30 Inspiring Picture Books to Take Learning Outdoors
Books do not have to stay in the classroom. Our 30 Outdoor Picture Book Ideas resource has been created to help Early Years and primary practitioners use stories as a starting point for meaningful outdoor learning, play and exploration.
This collection brings together 30 picture books that naturally connect with nature, the outdoors, seasons, wildlife, adventure and the environment, giving you plenty of inspiration for taking literacy beyond four walls.
Rather than simply reading a story outside, use each book as a springboard for talking, moving, making, investigating and imagining outdoors. Dicover more: The Ultimate Guide to Early Years Outdoor Play.
What Is Included?
The resource includes:
- 30 carefully selected outdoor and nature-inspired picture books
- Ideas suitable for EYFS and primary-aged children
- Inspiration for outdoor storytelling and oracy
- Books linked to nature, wildlife and the environment
- Opportunities for imaginative outdoor play
- Starting points for English and cross-curricular learning
- Ideas that can be adapted to your own outdoor space
- Inspiration for seasonal and nature-based learning
Why Use Picture Books Outdoors?
Picture books can provide a powerful starting point for outdoor learning. A story can encourage children to notice their surroundings, develop vocabulary, recreate characters and settings, investigate the natural world and generate their own ideas.
Taking the learning outdoors can also give children more space to:
- Retell stories through movement
- Recreate settings using loose parts
- Develop characters through role play
- Collect vocabulary from real experiences
- Talk collaboratively with other children
- Explore concepts from books first-hand
- Develop imagination and creativity
- Make connections between stories and the world around them
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we encourage oracy and practical experience before written recording. A picture book can begin the conversation, while the outdoor environment gives children somewhere to explore those ideas physically. Explore our Complete Guide to Loose Parts Play.
Perfect For
This resource is ideal for:
- Early Years practitioners
- Reception teachers
- KS1 teachers
- KS2 teachers
- Outdoor learning leads
- SEND practitioners
- Childminders
- Home educators
- Literacy leads
- Schools developing outdoor learning provision
Take Your Books Beyond the Classroom
Choose a book, take the children outdoors and see where the story leads.
You might create a character from natural materials, build a story setting with sticks and loose parts, follow a story trail, act out events, hunt for vocabulary or simply find somewhere outdoors to sit, talk and imagine.
Download the 30 Outdoor Picture Book Ideas and start connecting reading, storytelling and the outdoors.
