Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet

By Nicola Davies Illustrated by Emily Sutton

Walker Books

March 2024, pp40, £12.99

978-1536231410

Reading age: 4+ years

This is a rich and wonderful book, essential for any setting that wants to encourage children to love nature. With a tree as the starting point, readers are taken through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration, explained at an age-appropriate and accessible level. How the planet has changed over time and where different wildlife live are also covered. It finishes with a simple explanation of global warming and the importance of protecting the natural world. This is a brilliant work for supporting children’s understanding of the world.

Younger readers will need some help due to the inclusion of scientific words, but these are followed by simple and age-appropriate explanations.

The illustrations are wonderfully rich in detail. They support the meaning of the text and help build an understanding of the subjects discussed, ensuring the book is still accessible for weaker readers.

April’s Garden

By Isla McGuckin

Graffeg

August 2023, pp36, £7.99

978-1802583410

Reading age: 5+ years

A beautiful and sensitively written story that follows April’s struggles as she and her mother are housed in temporary accommodation. Despite promises of a brighter future, most of what April finds here is old or broken and doesn’t feel like home. However, hope returns when she is given some seeds.

Exploring frustration, anger and disappointment, this is a brilliant resource to help young readers process and understand big emotions, and the challenges they may face if ever in a similar situation. The story depicts the realities in an unglamorised yet age-appropriate way.

The text is simple and accessible, and the immersive illustrations also convey April’s feelings and mental state, not specified elsewhere.

Practitioners should note this book could be triggering for readers who have similar lived experiences, or no longer have a relationship with their mother.

I would suggest initial readings in small groups to allow for appropriate discussions as needed.

Mrs Owl’s Forest School: The Very Big Den

By Ruth Symons

Illustrated by Sebastien Braun

Templar Books

August 2023, pp25, £7.99

978-1800785755

Reading age: 2-7 years

Follow Mrs Owl and the animals at her forest school as they build a big den, a nest for ground-nesting birds and a bug hotel. This story is perfect for any readers who love the outdoors, and will inspire children to be inquisitive about wildlife.

The simple story is interspersed with information sections and simple outdoor activities to explore nature. These can be done in urban centres and/or in settings with little outdoor spaces. They encourage readers to use all their senses as well as basic oral and written communication skills. Caring for the natural world appropriately is explored, with the risks highlighted and what clothing to wear.

The basic narrative also celebrates a diversity of skills, ages and abilities in a lovely, gentle way, highlighting the importance of team work and looking after each other. The characterful illustrations bring the narrative to life, helping to create a fun and inspiring atmosphere.