12 Best Children’s Books About Flowers and Gardens (With Fun Activity Ideas!)

There’s something magical about reading a story and then bringing it to life through hands-on play. If your little one is as fascinated by flowers as mine is (although, let’s be honest, mine are probably more fascinated by… boogers, currently), these children’s books about flowers and gardens are a perfect way to combine reading, creativity, and outdoor exploration.

Below, you’ll find 12 of the best flower-themed and garden-inspired picture books for kids, along with simple activity ideas to go with each one — because we all know that when a book inspires an activity, it not only keeps them happily engaged for longer, but also deepens their understanding, and helps them connect the facts in the story to real life.

Flower-Themed Books for Kids

1. A Seed Is Sleepy – Dianna Hutts Aston & Sylvia Long

Beautifully illustrated with poetic text, this book celebrates the wonder of seeds and plants.

Activity ideas: Pair with seed planting, a flower observation walk, or a flower parts matching game.

2. Miss Rumphius – Barbara Cooney

A gentle classic about a woman who scatters lupine seeds to make the world more beautiful.

Activity ideas: Make seed bombs, scatter wildflower seeds in the garden, or plant flowers in community spaces.

3. The Life Cycle of Flowers – Nicola Moore & Jo Fernihough

A clear, engaging look at how flowers grow, bloom, and reproduce, with vibrant illustrations.

Activity ideas: Create a flower life cycle craft, use a magnifying glass to study real blooms, or go on a “flower spotting” walk.

4. Zinnia’s Flower Garden – Monica Wellington

Step-by-step growing is shown with bright illustrations and simple diagrams.

Activity ideas: Keep a garden journal, measure flower heights, or draw plants at different growth stages.

Growth, Nature & Seasons

5. A Little Seed – Eleanor Farjeon & Mary Hodgson

A sweet, classic rhyme about planting and patience.

Activity ideas: Press flowers, make tissue-paper blooms, or do a slow, mindful craft.

6. In a Garden – Tim McCanna & Aimée Sicuro

Rhythmic text showing seasonal changes in a garden.

Activity ideas: Create seasonal flower collages or a “garden through the seasons” mural.

7. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt – Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal

Explores the hidden life above and below the soil.

Activity ideas: Try soil exploration trays, worm observation, or draw a “cutaway” garden.

8. Sunflower House – Eve Bunting

Children plant sunflowers to create a living playhouse.

Activity ideas: Build a fort, plant sunflower seeds, or design a “flower den” in small-world play.

Quirky, Artistic & Imaginative

9. Du Iz Tak – Carson Ellis

Told in an invented language, this charming book follows bugs around a growing plant.

Activity ideas: Make bug puppets, act out scenes, or create your own garden language.

10. Florette – Anna Walker

A little girl discovers a miniature garden in a grey city.

Activity ideas: Make window sill gardens, indoor plant crafts, or “bring nature to the city” collages.

11. The Imaginary Garden – Andrew Larsen & Irene Luxbacher

A granddaughter and grandfather paint a garden together.

Activity ideas: Collaboratively paint a large floral mural or design your own fantasy garden.

12. My Garden – Kevin Henkes

A whimsical tale imagining magical flowers.

Activity ideas: Design imaginary flowers, model them in clay, or paint blooms that defy reality.

Final Thoughts

Reading these books with your child isn’t just about learning plant names or understanding the seasons — it’s about sparking imagination, curiosity, and a connection to nature. And honestly? It’s also about the joy of seeing your child’s face light up when they spot a flower from their bedtime story blooming in real life… preferably before they decide to pick it and present it, squashed, as a “special gift for mummy”.

So, grab one (or a few!) of these books, add a simple activity, and watch their love of nature blossom. I'd love to know how it goes!

Related Activities You Might Like:

If you’re diving into a flower theme with your little ones, you might also enjoy some of my other nature-inspired activities. You can make your own magical blooms with our [Flower Wand Template], explore hands-on learning with the [Flower Unit Activity Pack], or get creative with STEM play by building a [LEGO Flowers].

These activities pair perfectly with the books below and are great for reinforcing what children learn through stories.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Itala