Forest and woodland books for 0-5

A Bit Lost

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. 

See also our list of books about trees for 0-5: 

Trees 0-5

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Hide & Seek

    The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Hide & Seek

    Author: Eric Carle
    Publisher: Puffin
    Interest age: 1-4

    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.

  • Shhh Goodnight

    Shhh... Good Night

    Author: Nicky Benson Illustrator: Thomas Elliott
    Publisher: Little Tiger Press
    Interest age: 0-3

    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.

  • WOW! It's Night-Time

    WOW! It's Night-Time

    Author: Tim Hopgood
    Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
    Interest age: 2-4

    Little book lovers will enjoy the return of this curious owl and following her night-time discoveries and seeing what happens in the outside world when they fall asleep. The illustrations are bold and stylish, and bring to life the midnight wildlife.

  • Deep in the Forest: A Seek and Find Adventure

    Deep in the Forest: A Seek and Find Adventure

    Author: Josef Anton and Lucie Brunelliere
    Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
    Interest age: 4-7
    Reading age: 6+

    Each double page spread of this large nonfiction seek-and-find book features a new high colour graphic spread young readers can explore to find the missing animal.

  • The Foggy Foggy Forest

    The Foggy Foggy Forest

    Author: Nick Sharratt
    Publisher: Walker
    Interest age: 3+
    Reading age: 5+

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

  • Owl Babies

    Owl Babies

    Author: Martin Waddell Illustrator: Patrick Benson
    Publisher: Walker Books
    Interest age: 3-7
    Reading age: 6+

    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.

  • Woodland Sounds

    Woodland Sounds

    Author: Sam Taplin Illustrator: Federica Iossa
    Publisher: Usborne
    Interest age: 1-3

    Each brightly illustrated, textured page of Woodland Sounds carries a recording of a different sound from nature alongside a short explanatory text. A high-quality, sturdy toddler book.

  • The Gruffalo

    The Gruffalo

    Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
    Publisher: Macmillan
    Interest age: 1-5

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

  • A Bit Lost

    A Bit Lost

    Author: Chris Haughton
    Publisher: Walker Books
    Interest age: 2-5

    Little Owl falls asleep in his (rather precarious) nest, falls onto the ground with a 'bump' and becomes 'a bit lost'. But Squirrel comes to his rescue...

  • Wild cover

    Wild

    Author: Sam Usher
    Publisher: Templar Books
    Interest age: 4-8

    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.

  • Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf

    Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf

    Author: Craig Barr-Green Illustrator: Francis Martin
    Publisher: Little Tiger
    Interest age: 4-5
    Reading age: 6+

    Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a neurodivergent protagonist.

  • The Bison and the Butterfly

    The Bison and the Butterfly

    Author: Alice Hemming Illustrator: Nancy Leschnikoff
    Publisher: Ivy Kids
    Interest age: 4-5

    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 World of Peter Rabbit Hide and Seek

    The World of Peter Rabbit: Hide and Seek!

    Author: Rachel Bright Illustrator: Nicola Kinnear
    Publisher: Puffin
    Interest age: 4-5

    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.

  • The Oak Tree

    The Oak Tree

    Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Victoria Sandøy
    Publisher: Alison Green Books
    Interest age: 4-5

    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.

  • Tree Whispers.jpg

    Tree Whispers: A forest of poems

    Author: Mandy Ross Illustrator: Juliana Oakley
    Publisher: Child’s Play
    Interest age: 6-8
    Reading age: 4-5

    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!

  • Tidy

    Tidy

    Author: Emily Gravett
    Publisher: Two Hoots
    Interest age: 4-7
    Reading age: 6+

    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.