Literature opens doors to great conversations. Common thinking and typical conversations today focus on how human behavior affects the natural world. Any study of current events, social studies, sociology or science leads toward that one-sided conversation. But many authors write stories in which nature is a character co-existing among the human characters, and Nature is influenced, and has influence, on outcomes of the story. This unique angle provides an opportunity for kids to adjust their view of a book, as well as their broader world. The books listed below are among my favorites to discuss with students because Nature is not just a setting in which a story unfolds, it is also a character who influences outcomes.