TheGold Shelf

Nature and science books for ages 3 to 5

129 award-winning books for ages 3 to 5. Seasons, oceans, space, plants and how things work.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals317Adventure19Fantasy and magic77Funny books213Family152Friendship72History and real people59Nature and science129Folktales and fairy tales130Poetry and rhyme103Feelings and big moments84Bedtime62First chapter books76

129 books, the first 120 shown

Cover of Clever CrowWinner2025Clever CrowChris Butterworth2025 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of The Tree and the RiverWinner2024The Tree and the RiverAaron Becker2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of A Seed GrowsHonor2023A Seed GrowsAntoinette Portis2023 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of Berry SongHonor2023Berry SongMichaela Goade2023 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of When You Can SwimWinner2023When You Can SwimJack Wong2023 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of Have You Ever Seen a Flower?Honor2022Have You Ever Seen a Flower?Shawn Harris2022 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Wonder WalkersHonor2022Wonder WalkersMicha Archer2022 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Outside InHonor2021Outside InDeborah Underwood2021 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of We Are Water ProtectorsWinner2021We Are Water ProtectorsMichaela Goade2021 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of When Spring Comes to the DMZHonor2020When Spring Comes to the DMZLee Uk-bae2020 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Do Not Lick This BookWinner2018Do Not Lick This BookIdan Ben-Barak2018 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of They Say BlueWinner2018They Say BlueJillian Tamaki2018 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of Wolf in the SnowWinner2018Wolf in the SnowMatthew Cordell2018 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Du Iz Tak?Honor2017Du Iz Tak?Carson Ellis2017 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Over the OceanHonor2017Over the OceanTarō Gomi2017 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of We Are Growing!Winner2017We Are Growing!Laurie Keller2017 Geisel Award winnerCover of Tokyo Digs a GardenWinner2016Tokyo Digs a GardenJon-Erik Lappano2016 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of WaitingHonor2016WaitingKevin Henkes2016 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Sidewalk FlowersWinner2015Sidewalk FlowersJonArno Lawson2015 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of GreenHonor2013GreenLaura Vaccaro Seeger2013 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Me... JaneHonor2012Me... JanePatrick McDonnell2012 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in ColorsHonor2010Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in ColorsPamela Zagarenski2010 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Wolfsnail: A Backyard PredatorHonor2009Wolfsnail: A Backyard PredatorSarah C. Campbell2009 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of First the EggHonor2008First the EggLaura Vaccaro Seeger2008 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hello, Bumblebee BatHonor2008Hello, Bumblebee BatDarrin Lunde2008 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of Vulture ViewHonor2008Vulture ViewApril Pulley Sayre2008 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of FlotsamWinner2007FlotsamDavid Wiesner2007 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal AlphabetHonor2007Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal AlphabetDavid McLimans2007 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Animal ArchitectsWinner2004Animal ArchitectsJohn Nicholson2004 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?Honor2004What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?Steve Jenkins and Robin Page2004 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse HawkinsHonor2002The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse HawkinsBarbara Kerley2002 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A Child's CalendarHonor2000A Child's CalendarJohn Updike2000 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of SnowHonor1999SnowUri Shulevitz1999 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Snowflake BentleyWinner1999Snowflake BentleyJacqueline Briggs Martin1999 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Starry MessengerHonor1997Starry MessengerPeter Sís1997 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The HuntWinner1996The HuntNarelle Oliver1996 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Time FliesHonor1995Time FliesEric Rohmann1995 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of In the Small, Small PondHonor1994In the Small, Small PondDenise Fleming1994 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of V for Vanishing: An Alphabet of Endangered AnimalsWinner1994V for Vanishing: An Alphabet of Endangered AnimalsPatricia Mullins1994 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of WindowWinner1992WindowJeannie Baker1992 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of The Whales' SongWinner1990The Whales' SongDyan Sheldon1990 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of TruckHonor1981TruckDonald Crews1981 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Freight TrainHonor1979Freight TrainDonald Crews1979 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hawk, I'm Your BrotherHonor1977Hawk, I'm Your BrotherByrd Baylor1977 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Desert Is TheirsHonor1976The Desert Is TheirsPeter Parnall1976 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 Houses from the SeaHonor1960Houses from the SeaAlice E. Goudey1960 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of UmbrellaHonor1959UmbrellaTaro Yashima1959 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Time of WonderWinner1958Time of WonderRobert McCloskey1958 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of A Tree Is NiceWinner1957A Tree Is NiceJanice May Udry1957 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Wheel on the ChimneyHonor1955Wheel on the ChimneyMargaret Wise Brown1955 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Green EyesHonor1954Green EyesAbe Birnbaum1954 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Storm BookHonor1953The Storm BookCharlotte Zolotow1953 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Happy DayHonor1950The Happy DayRuth Krauss1950 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Big SnowWinner1949The Big SnowBerta and Elmer Hader1949 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Roger and the FoxHonor1948Roger and the FoxLavinia R. Davis1948 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of White Snow, Bright SnowWinner1948White Snow, Bright SnowRoger Duvoisin1948 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Boats on the RiverHonor1947Boats on the RiverMarjorie Flack1947 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Rain Drop SplashHonor1947Rain Drop SplashAlvin