Earth Day should be celebrated all year round. These new books capture the wonders of nature, from the smallest seed to the most extreme ocean wave.

"The World is Waiting for You" by Barbara Kerley; National Geographic; 42 pages; $17.95.

This photo-filled picture book begins brilliantly, with a little boy peering out a small window and the words, "right outside your window there's a world to explore." For many kids, being inside, sadly, is a nearly 24-hour a day occurrence. Kerley's book aims to remind of the wonders of what's outside. Crisp, clear photographs show a boy skipping into a water hole and a girl under a waterfall and then another water-loving diver swimming with a dolphin. With a "follow that path" view, this National Geographic wonder takes kids from a backyard dig to a fossil dig, from an evening spent gazing at stars to a life spent exploring space.

With smart lead-ins of children playing outdoors leading to exciting outside adult endeavors, this photo essay is as refreshing as a mountain breeze.

"Seymour Simon's Extreme Oceans" from Chronicle Books; 58 pages; $17.99.

Seymour Simon's science-themed books are popular on school library shelves. In this wondrous, awe-inspiring non-fiction book, Seymour investigates the tallest waves, the deepest ocean depths and the largest and most dangerous sea creatures on Earth. With mind-bending facts and gentle sidebars about environmental hazards, "Extreme Oceans" focuses on the beauty and colossal strength of oceans, from tsunamis to dangerous icebergs to the tallest sea mountain and the sheer huge size of blue whales.

Smartly setup to attract the youngest readers up till about age 12, (and adults!), Seymour Simon's latest is coffee table-worthy indeed.

Younger preschoolers may want to check out National Geographic's Little Kids "Ocean Counting" by Janet Lawler, with photographs by Brian Skerry, (32 pages; $16.95). Gloriously clear colorful photographs entice children to count while learning about the seas.

From "1 green sea turtle" to five sea star arms and on to ten Bermuda sea chub, "Ocean Counting" also adds a fun paragraph on each page of age-appropriate information and "Did you know?" sidebars with extra facts.

"Flowers by Number" by David Shapiro; illustrated by Hayley Vair; Craigmore Creations; 32 pages; $14.99.

With lush, vintage-looking floral illustrations upon stark white backgrounds, this counting book begins with zero flowers and explains, "It is the middle of winter and a blanket of snow covers the land. There are ZERO flowers out for now." Then a skunk cabbage peeks out in a bog and two twinflowers grow from the same stalk. Eventually "6 Pacific starflowers grow in a moist redwood tree grove," and the depiction of flowers looks like stars shining on the ground.

A grand introduction to flowers and numbers, this gem marks the launch of Craigmore Creations' Little Naturalist series.

"Planet Ark: Preserving Earth's Biodiversity" by Adrienne Mason; illustrated by Margot Thompson; Citizen Kid/Kids Can Press; 32 pages; $18.95.

Citizen Kid, from Kids Can Press, is a collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens. In "Planet Ark," a picture book for older children, the importance of a rich biodiversity is explained, which means that the extinction of just one species can affect others because all species are interconnected.

With a kid-friendly Noah's Ark theme, "Planet Ark" shows kids how they can become Noah's and help protect and sustain our planet. The lovely, thought-provoking book points out we have an obligation to protect biodiversity since humans are responsible for many of the problems that affect it, from habitat destruction to overharvesting to climate change. A smart, accessible and thought-provoking environmental resource, "Planet Ark" is a must for classrooms and homes.

"Miss Maple's Seeds" by Elizabeth Wheeler; Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin; 32 pages; $16.99.

"Take care, my little ones, for the world is big and you are small. But never forget ... even the grandest of trees once had to grow up from the smallest of seeds," is Miss Maple's favorite lesson. Her pupils? Little lost seeds she gathers every summer that haven't yet found a place to blossom. Whimsical and retro, the gentle story introduces a fairy-like Miss Maple, who reads to her little seeds, takes them on field trips to explore places to grow and keeps them safe and warm in her cozy maple tree home. Then the glorious time comes when Miss Maple sends them off into the wide world to ride the winds and tides and find roots of their own.

With lovely, lilting text and flowing, nature-filled illustrations, "Miss Maple's Seeds" is fairytale-like and beautiful. It's also an inspirational reminder of conservation and that each discarded seed has unlimited potential.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.