The World to Come

Based on meditative walks that Johnny Flynn took with his son during lockdown, this lyrical book explores nature in all its transient, seasonal glory and evokes a sense of hope as its father/son characters muse on the promise of a world to come. 

Flynn worked alongside acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane to transform the experiences of these walks into a song, the lyrics of which have become the poetry which gently guides you through the book. Along the way, we meet animals and plants native to the UK and are encouraged to reflect on nature’s resilience and its relationship to humanity. 

Complementing the gentle tone of the text, Emily Sutton’s illustrations are of exceptional quality and capture the essence of the environment. She creates characterful scenes which are incredibly detailed while retaining a child-like, impressionist quality. There are loads of details to spot on revisiting the book, including a cheeky otter which can be found on every double spread!  

Human influences and evidence of industrialisation are depicted alongside the picturesque natural scenes, which provides a good opportunity to spark discussion about our relationship with the environment and broader ecological themes. 

This is an instantly alluring, hopeful book and one that is a pleasure to read aloud.