THE ENVIRONMENT
THE GOLDEN HARE (Paddy Donnelly)
‘I’ve never seen a dinosaur, or a shark, or a giraffe,’ says Meara to Grandad. So Grandad tells Meara about the mythical Golden Hare that can jump to the moon in two-and-a-half leaps. Together they set out to find the Golden Hare – a magical, shape-shifting creature with fur brighter than the sun. Along the way, Meara and Grandad spot all sorts of wildlife treasures – birds in the trees, animals nesting under ground and creatures under the waves, but the hare is harder to find.
The Golden Hare (O’Brien Press, 2024) is steeped in the magic of nature with sensational illustrations and emotive storytelling that evoke a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world. Meara and Grandad’s intergenerational friendship helps Meara to appreciate the beauty of nature all around her, and readers will too. Inspired by the stories of Paddy’s childhood and the hares on Rathlin Island, this book glitters with golden on every page.
A visually stunning book full of magic and the wonder of nature, with a hidden golden hare to spot on each spread.
THE TALE OF THE WHALE (Karen Swann, Padmacandra)
Where land becomes sky and the sky becomes sea, I first saw the whale and the whale first saw me…
So begins a lyrical journey of wonder and discovery and a very special friendship. But it is also a journey that brings an uncomfortable realisation – that plastic pollution and carelessness is destroying the oceans, and the creatures who live in them.
The Tale of the Whale (Scallywag Press, 2022) helps children to understand the impact of plastic waste on the natural world. Told in rhyme, this beautiful story of a friendship between a child and a whale is both powerful and empowering. The message is clear about the role we can all play in telling people about our impact on the natural world and why litter picking is so important. Padmacandra’s illustrations are stunning, with a delicate colour palette which reflects the gentleness of the friendship between the child and the whale.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
BEE - & - ME (Alison Jay)
A pesky bee flies in the window and the little girl is frightened. She traps the bee and then wonders what to do… This beautiful wordless picture book traces the growing friendship between the girl, the bee and her lonely neighbour in the tower block and how they come together to fill the city with flowers
With so many people already living in cities and many more expected to live in them by 2050, this wonderful wordless picture book helps children to understand how we can support nature on our doorsteps by providing it with a place to call home. In Bee and Me (Old Barn Books, 2017) - this gentle story about love and nature - children are reminded about how friendships and working together to do good things can have a big impact. The book has a fantastic end page giving some suggestions about how we can help bees to find a home in cities. Alison’s illustrations are so inviting and children will love having the freedom to tell the story in their own words.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
THE ODD FISH (Naomi Jones, James Jones)
Naomi and James have created a wonderful picture book together, helping to introduce younger readers to the issue of plastic pollution in our seas. The Odd Fish (Farshore, 2022) is a story that follows a fish who is trying to help an 'odd fish' (a plastic bottle) find its family. Along the way, they encounter other sea creatures who are sadly all too often the victims of discarded plastic, washing about in the oceans' currents. The child reader is gently encouraged to learn how bad discarded plastics are for sea creatures, without being overwhelmed by the issue.
James' illustrations perfectly show the journey that fish and 'odd fish' go on, with a delicate colour palette and lovely details for the reader to explore. I think this is the perfect way to engage younger readers about this topic and would highly recommend reading it. The end spread provides some excellent, child friendly facts about the issues of plastic pollution, as well as some practical suggestions as to how children can work with adults to reduce our own plastic impact.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
TIDY (Emily Gravett)
Pete likes everything to be neat and tidy – but sometimes it’s good to know when to stop. In this fresh and funny story from one of today’s most gifted storytellers, a loveable badger learns to love his forest home just the way it is. Even if it is a bit messy.
