Forest and woodland books for 0 to 5

Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog are walking home through the forest. It’s getting late and it’s almost time for Little Hedgehog’s bedtime, but Little Hedgehog wants to stop along the way and watch the sun set, the moon rise, smell the wildflowers and visit the owls.

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.

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.

A funny and heartwarming story about a young boy’s mission to protect an owl and old beech tree. Children – and adults – will love the surprise ending and joining in with the hooting.

This charming board book is a lovely introduction to the rainforest, with grabbable and durable layered board pages that mimic the low-to-high layers of the rainforest itself. Natasha Durley’s art is colourful and attractive for little ones, with the names of the animals printed near to their pictures so that adults can point them out.

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

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.

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.

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. 

Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a neurodivergent protagonist.

A seed becomes a sapling, then a young tree, until, after many years, it grows into a large tree with roots and branches filling the page.

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!

Did you know that ant plants have ants living inside them? This fantastic first science book is packed with fascinating facts about plants. Perfect for young school children.