Forest and woodland books for 0 to 5

  • 0 to 5 years

Here is a selection of brilliant board books and picture books set in the woods

They are stories, rather than non-fiction, and animals take centre stage

  • Shhh… Good Night

    illustrated by Thomas Elliott 

    2019 0 to 4 years 

    • Picture books

    The animals in the forest are finishing their day and settling down to sleep – it’s time for quiet and time for dreams. A beautiful, lyrical, lullaby of a book that’s perfect for soothing little ones into sleep.

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Hide & Seek

    by Eric Carle 

    2021 0 to 6 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive

    An interactive board book with cut-out finger trails and sturdy flaps that encourage youngsters to explore the forest in the company of the very hungry caterpillar.

  • The Gruffalo

    by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler 

    1999 2 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    In this much-loved picture book, a little mouse walks through the woods and encounters a fox, an owl and a snake.

  • The Foggy Foggy Forest

    by Nick Sharratt 

    2010 4 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    Who’s lurking in the foggy forest? Look through the trees and guess the shapes to find out.

  • Owl Babies

    by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson 

    1994 2 to 9 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books

    This reassuring and stunningly illustrated book tackles the subject of temporary separation – a situation which all children are likely to experience, be it Mum going to work or first day at Nursery.

  • Tidy

    by Emily Gravett 

    2016 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    Pete the badger likes to keep everything neat and tidy, but his over-zealous cleaning begins to have a damaging impact on the forest. This entertaining picture book, with its rich illustrations, carries an important environmental message.

  • The Bison and the Butterfly

    by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff 

    2024 4 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    Bison learns how vital she is to the woodland, and to fellow creatures like Butterfly. Based on a real rewilding project in Kent, this charming picture book is sweet and surprisingly informative. 

  • The Oak Tree

    by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Victoria Sandøy 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    This is the story of an oak tree, told in Julia Donaldson’s trademark rich rhyme, with beautiful illustrations showcasing the diversity of life in and around the tree.

  • Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf

    by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Adventure
    • Picture books
    • Autistic spectrum conditions
    • Neurodiversity

    Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a neurodivergent protagonist.

  • The World of Peter Rabbit: Hide and Seek!

    by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Nicola Kinnear 

    2022 4 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    Everyone’s favourite rabbit in a blue jacket is back – and this time, he’s using all of his ingenuity to outwit his old enemy, Mr Tod the fox.

  • Wild (sam

    by Sam Usher 

    2020 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Sam Usher’s beautiful picture book starts off as a story about an exciting everyday life kind of event: getting a pet is a big part of anyone’s childhood. Yet what starts as a new pet story changes unexpectedly into something much more fantastical and dreamy.

  • Tree Whispers: A forest of poems

    by Mandy Ross, illustrated by Juliana Oakley 

    2023 6 to 9 years 

    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    In a lovely collection of tree-themed poems, Mandy Ross takes us from Joshua Tree in the American desert to the pine and oyamel trees of Mexico, to a snowy forest and the trees in a city – and many more!