The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is the creator of such classics as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. The Magic Finger is one of his shorter and lesser-known works, but the message within packs quite a punch. Finger tells the story of a young girl who has a magic finger.  One day she gets very upset with a family of hunters in her neighborhood, she points her magic finger at them and zap! Now the family of hunters has become the hunted.  This book features Dahl’s signature creativity and directness (i.e. Dahl never shrinks from things like turning children into mice or fudge see The Witches and Charlie.  The hunting family isn’t spared either). Never fear, however, the outcome is cheery, no one is injured and everyone learns a valuable lesson.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Few people can read this book for the first time without a lump in their throat or visible tears.  As with any great piece of literature the touching story of a boy and his tree can be interpreted many ways.  Some believe it speaks of death, or the selflessness of true love, and still others see the potent message of an environment willing to give everything till there is nothing left to take.  A true masterwork and great book for any age group The Giving Tree makes a wonderful gift.  Read it yourself and decide.  Be sure to have a tissue nearby.

Jack, The Seal, and The Sea by Gerald Aschenbrenner

Jack is a fisherman like his dad before him.  He loves the sea, but something is happening to the fish, they aren’t healthy anymore. During another trip out to sea Jack snags a sick seal in his net. He nurses it back to health and then the seal returns the favor by helping Jack understand the delicate workings of the sea and the role human pollution plays in its decay. This Reading Rainbow book might be hard to come by as it seems to be out of print, but you can definitely find a used copy at Amazon or Abebooks.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of The Amazon Rainforest by Lynne Cherry

A man enters the rainforest and starts to chop down a great kapok tree. Soon the man tires and falls asleep at the base of the tree.  Now the animals who live in the tree have a chance to tell him how much the tree means to their survival. The Great Kapok Tree is an excellent way to explain to children why trees and rain forests need to be protected. Its beautiful and detailed illustration can keep a child busy for hours. 

Hare and the Big Green Lawn by Katharine Crawford Robey and Larry MacDougall

Hare doesn’t want to be like his neighbors slaving away all day to keep their green lawns perfect. He wants something more like home, a meadow. His neighbors scoff at his laziness as he rests and waits for his lawn to die, turn to mud and then sprout again. Hare looks lazy and his yard looks gross, but the meadow that emerges is well worth the wait. Hare and the Big Green Lawn is full of gorgeous illustrations which children will love. Not only does this book teach children that beauty is in the eye of the beholder it also offers a valid argument for native yards.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax is by far my favorite environmental children’s story.  In this Dr. Seuss classic the Oncler tells us the story of how the Lorax was lifted and taken away.  Greed, the delicate web of life, the importance of trees, consumerism, and environmental responsibility are all addressed in this timeless story. It ends with the brilliant line, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”      

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers

Like many popular books this one isn’t without controversy.  Some groups object to the claim that Brother Eagle, Sister Sky is based on a speech given by Chief Seeathl during treaty negotiations in 1850. Whether the book is actually based on a real speech or not the message is touching and highly relevant today. "This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us. / We did not weave the web of life, / We are merely a strand in it. / Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." This book is a lovely, heartfelt work of fiction, which teaches a moral lesson.