There’s something magical about reading outside. The breeze rustles the pages, birdsong punctuates the dialogue, and the world of the story blends right into the real one around us. Over the years, I’ve found that picture books are one of the most powerful access points for our outdoor learning routines. They ground our group, spark curiosity, and offer a shared vocabulary that brings us together—no matter what level of literacy or outdoor comfort each child arrives with.
In our outdoor classroom, some of our favourite literacy routines include:
Story Walks – We take apart a picture book (sometimes photocopied pages, sometimes simplified scenes or quotes) and post the story along a forest trail or garden path. Students walk the “story trail,” reading, noticing, and discussing what each part means to them.
Oral Storytelling – We often sit in a circle and take turns building a story together—sometimes completely imaginary, sometimes drawn from real experiences outside. It’s a beautiful way to build confidence in speaking and sequencing ideas aloud.
Nature Journaling – After reading a book, students often reflect in their journals with a prompt connected to the story or the natural world around them. These quiet moments are some of our richest, filled with wonder, sketches, and personal insight.
Circle Reflections – We end our outdoor blocks with a sharing circle. Inspired by books, nature, or just the day’s experiences, students share a moment, feeling, or observation. It deepens their listening and reflection skills and helps build community.
Picture Books That Inspire Wonder, Connection, and Stewardship
Together, A Forest by Roz MacLean
This book is a gentle yet powerful reminder that we all play a role in building a thriving, diverse, and inclusive community, just like the forest. After reading it, we asked students to choose something in nature that reminded them of themselves. One child chose a bent tree, saying, “It’s still growing strong, even if it looks a little different.” Another chose moss— “It spreads slowly but covers a lot when it gets going.”
We extended this into a nature journaling prompt about personal identity and how our uniqueness supports the larger community, both human and ecological. It helped students build self-awareness and reflect on how their classmates bring strengths, too.
Outside, You Notice by Erin Alladin
This beautifully written and illustrated book encourages children to slow down and notice the details in nature. It’s perfect for launching observation walks.
After reading it, we challenged students to become “noticing scientists”—armed with clipboards, pencils, and magnifying glasses. They explored a patch of our forest and recorded as many things as they could see, hear, smell, and feel. The richness of their vocabulary and the focus in their journals was incredible. We finished the activity with a group share: “What surprised you?” “What do you want to learn more about?”
It’s become a routine we return to again and again.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
A lyrical and powerful call to action, this book sparks deep conversations about water, land, and stewardship.
After reading, we talked about where water flows around our school—where it goes when it rains, how we use it, and how we can protect it. Students created “Water Pledges”—small, illustrated promises about how they would care for water at school and at home. We laminated their pledges and posted them near the garden hose, the rain barrel, and even on the bathroom door.
It’s amazing to see how seriously students take this responsibility once they feel connected to the story.
Using children’s books outside has helped me become a better listener, a more curious educator, and a more vulnerable leader. I don’t always know the answers, but reading together invites us to wonder, notice, and grow—just like the stories we love.
I’d love to hear from you!
What are your favourite children’s books to read in your outdoor classroom? How do you use them to spark discussion, deepen connection, or launch inquiry?
Let’s grow this list together.
