Every April, we honor our planet on Earth Day with a selection of works celebrating the natural world. With titles ranging from stories of wilderness survival to nonfiction works about conservation and sustainability, this Collection features a broad spectrum of ideas regarding nature and our role within it.
Publication year 2008
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Natural World: Environment
Tags Education, Education, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Travel Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1969
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Where the Lilies Bloom (1969) is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by married authors Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver. The couple collaborated on stories and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers throughout their life, believing that writing for adolescent age groups was a meaningful endeavor. They often wrote about realistic settings and themes, exploring the intricacies of human nature. Where the Lilies Bloom is their most famous work. It is a coming-of-age novel... Read Where the Lilies Bloom Summary
Publication year 1859
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Environment
Tags Politics / Government, Philosophy, History: World, Education, Education, Social Science, Business / Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
British-American neuroscientist Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (2017) provides an in-depth exploration of the science of sleep health. Walker argues that sleep loss is an epidemic and one of the most serious public health issues of the 21st century. Drawing from a wealth of data and scientific studies, including his own innovative scientific breakthroughs during his time as a professor at the University of California-Berkeley, Walker illustrates the... Read Why We Sleep Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Natural World: Environment
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1967
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Animals, Society: Nation, Natural World: Food
Tags History: U.S., Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate, Self Discovery
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Natural Disaster, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Grief / Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Action / Adventure, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals
Tags Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature
Publication year 1978
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Environment, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Education, Education
Wind From an Enemy Sky is a 1978 historical fiction novel by D’Arcy McNickle. It tells the story of the fictional Little Elk tribe in the northwestern United States and their attempts to navigate the advancement of white colonization on their lands. McNickle based the story on his life as a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. The novel was McNickle’s last and was published posthumously. While it never... Read Wind from an Enemy Sky Summary
Publication year 1979
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 1990
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Sports, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Science / Nature
Published in 1991, the adventure biography Woodsong recounts novelist Gary Paulsen’s experiences as a dogsled driver, including his participation in the Iditarod race across Alaska. He describes the hard-won lessons he learns, the strange and wondrous things he witnesses, and the love and admiration he feels for the dogs he trains with. Three-time Newbury Honor winner Paulsen wrote more than 200 works, most of them for middle-grade and young adult readers. His books often tell... Read Woodsong Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Science / Nature, Animals
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Food
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Food
Publication year 1835
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Community
Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, American Literature, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Historical Fiction
“Young Goodman Brown” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne published in 1835 in The New-England Magazine. The story was later included in Hawthorne’s 1846 collection Mosses from an Old Manse. Most of Hawthorne’s fiction is set in New England and focuses on themes of morality, inherent sin of human beings, and anti-Puritan sentiment. In addition to “Young Goodman Brown,” some of his most famous short fiction works include “The Minister’s Black Veil” (1836)... Read Young Goodman Brown Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction