Every June, Pollinator Month celebrates the vital role of pollinators like native bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles in supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. One of the best ways to take action is through education. This curated list of pollinator books for adults and children highlights native pollinators, habitat gardening with native plants, and pollinator-friendly landscapes to inspire your learning, teaching, and conservation work.
Explore our full Wild Ones reading lists and start building your library today.
Books on Native Pollinators and Habitat Gardening for Adults
These books include field guides, scientific overviews, and habitat gardening manuals. Whether you’re looking to support pollinators in your backyard or deepen your ecological knowledge, this list offers powerful and practical resources.
Our Native Bees: North America’s Endangered Pollinators and the Fight to Save Them
by Paige Embry
Combining vivid storytelling with science, this book spotlights North America’s overlooked native bees and efforts to conserve their declining populations. Paige Embry introduces readers to the fascinating world of North America’s 4,000 native bee species, most of which are solitary and ground-nesting. This book blends science, interviews, and humor to show why native bees matter and how we can help.
The Pollinator Victory Garden
by Kim Eierman
This practical guide shows gardeners how to create pollinator-friendly habitats with native plants, emphasizing design, plant choice, and sustainable gardening practices. Designed for gardeners and habitat enthusiasts, it includes plant lists, design tips, and practical strategies for boosting native pollinator populations year-round.
Attracting Native Pollinators
by The Xerces Society, foreword by Dr. Marla Spivak
This essential guide offers practical strategies for creating pollinator-friendly landscapes, from building bee nesting sites to designing habitat that supports butterflies, moths, and more. With over 300 pages of research-backed content, it serves as a foundational text for anyone serious about pollinator conservation through native landscaping.
Pollinator Books for Children: Native Bees, Butterflies, and Plants
These titles are ideal for storytimes, library programming, chapter outreach, or home reading. Each book focuses on pollinators like bees and butterflies, native ecosystems, or plant-pollinator relationships.
My Pollinator Garden: How I Plant for Bees, Butterflies, Beetles, and More
by Jordan Zwetchkenbaum and Kate Cosgrove
(Ages 3–6) Perfect for young nature lovers, this engaging book explores the essential relationship between native pollinators like bees and butterflies and the native plants that sustain them. Using simple language and engaging illustrations, it introduces kids to bees, butterflies, beetles, and more while encouraging observation and care for pollinators at home.
Pollinators & Native Plants for Kids: An Introduction to Botany
by Jaret C. Daniels
(Ages 6–12) This beautifully illustrated guide introduces young readers to pollination basics and native plants through vibrant photos and kid-friendly explanations. The field guide section includes 150 native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, making it ideal for school projects, outdoor exploration, and family nature walks.
Meet the Pollinators
by Barbara Ciletti and Cathy Morrison
(Ages 6–10) TThis illustrated picture book invites kids to explore the world of pollination through a story-driven lens, with vibrant visuals and accessible language. It also includes bonus materials like pollinator bios, garden suggestions, and teaching tools that make pollination easy to understand and fun to explore.
Why Read These Books During Pollinator Month?
Pollinators face increasing threats from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Educating ourselves and our communities through reading is one of the most impactful ways to foster a pollinator-friendly environment. These books not only offer essential knowledge but also inspire actionable steps anyone can take to protect pollinators.
How to Use These Books in Your Community:
- Host chapter book clubs or reading circles.
- Create story walks or guided outdoor reading events.
- Develop educational programs in schools, libraries, and community centers.
Shop and Support Independent Bookstores:
All books can be purchased directly from Wild Ones’ curated lists on Bookshop.org, where your purchases support local bookstores and fund Wild Ones’ educational outreach on native plants and pollinators.