Books recommended for children between the ages of 4 to 9

  Rocks, Hard Soft, Smooth and Rough by Natalie Rosinsky, illustrated by Matthew John

All soils starts out as sand, silt or clay, and it is living biology that brings soil to life. This book tells a wonderful story about the ways in which rocks form and how they break down to form the basis of soil.

  Wiggling Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer and Steve Jenkins

This book talks about worms and what they do underground. It is a good introduction to the life of and within soil.

  The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony and Chris Arbo

A dandelion seed looks for where it belongs. This book tells its story with beautiful drawings of healthy soil in which this seed finally finds a home.

  Dirt The Scoop on Soil by Natalie Rosinsky and Sheree Boyd

This is perhaps the most comprehensive of these books about soil. It discusses how soil forms, as well as its qualities that keep it alive. In simple prose and with beautiful illustrations, it introduces the child to the most important things to know about soil and soil health.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

A child and her grandmother plant a garden and observe all the animals and plants above and below the surface of the soil, which form the web of life that keeps the garden healthy.

Here are a few other books about the relationships among plants and animals in the forest:

  The Tree in the Ancient Forest by Carol Reed-Jones, Christopher Canyon

  The Great Kopak Tree by Lynne Cherry