Tidy (Two Hoots, 2017) is perfect for helping children (and adults) understand that tidy is not necessarily best when it comes to nature. Through fabulous illustrations and the humour of an overly tidy badger, we are not only reminded that everything has its place in nature but also of the impact of destroying the natural world. Emily’s illustrations are delightful with the animals’ facial expressions helping to show the reader exactly what the other woodland creatures think of badger’s actions.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
GRETA AND THE GIANTS (Zoe Tucker, Zoe Persico)
Greta lives in a beautiful forest threatened by Giants. When the Giants first came to the forest, they chopped down trees to make homes. Then they chopped down more trees and made even bigger homes. The houses grew into towns and the towns grew into cities, until now there is hardly any forest left. Luckily, Greta has an idea…
Greta and the Giants (Frances Lincoln, 2019) is a powerful story about the world-famous Greta Thunberg, with a message for everyone, everywhere: ‘No one is too small to make a difference.’ The story is set in a forest, where Greta finds animals in need of her help. It isn’t long before her calls for change see her being joined by more and more people. And once the giants realise the impact they are having on the natural world, they set about changing their ways. The happy ending of this story shows us all what could be and, with an end page giving ideas about ways we can all help the environment, this is a great book to discuss what actions we can each take. This is a great book for helping children understand the benefits of collective action.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
WHEN THE STORKS CAME HOME (Isabella Tree, Alexandra Finkeldey)
Beanie loves birds. When she discovers that beautiful white storks used to live in her neighbourhood but were hunted to extinction, she is determined to find a way to bring them back. But reintroducing a vanished species is not so simple! With the help of her neighbours, Beanie hatches a plan...
When The Storks Came Home (Ivy Kids, 2022) is an empowering story of a young girl who's passion for nature leads her to learn about, and then strive to bring about, the reintroduction of white storks to her local community. This story captures what can be achieved when people come together, as well as the joy of seeing nature appear when a home is provided for them. It is the essence of 'if you build it, they will come' - a message for all of us about providing a home for nature. A lovely blend of story and fact, families will find this book inspiring and hopeful. Isabella (well known for the work they have done to 'rewild' their own Knepp estate in Sussex) has also included a factual end page about the real life story of 'reintroducing' white storks to Britain. Alexandra's illustrations are beautiful, capturing the range of human emotions experienced as the story unfolds and with glorious pictures of the storks. And what makes this book even more special, is that it has been printed on high quality recycled paper, here in the UK. A must read!
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
THE EMERALD FOREST (Catherine Ward, Karin Littlewood)
The Emerald Forest (Otter-Barry Books, 2023) is a beautiful, lyrical and moving story of Orangutan, her growing family and the vivid forest in which they live. The forest is bursting with life - it’s where Orangutan teaches her babies what to eat, how to swing and how to build a nest… until a monstrous machine tears the trees from the ground and the family have to leave. Thankfully for the inhabitants of the Emerald Forest, there are kind campaigners who are able to gift the displaced creatures with a brighter, greener future.
The tropical rainforest setting is vividly brought to life with Catherine’s carefully chosen words, which sweep us through the story with sensitivity and deft emotion. Karin’s watercolours are vibrant and full of movement, but also fragile just like the Sumatran forest they depict. In stark contrast, the destructive human machinery is dark and has sharp lines.
Powerful back matter gives context to Orangutan’s story, including information about the island of Sumatra, an age-old home that has lost almost half its rainforest cover in recent years. This story doesn’t shy away from the plight the environment faces, but the final lines of non-fiction material empower wildlife lovers and bring hope for a better future.
THE OWL WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS (John Hay, Garry Parsons)
The Owl Who Came For Christmas is a sweet and heart-warming tale about a family who find a little owl nestled in their Christmas tree. It’s based on the true story of an owl who was sleeping in a tree when it was cut down and taken to the city. Children will love the inclusion of 'The story of the real Rosie the Owl' at the back of the book.
Christmas is coming, and the decorations are going up…
But one family is about to discover an unexpected visitor snuggled up in their Christmas tree…
A little owl called Rosie!
Charming characters and a wonderful storyline make for an excellent picture book for young families, especially at Christmas time, that may also spark a conversation about conservation with a gentle reminder that real Christmas trees were once living in the wild.
AMARA AND THE BATS (Emma Reynolds)
Amara and the Bats (Atheneum, 2021) is a fantastic author-illustrator debut from Emma Reynolds about a little girl who wants to make a difference. Amara loves bats! Her favourite thing to do is to collect bat facts and watch the amazing mammals fly at night by her house. But when Amara moves to a new town, she learns that her beloved bats no longer roost nearby because they are losing their habitat.
This inspiring story spotlights environmental activism. It seeks to empower young people to bring positive change to the world with beautifully designed illustrations and a storyline that stars Amara and her new friends on a mission to save the bats.
Community action, perseverance, and hope in the face of climate anxiety.
ONE LITTLE BIRD (Sheryl Webster, Helen Shoesmith)
One Little Bird (Oxford University Press, 2012) is an inspirational story of one little bird and the big difference they make. Rosa is upset when her nice safe tree is chopped down, so she makes a new nest on the roof of a house - and she will not budge. News of the little bird’s stand soon spreads, and before long animals everywhere are rehoming themselves in people’s houses. It doesn’t take long for trouble to start - but what can one little bird do about it? She’s just one bird, and the problem feels so much bigger than her.
