7 terrific books about trees

I’ve loved growing my new story The Wood Where Magic Grows. For me, part of the process of nurturing the seed of an idea is exploring what else is growing in the area and seeing what you can learn. As is often the way, one branch of research leads to another and then another, so before I knew it my shelves were blooming with brilliant books about trees! I’ve loved discovering more about the wonderful, secret life of these gentle giants that watch over us. From amazing trees around the world like the mighty Methuselah, a 4,856-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine, to learning more about how trees do ​‘talk’ to each other and what we can learn from them if we really take the time to listen. 

Through Groak and Occy and all the other characters in Wildtop Wood, I wanted to show the real magic of trees, in the hope that my story will encourage readers to engage with the trees on their own doorstep, decide they want to find out more about them and ultimately care for them as friends. Here are seven of my favourite non-fiction titles for younger readers-celebrating the wonder of trees. 

The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green and illustrated by Claire McElfatrick 

Jam-packed with information about the world of trees, with a combination of eye-catching illustrations and photographs to engage young readers. There’s so much to discover as you wander through these pages and I particularly loved the sections on how trees live together like a family. 

Around the World in 80 Trees by Ben Lerwill and illustrated by Kaja Kajfe 

Discover trees around the world, from the sturdy oak to the Thimmamma banyan. A real celebration of the diversity of these giants, with loads of fun facts and interesting information. 

I Love This Tree by Anna Claybourne and illustrated by Andy Elkerton 

Following the author’s journey to discover more about trees, inspired by the sweet chestnut tree she walks past every day. Answering loads of questions and taking a closer look at the lives of trees this is a great and engaging read. 

The Book of Trees by Piotr Socha and illustrated by Wojciech Grajkowski 

A gloriously illustrated and accessibly written encyclopedic exploration of trees. There’s even a section on Tree Monsters! 

‘Let me take you on a journey. A wild wandering.’ A really fun and engaging book to help you explore habitats. I love the mix of prose, facts and activities in this. And it’s wonderfully illustrated by Barry Falls. 

Hello Trees: A Little Guide to Nature by Nina Chakrabarti 

A pocket-sized reference for young readers, with simple well laid out information to excite their interest and sow the seeds for learning more about trees. 

The Big Book of Nature Art by Yuval Zommer 

This is a giant book bursting with ideas and visually stunning! Yuval begins by saying, ​‘Every child is a nature artist!’ and I couldn’t agree more. He has pages of fun ideas, with easy to follow instructions and hugely appealing illustrations. From leaf bugs to barking bats, kids are sure to enjoy creating their own characters. 

And for grown ups working with children I’d highly recommend: 

Rewilding Children’s Imaginations 99 Creative Activities Inspired by Nature and Folktales from Around the World by Pia Jone, Tamsin Cooke and Sarah Pimenta 

A really interesting book for anyone, but especially teachers, outdoor practitioners, therapists, parents and carers. It highlights the importance of engaging with the natural world and explores oral story telling as well as being packed with activities and ideas to inspire artwork and creativity. 

The Wood Where Magic Grows by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Ellie Snowdon, is out now.