Nature Book Week, 11-19 October 2025
Celebrations like Nature Book Week stimulate us to reflect on books that inspire connections with nature, for us personally, or in our children or grandchildren.
Have you read any books recently that stimulated you to think more deeply about nature?
What nature books have you enjoyed reading to youngsters that inspired their curiosity in nature.
Nature Book Week is an initiative and annual event of the Wilderness Society and has inspired other organisations to embark on the challenge.
Wilderness Society’s Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature
Here’s just a few from their list and all winners and short lists are here. while the Environment Awards and shortlists are here
Fiction Environment Award: Ella and the Amazing Frog Orchestra (Ages 5+)
Ella and friend Mai learn about their class frog bog project. But when Ella finds out that the neighbours’ secret frog pond is under threat Ella and Mai must come up with a plan to save the frogs before it’s too late!
Fiction: Karajia Award: When the World Was Soft by Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation (Ages 10+)
Yindjibarndi believe all creation is written in our landscape and was sung long ago … Our Creator, Minkala, sang the songs from which all life and Ngurra (Country) evolved. These are some of our stories.
Picture Karajia Award: The Moon Story. Indigenous Literacy Foundation (Ages 5-6+)
Illustrated bedtime story, written in Kriol and English, follows a family from Fitzroy Crossing as they go camping under the moon and stars.
Non Fiction: Environment Award: Tree (Ages 5-6+)
‘Tree invites readers into the forest, asking them to close their eyes to imagine the sounds and breathe in the fresh air. Curious young minds aged 5+ will lap up this journey of discovery.’
Non fiction: Karajia Award: Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills (Ages 5+)
Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills is a delightful and educational picture book for children aged 5 to 10 years that introduces bush survival knowledge passed down by Bardi Elders through generations.
Picture: Environment Award: Afloat (Ages 6+)
Afloat is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future.
We asked our affiliate Readers Retreat about three interesting and contrasting nature books on their shelves
Parents for Climate Change, listed some of their old favourites and more recent
“Welcome to the lands of the Wurundjeri people. The people are part of the land, and the land is a part of them.”
Naturopolis ~Kids are great at spotting nature that we’d otherwise walk right past (butterflies, mushrooms, spiders…).
“I speak for the trees,” says the Lorax
Published over 50 years ago, this classic fable teaches the dangers of greed, capitalist / consumer culture and ecological destruction.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”