Forest and woodland books for 0 to 5

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a neurodivergent protagonist.

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.

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.

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!