In this funny, heart-warming story about action, perseverance, and what to do in the face of a big problem, Rosa realises we can all make a difference when we work together. A book with a hopeful eco-message about finding a place to call home.
STELLA AND THE SEAGULL (Georgina Stevens, Izzy Burton)
Stella and the Seagull (OUP, 2021) is a colourful and heartfelt story about a little girl called Stella who is set on saving the beach and her seagull friend from the plastic pollution that she finds. With lots at stake, Stella is spurred into action and comes up with some ideas to instigate change - including a beach clean up, reducing single use plastic in her community and contacting a manufacturer that uses plastic packaging. It isn’t easy, but it isn’t long before everyone is taking action and making a big impact.
A story for animal lovers looking for real-world ideas to leave the world a better place.
VARMINTS (Helen Ward, Marc Craste)
There was once only the sound of bees and the wind in the wiry grass, the low murmuring of moles in the cool dark earth…
Varmints is a powerful picture book, exploring another world where most of the creatures do not notice nature. Just a few hear the bees and the birds and take care of their natural world. They save a small piece of the wilderness, protecting it from the many who fill their world with noise and buildings. But those that cared for the wilderness find a new home for their precious nature and once more the sound of birds and bees returns.
This cautionary tale helps children to understand how humans need to learn to live alongside nature; to live in harmony with it. It is a timeless story of hope told beautifully by Helen Ward and with exquisite illustrations by Marc.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
IF I WERE THE WORLD (Mark Sperring and Natelle Quek)
If I Were the World (Bloomsbury, 2023) is an uplifting and timely book about saving the planet, from a unique perspective.
Central to the story are questions, immersed in a rhyming text, and posed whilst three children explore what the planet is currently facing. Woven throughout though, counterbalancing the messaging, is an optimistic viewpoint of what could potentially be if the world were to come together to change the current trajectory.
Natelle Quek's illustrations are dynamic, thought-provoking and inspiring throughout, encouraging readers to reflect on their actions, and make a change. This book is a beautifully presented tribute to the world around us.
(Reviewed by Kara Kiernan, founder of THE BOOK TRAIN)
THE BUG COLLECTOR (Alex G Griffiths)
The Bug Collector (Andersen Press, 2020) is a colourful tale highlighting the important role insects play in supporting the natural world.
George, the central character, loves going on adventures with his Grandad, and is inspired by a recent trip to the museum. George sets out to capture as many minibeasts as possible, resulting in shelves packed full of jars. The thought-provoking storytelling comes not only through the text, but through the emotive illustrations, which show how the trapped creatures are feeling. Thankfully, George's Grandad helps him to understand the important roles different minibeasts play in the world's ecosystem, from the aphid to the bee. The final illustration of the book is guaranteed to inspire all young eco warriors.
(Reviewed by Kara Kiernan, founder of THE BOOK TRAIN)
CAN YOU SEE THE STARS TONIGHT? (Anna Terroros-Martin)
When baby puffins - pufflings - start getting lost, Nora and her Puffin try to understand why. After an adventure to Puffin Island, they realise: the moon and stars aren't bright enough to guide the pufflings safely on their way!
Can Nora and Puffin make a difference and save these tiny birds? Can they make the night sky shine again?
In Can You See The Stars Tonight? (David Fickling Books, 2023) Anna has created a very special book for children to enjoy and to learn about the important role we can all play in caring for the natural world. When Nora and her puffin friend can't see the stars clearly at night and pufflings keep getting lost, they decide to find out why. This story helps young readers to learn about light pollution and the impact it is having on the natural world and, through Nora's determination to do something about the issue in her local community, the child reader is empowered to play their own part in protecting what is left of the natural world.
With a child-friendly end page, helping children explore in more detail about the problem and what we can all do about it, this makes a great book to share both at home and in the classroom. Anna's gorgeous illustrations show just how adorable puffins are and also show some of the other, maybe less familiar sea birds, which need our help too.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
I LOVE YOU, BLUE (Barroux)
A touching love story with an important message about ocean pollution through plastics.
When Jonas the lighthouse-keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. But soon Blue the whale is in great danger too, and now he needs help from Jonas... This touching love story from world-renowned picture book creator, Barroux, beautifully highlights the urgency of saving our whales and our oceans.