Tresselt1947 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Little IslandWinner1947The Little IslandMargaret Wise Brown1947 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Dash and DartHonor1943Dash and DartMary and Conrad Buff1943 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Little HouseWinner1943The Little HouseVirginia Lee Burton1943 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Paddle-to-the-SeaHonor1942Paddle-to-the-SeaHolling Clancy Holling1942 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Forest PoolHonor1939The Forest PoolLaura Adams Armer1939 Caldecott Medal Honor BookPeculiar ParentsStephanie Owen ReederWinner2026Peculiar ParentsStephanie Owen Reeder2026 Eve Pownall Award winnerStalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little CaveDrew BeckmeyerHonor2026Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little CaveDrew Beckmeyer2026 Caldecott Medal Honor BookThe Emperor's EggRae TanWinner2026The Emperor's EggRae Tan2026 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerSkating Wild on an Inland SeaJean E. PendziwolWinner2024Skating Wild on an Inland SeaJean E. Pendziwol2024 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerWhere the Lyrebird LivesVicki ConleyWinner2023Where the Lyrebird LivesVicki Conley2023 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerIcebergClaire SaxbyWinner2022IcebergClaire Saxby2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerThe Meadow of FantasiesHadi MohammadiHonor2022The Meadow of FantasiesHadi Mohammadi2022 Batchelder Award Honor BookDry to Dry: The Seasons of KakaduPamela FreemanWinner2021Dry to Dry: The Seasons of KakaduPamela Freeman2021 Eve Pownall Award winnerA Walk in the BushGwyn PerkinsWinner2018A Walk in the BushGwyn Perkins2018 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerJeremyChristopher FailleWinner2014JeremyChristopher Faille2014 Eve Pownall Award winnerThe Penguin Book: Birds in SuitsMark NormanWinner2007The Penguin Book: Birds in SuitsMark Norman2007 Eve Pownall Award winnerSong of the Water Boatman and Other Pond PoemsBeckie PrangeHonor2006Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poemsillustrated by Beckie Prange2006 Caldecott Medal Honor BookA Year on Our FarmPenny MatthewsWinner2003A Year on Our FarmPenny Matthews2003 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood winnerOwl MoonJohn SchoenherrWinner1988Owl MoonJohn Schoenherr1988 Caldecott Medal winnerThe Way to Start a DayPeter ParnallHonor1979The Way to Start a DayPeter Parnall1979 Caldecott Medal Honor BookHide and Seek FogRoger DuvoisinHonor1966Hide and Seek FogRoger Duvoisin1966 Caldecott Medal Honor BookAll Falling DownMargaret Bloy GrahamHonor1952All Falling DownMargaret Bloy Graham1952 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of WildfulShortlist2026WildfulKengo Kurimoto2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of I'm Afraid, Said the LeafFinalist2024I'm Afraid, Said the LeafDanielle Daniel2024 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Search for the Giant Arctic JellyfishShortlist2024The Search for the Giant Arctic JellyfishChloe Savage2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Time Is a FlowerFinalist2022Time Is a FlowerJulie Morstad2022 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of HikeShortlist2021HikePete Oswald2021 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I KnowFinalist2021Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I KnowBrittany Luby2021 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Wind and the TreesFinalist2021The Wind and the TreesTodd Stewart2021 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover 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 A First Book of AnimalsShortlist2018A First Book of AnimalsNicola Davies2018 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of TidyShortlist2017TidyEmily Gravett2017 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of When the Moon ComesFinalist2017When the Moon ComesPaul Harbridge2017 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Wild Animals of the NorthShortlist2017Wild Animals of the NorthDieter Braun2017 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The PromiseShortlist2015The PromiseNicola Davies2015 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Just Ducks!Shortlist2013Just Ducks!Nicola Davies2013 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Big City BeesFinalist2012Big City BeesMaggie de Vries2012 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of House Held Up by TreesFinalist2012House Held Up by TreesTed Kooser2012 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of AlegoFinalist2009AlegoNingiukulu Teevee2009 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Imaginary GardenFinalist2009The Imaginary GardenAndrew Larsen2009 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of VarmintsShortlist2009VarmintsHelen Ward2009 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Dougal's Deep-Sea DiaryShortlist2004Dougal's Deep-Sea DiarySimon Bartram2004 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Man on the MoonShortlist2002Man on the MoonSimon Bartram2002 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Stella, Fairy of the ForestFinalist2002Stella, Fairy of the ForestMarie-Louise Gay2002 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Wild Bog TeaFinalist2001Wild Bog TeaAnnette LeBox2001 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The StormShortlist1999The StormKathy Henderson1999 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of WeslandiaCommended1999WeslandiaPaul Fleischman1999 Carnegie Medal for Illustration commendedCover of TattybogleShortlist1995TattybogleSandra Horn1995 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The Little BoatHighly commended1995The Little BoatKathy Henderson1995 Carnegie Medal for Illustration highly commendedCover of The HunterShortlist1994The HunterPaul Geraghty1994 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Last Leaf First Snowflake to FallFinalist1993Last Leaf First Snowflake to FallLeo Yerxa1993 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of SeasonsFinalist1990SeasonsWarabé Aska1990 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Wildlife 123Finalist1989The Wildlife 123Jan Thornhill1989 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Wildlife ABCFinalist1988The Wildlife ABCJan Thornhill1988 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistApril's GardenIsla McGuckinShortlist2024April's GardenIsla McGuckin2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedThe BowerbirdJulia DonaldsonShortlist2024The BowerbirdJulia Donaldson2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedThe WildernessSteve McCarthyShortlist2024The WildernessSteve McCarthy2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedBoobiesNancy VoFinalist2023BoobiesNancy Vo2023 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistPeter Lee's Notes from the FieldJo TreggiariFinalist2021Peter Lee's Notes from the FieldJo Treggiari2021 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

See all 129 in the gift finder