Is It Greener to Read Books or E-media? – The answer is more complicated than you might think. Discover different ways to compare the environmental impact between the two in this blog.
No Planet B: Celebrating Earth Day – Earth Day reminds us that if we don’t shape up, there is no Planet B option. Learn about what you can do to help the planet and find local Earth Day events to attend this April.
Fashion and Mending
STEAM: Recycled Fashion – Ripped your favorite jeans? Recycle your old clothing into something new and fabulous with these fun ideas.
Thriftin’ Ain’t Easy: Get More Bang for Your Buck – Looking for a wardrobe refresh? Save money and find unique pieces at the thrift store. This guide will make you a savvy secondhand shopper.
Sashiko, Visible Mending and Upcycling – The best, most eco-friendly clothing is the clothing you already have or those that are at the recycle shop, waiting to be upcycled. Fix up your clothing with visible mending and sashiko, a Japanese technique of adding striking embroidery to mend and strengthen fabrics.
Thrifty Fashion – If you want to be eco-friendly and save money, then thrifting is the way to go. Prepare for your next shopping trip with these tips.
Food, Gardening and Plants
Gardening with Kids – Make gardening a family activity. Explore when to start, what to plant and easy ways to involve kids of all ages.
STEAM: Create a Self-Watering Seed Starter – Celebrate the Earth and get ready to garden this spring. Have kiddos follow these instructions, and you'll have a self-watering seed starter for your favorite veggie in no time.
STEAM: DIY Seed Bombs – Kids can help local bees and pollinator habitats by making wildflower seed bombs in this hands-on STEAM activity.
Turn Your Brown Thumb Green with Succulents – Succulent plants are hardy and generally easy to care for. Go green and follow our tips to start adding color and joy to your life with succulents.
Touch-Me-Nots: Common Poisonous Plants in Your Yard – Are you itching to get out and about in your yard? Learn to spot and avoid these troublemakers.
It’s “Snow” Problem: Start Prepping Your Garden Now – Planning and prepping your garden during the snowy season is not only smart, but it’s a great way to beat the winter blahs.
Get Ready to Garden – Get help gardening, from learning the basics to advanced strategies, with these resources and books.
Putting Your Garden to Bed – Gardening isn’t just for spring and summer. Read on to learn more about how to prepare your garden for winter and the next blooming season.
Local Organizations
The Greenskeepers of Canton – It takes a committed team from the Canton Parks Department and a slew of volunteers to show off our community’s natural beauty every year.
Nature Society Blooms in Canton – Do you know how important our green spaces are? The Canton Nature Society does, and they want to share their mission with you.
Spotlight on Bees in the D – The mission of Bees in the D is to educate the public on the conservation of pollinators. Learn more about this sweet nonprofit here.
Spotlight on Growing Hope – Growing Hope is a Ypsilanti-based nonprofit that focuses on supporting local food systems. We spoke with them to find out more about their organization and mission.
Spotlight on Plymouth Pollinators – Plymouth Pollinators' mission is to increase pollinator habitat within the community. Find out more about their important work here.
Spotlight on The Friends of the Rouge – The Friends of the Rouge have made an impact on the entire Rouge watershed. Read on to find out more about this important organization.
Nature Appreciation
11 Ways to Nurture a Nature Lover – Being in nature can enhance brain development, school performance, communication, and reduce anxiety. So, how do you help your kid enjoy it?
Heritage Park Hunt – Take a stroll around Heritage Park with the kids and be on the lookout for flora and fauna in this scavenger hunt.
Places to Go, Things to Do
Seriously, Go Outside – Spending time outdoors is beneficial for everyone. Check out these resources to get your family outside and active this spring.
Summer Skies – Stargazing is a fun activity to enjoy after the sun goes down. Experience the beauty of the night sky with these books and tips.
Library Like a Modern Homesteader – Love to grow things, DIY and craft? Get in touch with your earthier self at the library—we’ve got all the tools and resources to help you achieve your homesteading goals.
All Around Canton: Take a Hike – There are many hiking trails in southeast Michigan, as well as nature preserves that allow hiking. Let’s take a look at popular ones near Canton.
Get Outdoors with MAP – Use your library card to discover and explore parks, campgrounds and recreation areas around Michigan at a discounted rate.
Spread Your Wings: Local Destinations to Explore Natural Beauty – Explore the natural world with a fun family trip to a local butterfly house, garden or zoo. Here are some destinations to get you started.
Pollinators and Wildlife
Flutter By, Butterfly – Butterflies are vital to our ecosystem. In this blog, kiddos can learn all about nature's pollinators and ways we can help our fluttery friends flourish and thrive.
STEAM: Butterfly Observation – From egg to chrysalis to adulthood, here's everything kids need to know about keeping and caring for their own swallowtail butterflies.
All Things Avian: Birding with Ram Ramamurthy – Get the low down on our high-flying feathered friends with local birding expert Ram Ramamurthy.
Spring Is for the Birds: Birding in SE Michigan – So, you’re interested in birding but don’t really know where to begin? We have you covered! Read on for more information.
What’s the Buzz? Your Guide to Pollinators – Pollinators need our help. Find out how the hive mind of citizens just like you can help save them.
Recycling and Donations
How Can I Recycle This? – In honor of Earth Day, now is a good time to review recycling and waste disposal options to reduce waste sent to landfills.
Trash to Treasure: Where to Donate Your Stuff – Have the desire to spring clean, recycle, and donate your items? Read on for some excellent tips and timely information.
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