It has been 55 years since the first Earth Day, an annual event founded following a wave of environmental protest in the US that led to the creation of a federal agency to protect the environment. 

This history helps explain why Americans are once again taking to the streets on 22 April, as President Trump guts core environmental agencies and rolls back vital protections. 

At a bewildering moment for the global climate movement, which has celebrated Earth Day since 1990, we need all the historical context and informed visions of the future we can get. 

Luckily, bookshops have history, hope and the resources to replenish our care for the natural world in rich supply. 

“Books are the starting points of action-making and of change-making,” Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, digital campaigns manager at Lighthouse Bookshop in Edinburgh, tells Euronews Green.

Climate-conscious bookshops are busy setting people off in productive directions all year round. But Earth Day can still be useful as an awareness-raising mechanism, Jessica says.

“I think an important thing is for individuals and organisations to note it and to actually just for a moment stop and take stock and maybe spend half an hour reading the news articles and understanding why Earth Day is important,” says Amber Harrison, co-owner of FOLDE bookshop in Dorset.

“Even if people just take one tiny step or one action to do something a little bit differently or to explore an idea a little bit differently, then a huge difference could be made. 

“Far too often it’s just another day marked in the calendar and it needs to be quite seriously recognised, particularly in this time of changing climate.”

With that in mind, who better than booksellers to share their top reads this Earth Day.

8. Renaturing by James Canton

Mel, from Drake The Bookshop in Stockton-on-Tees, says: “I really feel that this book is a must-read for anyone saddened by the recent news that almost half thebutterfly species in Britain are now in long term decline. 

“What I really loved about this book is that not only does James reflect on his own rewilding journey as he turns the field behind his cottage into a thriving wildlife haven, but he makes a distinction between ‘rewilding’ which is usually reserved for large scale project, and ‘renaturing’ which is much easier for anyone to achieve on a small scale. 

“It is a heartfelt, accessible guide for anyone wanting to make a positive impact in their own local areas – a wildflower window box, a small garden pond – even on the smallest scale, it all counts.”

7. Practicing Social Ecology by Eleanor Finley

“We hear a lot about the climate crisis in the news and on social media, but there’s never much discussion about what ordinary people can do about it politically,” says Jamie, from Red Lion Books in Colchester. 

“Practicing Social Ecology by Eleanor Finley is a fantastically down-to-earth book about how we can build ecological alternatives to the current bureaucratic system. 

“Citizens’ assemblies, social revolutions, study groups, and local permaculture projects are explained and explored, with examples of successful ecological movements from around the world. 

“This is a book about grassroots democracy, offering practical tools to help build a better, more ecologically just future for humanity and the natural world.”

6. Ways of Being by James Bridle

Chris, co-owner of Hold Fast Bookshop in Leeds, recommends Ways of Being by James Brindle. “This book is a thought-provoking look at how humans have forgotten, or not yet come to fully appreciate, the wisdom of natural forces on display in the environment around us, whilst already causing the extinction of many plants and species. 

“It is illustrated with insights into how animals with ‘more than human’ intelligence often outsmart the best computers and artificial intelligence in survival and navigation, and how we could adapt our use of technology to work with nature rather than against it. From predicting volcanic activity to anticipating predators, we humans are often one step behind. 

“Bridle wisely suggests ‘if we are prepared to treat understanding as a process and a negotiation, rather than as a route to mastery and dominance, there is much we can learn from the wisdom of others.’ I found this book a humbling and hopeful read.” 

5. The Memory We Could Be by Daniel Macmillen Voskoboynik

Jess from Lighthouse Bookshop in Edinburgh always has The Memory We Could Be by Daniel Macmillen Voskoboynik close by. “In order to create a different future, we need to be honest about the past,” she says. 

“Histories are narratives constructed by those in power, and so in order to build new ones, we must address the hundreds of years of colonialism, imperial oppression and extraction that lay the foundation for the climate and environmental collapse we see today. 

“For the majority of the world, it is nothing new. Voskoboynik’s book is a thoroughly courageous, generous and kind call to feel all of it – the sorrow, the fear, the power and connection – and to unite in choosing a different path with everything we have. I’ve held it close for years now and will continue to do so.” 

4. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

“In this age of continuous bad news, bombardment of climate crisis news, micro (and macro!) plastic pollution, and people in general not being in contact with nature, it is more important than ever to be aware of our natural surroundings,” says Manuel, from Read on Sea, in Leigh On Sea.

“Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake offers a timely and awe-inspiring exploration of the natural world. Sheldrake’s book delves into the fascinating world of fungi, showing how these organisms form essential networks that sustain life on Earth. By understanding the intricate web of life that fungi support, we gain a deeper appreciation for the fragile ecosystems we depend on. 

“Entangled Life serves as a powerful reminder of natural interconnections, urging us to rethink our relationship with nature. On Earth Day, this book is a call to action, encouraging readers to not only reflect on our planet’s challenges but also to renew our commitment to healing and preserving the natural world.”

3. Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility, edited by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua

“With the changing climate making the news headlines for all the wrong reasons – floods, wildfires, storms and biodiversity loss – you could be forgiven for thinking there’s not much to be hopeful about. Not Too Late aims to change that mindset,” says Amber, co-owner of FOLDE bookshop in Dorset.

“This anthology of short essays and conversations spans science, Indigenous systems approaches, climate coloniality and climate victories. It’s written by those who’ve experienced first-hand the impacts of changing conditions, as well as poets, scientists, lawyers and activists, with the contributors sharing lived experiences and ways to try and make sense of our current position. 

“Rather than being a book that just looks to the past, it also looks to our future, including speculative fiction for the world we hope for. And that’s what this book tries to convey – that hope delivers more when we work together, and that we’re ‘not too late’.”

2. One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Nicci, of Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop in Broadstairs, sets the scene for her pick: “It’s almost Earth Day, and two sisters are gazing out at the night sky from their bedroom in Greenwich. What does Earth look like at this exact moment, all around the globe? They open the window and take flight to find out.

“Today’s children are increasingly, deeply aware of endangered animals, plastic pollution, and the importance of looking after our planet. Thankfully, children’s books are leading the way in raising awareness… like ‘One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth’, which is engaging, inclusive, and gloriously illustrated.

“Nicola Davies is a go-to for nature writing with heart, always centring animals, empathy, and the mindset of young readers. This first-time collaboration with illustrator Jenni Desmond is a winning one. If your library doesn’t yet have books about caring for our planet, this stunning picture book on Earth Day is the perfect place to start.”

1. The History Trees by Colin Selter

“While it’s an unusual pick, The History Trees is a timely reminder of the resilience and joy of nature,” says Anna, from Simply Books in Manchester. 

“Following remarkable trees from around the world, many of which have borne witness to huge historical milestones, to those that have become a part of history themselves. 

“The History Trees is the perfect read for anyone who needs to be reminded why we should protect our planet.”