Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day -- a momentous occasion. This year's theme is Climate Action because "climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable." While the worldwide pandemic has in some ways meant we've been kinder to the planet this past month (i.e., fewer cars on the roads), governments and everyday citizens still need to do their part right now--even from their own homes--to help save the Earth in the long-term.

At the Guide/Reviews Database, we've compiled primary, intermediate, and older reader booklists for the occasion. These recommended books celebrate our planet, educate about the crises it faces, and offer age-appropriate models for environmental activism. And also take advantage of temporary free access to recent Horn Book Magazine reviews of Hike by Pete Oswald (Candlewick, rev. 3/20); Oil by Jonah Winter, illus. by Jeanette Winter (Beach Lane/Simon, rev. 3/20); Bugs in Danger: Our Vanishing Bees, Butterflies, and Beetles by Mark Kurlansky, illus. by Jia Liu (Bloomsbury, rev. 11/19); If Elelphants Disappeared by Lily Williams (Roaring Brook, rev. 11/19); and more.

For more on this topic at hbook.com, see Henry Cole Talks with Roger about One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey (Scholastic), our Out of the Box post about last September's Global Climate Strike 19, two Calling Caledcott posts (one by Chelsea Tarwater about You Are Home and one by Martha V. Parravano about Science books and the Caldecott), Kathleen T. Isaacs's article "Fostering Wonder" and the accompanying From the Guide: Wonder-full World, Cynthia Platt's Family Reading post On Raising a Scientist (Who Happens to Be a Girl), Janet Hamilton's What Makes a Good Science Book?, and check out the tag Earth Day.