In this lovely book for younger picture book readers, a lighthouse keeper (Jonas) encounters a whale, who saves him when his boat is in trouble out at sea. They form a friendship but, when the lighthouse keeper next travels in his boat to meet with his new friend, the whale is sick. Inside the whale are many plastic bags which the whale has swallowed, thinking they were food. With Jonas's help, the whale is freed from all the bags, which the lighthouse keeper takes away in his boat. When Jonas next goes to find his friend, the whale is fully recovered and they are happily reunited. With a simple and clear message about plastic pollution and the impact it has on the seas and the creatures who call it their home, this book helps younger children to understand the importance of keeping the seas clean of human rubbish. Barroux's illustrations are delightful and capture the friendship between the lighthouse keeper and the whale perfectly. With a factual end page, children can explore with an adult in more detail about the topics covered in the story.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
TIME TO MOVE SOUTH FOR WINTER (Clare Helen Welsh, Jenny Lovlie)
Over the cold, glassy waters of the Arctic, a tiny tern sets off on the world's longest animal migration. Join her as she passes humpback whales, caribou, Canada geese, leatherback turtles and monarch butterflies, each on their own incredible journey. It's time to move south for Winter...
Clare and Jenny's book together is a joy to read. A narrative nonfiction picture book, exploring the extraordinary migrations undertaken from the smallest to the largest of creatures, including humpback whales and monarch butterflies. Clare's writing is lyrical, poetic and filled with wonderful similes that capture the magnificence of the natural world on the move. Jenny's stunning illustrations are beautifully detailed and a real feast for the eyes. With a fascinating factual end page about each of the creatures found within the story, this book is one to enjoy over and over again.
A must read for all nature lovers, it helps the child reader to appreciate the interconnectedness of the natural world and, in so doing, develop an appreciation for our need to protect all of nature from the oceans to the mountains and everything in between.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
GRANDPA CHRISTMAS (Michael Morpurgo, Jim Field)
Every Christmas Mia and her family read a letter which her Grandpa wrote to her. His letter is a heartfelt wish for a better world for Mia to live in. He remembers fondly the times they spent in his garden finding frogs and planting seeds, but Grandpa worries that all the things they love so much are in danger and he needs Mia to help protect them. A hopeful and timely story about looking after our planet and making a better world for future generations.
Grandpa Christmas (Farshore, 2020) is full of heart, truth and ultimately hope. In it, Mia, now an adult, shares her family's Christmas tradition of rereading a letter Grandpa sent to her one Christmas when she was a child, instead of a card or present. A love letter about the earth, the child reader is encouraged to think about everything from the worms in the soil beneath our feet to the elephants roaming the grasslands of Africa; from the turtles in the sea to the frogs we might find in our gardens. To consider our impact and the choices we make. Jim Field's illustrations are truly delightful, heartfelt and deeply moving, capturing the childlike joy Mia experiences as she explores the nature found in Grandpa's garden and the impact of humans on our fragile planet. Michael Morpurgo finishes the letter with a message that I am sure all parents and grandparents would send to their children and grandchildren: 'Live always in rhythm, in harmony with this earth. Then all my wishes will come true for you, and all shall be well. But all shall be well only if we make it well, little Mia. There's a lot of healing to do, a lot of loving.' A message for each and everyone of us.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
THE WIDE, WIDE SEA (Anna Wilson, Jenny Lovlie)
“This is the best place in the Whole Wide World!”
A child makes a special connection with a seal and is taken on an unforgettable imaginative journey. But one day a violent storm blows in. The next morning the beach is covered in litter. Whose fault is it? And who can fix it? A powerful story of hope that shows that no one is too small to make a difference.
The Wide, Wide Sea (Nosy Crow, 2021) is a wonderful exploration of a child's connection to the natural world and that child coming to realise their part in helping to protect it. Told in the first person, the child reader is immediately immersed in the child's fascination with the beach and everything that can be found there. The child meets a seal and imagines what it might be like to live in the sea. The child's Gran gently helps her grandchild to understand that the sea is the seal's home. When a storm sweeps in, their next visit to the beach comes as a shock, as the child realises how much litter has been washed ashore. With encouragement from Gran, the child realises that, while the litter isn't their doing, it is spoiling the home of the seal and all the other creatures that live there. Alongside other families that come to join them, they help to clear the rubbish.
