nemaBiodiversity Supports Environmental Education from Early Childhood—Through Bilingual Books

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Imagine a group of 4-year-olds in a Vancouver schoolyard or Toronto community garden, magnifying glasses in hand, peering at worms aerating soil, ladybugs battling aphids, and hidden moles mixing earth. This hands-on wonder builds biodiversity literacy and stewardship from the earliest ages, aligning with Canada's environmental learning priorities.​​

Rooted in Canadian early-years curricula and outdoor learning practices, these bilingual books are also designed to support environmental exploration in classrooms and families around the world.

Introducing the Bilingual Nature Book Series

Published in Ontario, Canada, this bilingual (French-English) trio targets pre-K to Grade 1 learners through simple stories featuring child explorers Léo and Léa.​

• The book What's Under the Ground? digs into soil life: roots drinking water, earthworms tunneling, ants teaming up, and microscopic nematodes and bacteria helping plants thrive. It ends with the message: "Beneath our feet is a tiny universe. We must protect it."

• The book What's in the Garden? - Little Explorers spotlights visible helpers: ladybugs eating pests, bees pollinating, butterflies carrying pollen, spiders balancing insect populations, and frogs munching mosquitoes.

• The book What's in the Garden? - Hidden Inhabitants uncovers concealed roles: grasshoppers in the grass, dragonflies near water, moles aerating soil, birds spreading seeds, and compost turning waste into rich earth. "The garden is full of life! Every living thing has a role."

  
  

Each includes "Fun Facts" and a "Tiny Glossary" (e.g., "biodiversité," "polliniser") to spark vocabulary and curiosity.​

Easy Classroom Implementation

Bring the series outdoors for experiential, play-based learning—ideal for school gardens or funded projects.

• Read the book What’s Under the Ground?, then dig soil samples and sketch "tiny universes."

• Use the book What’s in the Garden? – Little Explorers for pollinator hunts; count "50 aphids per ladybug" to integrate math.

• Pair the book What’s in the Garden? – Hidden Inhabitants with compost bins, and discuss how "waste becomes rich soil."

• Cross-curricular: Art (draw life cycles), French immersion support, quiet nature observation tying to land respect.​

  
  

These spark questions like "How do nematodes help plants grow?" while fostering care for local ecosystems.​

Ready to enrich your ECE program? Get the series at Amazon. Share your adaptations in comments—how will you explore soil and gardens?