On Planet Earth

For our Earth Day special issue, we’re featuring three new books about our planet—and the plants and animals that live here.

Hello, Earth!

Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet explores the extraordinary place we call home. Each poem is dedicated to the Earth’s wonders, such as its volcanoes, deserts, and oceans. Joyce Sidman is the book’s author. She told TIME for Kids she was inspired to use poetry to show young readers the beauty and importance of the environment. “It’s a wonderful way of writing about the world that shows us the mysterious . . . things that go on in nature,” she says. —By Karena Phan

How to Change Everything

How to Change Everything, by Naomi Klein, is a tool kit for young activists who want to fight climate change. The book explains both the chemistry and the politics of climate change. Klein has been writing about environmental activism for more than 15 years. “During that time, the movement has gotten younger and younger,” she told TFK. Klein believes that kids have the power to make a difference. She wants readers to speak up. “Young people are already leading the climate movement. . . . [They’re] raising the alarm and leading the way toward solutions.” —By Ellen Nam

The Elephant Doctor of India

The Elephant Doctor of India tells the true story of Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, who grew up in a village in Assam, India. As a young boy, Sarma loved elephants. But the ones living in Assam didn’t have proper medical care. This motivated him to become a veterinarian when he got older. Since realizing his dream, he has traveled all over Assam to heal and save elephants. Janie Chodosh, who wrote the book, told TFK she hopes Sarma’s story will give kids “a sense of wonder” and “inspire them to care about the natural world.” —By Rebecca Mordechai