Spring 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting season for nature readers. We’ve compiled a short list of five books we have on pre-order and think you should too.
This list reflects the conversations we hear again and again from the Wild Ones community. How do we create meaningful habitat at home? What does resilience really look like in a changing climate? How are young people leading with creativity and courage? And how can paying closer attention to the natural world shape the way we live, teach, and care for our communities?
A Better World Is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis
By Meera Subramanian and Danica Novgorodoff
Release date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: First Second
Centering youth voices from around the world, this book highlights how young people are responding to climate disruption with creativity, courage, and action. It balances urgency with possibility and is especially relevant for educators and organizations working with teens and young adults. Watch for a review of this book in our Spring 2026 issue of the Wild Ones Journal.
You will take away: Real-world examples of youth-led climate action; insight into how young people frame solutions and hope; and concrete inspiration for supporting intergenerational leadership and engagement.
Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening: Inviting Nature Into Your Backyard
By Dr. Shaun McCoshum
Release date: March 3, 2026
Publisher: Princeton University Press
This book promises a science grounded, practical approach to creating home landscapes that actively support wildlife. Rather than focusing on aesthetics alone, McCoshum centers ecological function, showing how plant choice, structure, and management decisions shape habitat quality. For readers interested in moving beyond pollinator checklists toward whole system thinking, this one is especially compelling. We’re excited to be hosting Dr. McCoshum for an August 2026 national webinar stay tuned for details!
You will take away: Practical strategies for designing habitat at the scale of a home landscape; a stronger grasp of how everyday gardening decisions influence wildlife outcomes; and confidence to prioritize ecological function without sacrificing livability.
When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World
By Suzanne Simard
Release date: March 31, 2026
Publisher: Knopf
Suzanne Simard brings readers back into the living complexity of forests, exploring how trees, fungi, and soil organisms form resilient, communicative systems. Building on her influential research, this book focuses on renewal after disturbance and what forest systems can teach us about cooperation, recovery, and long-term resilience in a changing climate.
You will take away: An understanding of how forests function as interconnected systems; concrete examples of resilience rooted in reciprocity rather than competition; and a deeper appreciation for how long-term ecological health depends on relationships we often overlook.
Concrete Botany: The Ecology of Plants in the Age of Human Disturbance
By Joey Santore
Release date: April 7, 2026
Publisher: Cool Springs Press
Known for his sharp wit and deep plant knowledge, Joey Santore turns his attention to the plants thriving in the most altered environments. This book explores resilience, adaptation, and what urban and disturbed landscapes can teach us about survival in a changing world. It is part field guide, part ecological commentary, and very much Santore’s brand– We’ll get a dose of that in our upcoming March 2026 webinar with Joey!
You will take away: New ways to interpret plants growing in cities and disturbed sites; a reframed understanding of ecological value beyond pristine landscapes; and a sharper lens for observing resilience in unexpected places.
Noticing: Intimate Encounters With the Natural World
By Richard Louv
Release date: May 12, 2026
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Richard Louv returns with a quieter, reflective work focused on attention, presence, and everyday encounters with nature. Building on themes that have shaped decades of environmental thought, this book emphasizes observation as both a personal practice and a cultural shift.
You will take away: Practical ways to cultivate attention and presence outdoors; a renewed sense of connection to nearby nature; and ideas for integrating noticing into education, family life, and community spaces.
Preordering books like these is more than building a reading list. It is a way to support authors and publishers who are investing in thoughtful, science grounded, and hopeful storytelling about the natural world. Each of these titles offers tools and ideas that extend well beyond the page, into classrooms, backyards, neighborhoods, and everyday conversations.
Throughout 2026, we will be featuring several of these authors through Wild Ones webinars, Journal reviews, and educational programming. If you add one of these books to your spring reading stack, we would love to hear what resonates with you and how it shapes your own work with native plants, wildlife, and community.