With a gentle and empowering message about how we can all play our part in protecting the natural world, this is a great story to share with children and discuss what we can each do. Jenny's illustrations are gorgeous, helping to draw the child reader into the setting and the story. With a soft colour palette and wonderfully lyrical storytelling from Anna, I would highly recommend this book to help explore the issue of caring for our oceans and the wildlife that calls them their home.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
THE FRIENDLY MAMMOTH (Anna Terreros-Martin)
Mansi loves visiting her local museum.
It is a magical place for remembering the past.
She only wishes she had a friend to go with . . .
A sprinkle of magic, and a whole lot of snow, transport Mansi and the Friendly Mammoth back to the Ice Age. Once there, they explore the world as it once was, meet the animals that have long-since disappeared, and learn that sharing what you love is one of the best ways to make new friends.
The Friendly Mammoth (David Fickling, 2022) is really special picture book which sensitively explores friendship, inclusion and caring for nature. Anna’s illustrations are gorgeous with lots of detail for the child reader to explore. The gentle exploration of animal extinction is handled well for young readers, with an empowering message about how we can all play our part in saving species today. This book also uses drawing pictures and using our imagination to powerful effect as a way of tying the story, the past, the present and the future together. The factual end page is brilliant with really interesting details - like the fact that the Sumatran Rhino is the closest living relative to the Woolly Rhino.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
THE LAST TREE (Emily Haworth-Booth)
Once upon a time a group of friends were seeking a place to call home. The desert was too hot, the valley was too wet and the mountain was too windy. Then they found the forest. It was perfect. The leaves gave shelter from the sun and rain, and a gentle breeze wound through the branches.
But the friends soon wanted to build shelters. The shelters became houses, then the houses got bigger. All too soon they wanted to control the environment and built a huge wooden wall around the community. As they cut down the trees, the forest becomes thinner, until there is just one last tree standing. It is down to the children to find a solution.
The Last Tree (Pavillion Books, 2020) is a thought-provoking book, in which the child reader is transported to a community where the people fail to realise, until it is too late, that they are destroying their environment by chopping down the trees. With the forest almost gone, the weather starts to affect their lives, and they resort to creating a wall with what is left of the wood from the forest, blocking out the wind and the rest of the world. All except for one last tree which is too small to be worth using. In doing so, they begin to turn on each other and eventually, now desperate for wood, ask their children to go and take the last tree for their own individual needs. But the children just want to play and care for the tree. Not wanting to upset their parents, they start taking wood from the wall to give to their families who do not notice what is happening until the wind rushes through and... the families see that the last tree has grown. They are reminded of what they have lost and start again. And the last tree becomes the first.
With fabulous illustrations, Emily provides us with a timely reminder that living in balance with the natural world helps us to thrive in so many ways. A great book for discussing some of the many environmental issues we face today.
(Reviewed by Catherine Ward, author of THE EMERALD FOREST)
LOVE THE EARTH (Frances Stickley, Tim Hopgood)
You were born to breathe my air, so treat me kind and treat me fair.
These gifts from me are yours to share. With all my Love, the Earth.
Love, Earth (Walker, 2023) is a stunning love letter to humans from planet Earth, calling us to protect it and the many wonders it holds. Tim Hopgood’s spectacular artwork celebrates our home – from the polar bears in the Arctic to the woodland night time lullabies –allowing readers to pore over the beauty of our planet.
Frances Stickley’s enchanting rhyme also invites the reader to explore beauty of Earth, whilst gently encouraging them to act - to plant new seeds, to be its voice and to treat it fairly.
Poetic, charming with a gentle eco-theme, this captivating story reminds readers of the beauty of our planet, whilst inspiring them to protect it.
A SWIFT RETURN (Fiona Barker, Howard Gray)
Aria has her head in the clouds. Yusuf keeps his feet on the ground. But when they work together to save a bird who has lost her way, something magical happens.
A Swift Return (Tiny Tree, 2024) stars an exhausted swift lost on her epic migration. Aria and Yusuf come to the swift’s rescue and are inspired to clean the air above their city by planting plants. The buildings bloom and before long, patches of blue sky appear.
On the less written about subject of air pollution, this is a story with a hopeful message about caring for our natural world, and the importance of collaboration. Howard's illustrations evoke a beautiful and strong sense of place. Fiona’s language is lyrical and carefully chosen to captivate and inspire young readers. The beautiful Arabic text distilled by Maysoon AbuBlan is a lovely addition.