Books are the perfect conduit for connecting to nature, especially for young children. And I can prove it.

I have just returned from an action-packed three days at Story Arts Festival in Ipswich, Queensland, and what an amazing time it was.

Over three days, I spent time with over 450 children, helping ignite their love of nature — specifically the endangered animals of Borneo — using my Wildlife Wong series of books as the gateway to connection.

Books: The Windows On The World

Books. They are windows on the world. Even without leaving our couches, we can travel anywhere we wish by turning pages, and the power of reading with kids cannot be overestimated.

It improves their academic skill, increases vocabulary, and stimulates imagination.  Sharing nonfiction stories encourages children to connect with the world around them and learn valuable problem-solving skills.

My last post about reducing consumption is classic example of how information from books and studies can lead to improvements in your lifestyle as well as helping take pressure off the environment in general.

Connecting To Nature

When those stories focus on the natural environment, like my Wildlife Wong series, they develop essential skills for solving some of the biggest challenges facing our own survival.

Yes, that was a loosely vailed plug for my books, but there are so many OTHER books to help you instill a love of nature in your youngsters from birth up.

I was honoured when I was asked to provide a list of my five ‘best books to ignite your children’s love of nature’ for the wonderful new website Shepherd.

Adults Can Benefit Too

Of course, in our fast-paced, developed world, adults too can benefit from connecting with nature.

Spending time in natural environments reduces stress and improves our health. But what if you don’t have time to get outdoors?

Reading has the same positive effects, so why not combine the two and check out ‘The best books for improving your connection with nature’ and ‘The best nature books’?

We Are All Connected To Nature

As naturalist and author John Muir puts it:

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."

Reading can reignite your love of our incredible planet. Sharing that natural wonder with your children is a gift they will benefit and cherish forever.

What The Kids Taught Me

I cannot recommend the Story Arts Festival enough. As a writer and educator, I work closely with schools and other educational facilities where I am usually the one passing on information through books, stories or examples.

But at the festival, it was the kids who taught me that there truly are no limits to the imagination and if you give a child the right kind of information, they will run with it in their own way and create new pathways to improve the world.

Is there a children's literary festival in your area?

Let me know in the comments below.