TheGold Shelf

Nature and science books for babies and toddlers

24 award-winning books for babies and toddlers. Seasons, oceans, space, plants and how things work.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals65Funny books28Family25Friendship8Nature and science24Poetry and rhyme38Feelings and big moments8Bedtime32

24 books

Cover of WaitingHonor2016WaitingKevin Henkes2016 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of GreenHonor2013GreenLaura Vaccaro Seeger2013 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of First the EggHonor2008First the EggLaura Vaccaro Seeger2008 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of SnowHonor1999SnowUri Shulevitz1999 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of In the Small, Small PondHonor1994In the Small, Small PondDenise Fleming1994 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of TruckHonor1981TruckDonald Crews1981 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Freight TrainHonor1979Freight TrainDonald Crews1979 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Snowy DayWinner1963The Snowy DayEzra Jack Keats1963 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of The Day We Saw the Sun Come UpHonor1962The Day We Saw the Sun Come UpAdrienne Adams1962 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A Tree Is NiceWinner1957A Tree Is NiceJanice May Udry1957 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Green EyesHonor1954Green EyesAbe Birnbaum1954 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Happy DayHonor1950The Happy DayRuth Krauss1950 Caldecott Medal Honor BookThe Emperor's EggRae TanWinner2026The Emperor's EggRae Tan2026 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerWhere the Lyrebird LivesVicki ConleyWinner2023Where the Lyrebird LivesVicki Conley2023 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerA Year on Our FarmPenny MatthewsWinner2003A Year on Our FarmPenny Matthews2003 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerAll Falling DownMargaret Bloy GrahamHonor1952All Falling DownMargaret Bloy Graham1952 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of You're Snug with MeShortlist2020You're Snug with MeChitra Soundar2020 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of You're Safe With MeShortlist2019You're Safe With MeChitra Soundar2019 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Stella, Fairy of the ForestFinalist2002Stella, Fairy of the ForestMarie-Louise Gay2002 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Wildlife 123Finalist1989The Wildlife 123Jan Thornhill1989 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistAt the PondWerner ZimmermannFinalist2018At the PondWerner Zimmermann2018 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistSomething About a BearJackie MorrisShortlist2016Something About a BearJackie Morris2016 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedPicture a TreeBarbara ReidFinalist2012Picture a TreeBarbara Reid2012 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistLittle BoatThomas DochertyShortlist2009Little BoatThomas Docherty2009 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted