One of my favourite times as a parent is when I sit and snuggle up with my children and read a good book. I’m lucky that my children are avid readers and love this time with me! Our favourite books are usually ones that are centred on a nature theme. As a family that loves the outdoors, they really resonate with us and inspire us to get outside and discover the world! Here are some of our favourites;
Finding Wild Ages 3+
A beautifully illustrated, whimsical book describing two children’s adventure through wild places. Sounds, sights and smells delight the senses and the description is evocative. This book discovers how the wild can be found in the most unexpected places. A delight for most ages. It makes me want to pick blackberries and lie in the sunshine, just like when I was a child.
Nature Anatomy – Julia Rothman
Ages 5+
My daughter received ‘Nature Anatomy’ on her birthday last year and since then it has travelled everywhere with us. It is not uncommon for us to pull it out and identify a rock, plant or flower on our travels. The illustrations are delightfully quirky, and it is full of fascinating information that even adults will enjoy. This is an American book, but we have found that much of the information can be applied to an Australian setting. Delightful and full of knowledge.
The Lost Words – Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Ages 7+
Oh my! When I discovered this beauty, I was lost in its pages for days! ‘The Lost Words’ is a stunning book that rediscovers some of the words from nature that are disappearing from our children’s vocabulary. It brings together the most gorgeous illustrations with writing that is pure poetry. It is a big book of absolute beauty and will enchant children and adults alike. A must read for you and your older children.
Florette – Anna Walker
All ages
This book is about a little girl (Mae) who moves to the city away from her beautiful garden. At first, Mae uses her imagination to try to recreate the garden in her new home but when that doesn’t work, she takes to discovering the city and trying to find a garden there. This book uses a combination of simple, beautiful text and descriptive illustrations to create a story that will speak to garden-lovers everywhere.
Wild -Emily Hughes
All ages
“Wild” is exactly that, WILD! Using a combination of crazy and quirky illustration and peppered with humour, this book introduces us to a child that has only known nature since birth and is delightfully wild as a result. When she is taken from her wild place to live in the city, she is puzzled by the strange concrete structures that people insist on living in and the lack of nature. Will the city tame this wild child?
“You cannot tame something so happily wild”
All Through the Year – Jane Godwin, Anna Walker
All ages
This delightful story travels through the seasons of Australia with a young family. Using delightful rhyming text and illustrations that just sing of our beautiful landscape, this book is a special way to capture the special moments of family and the outdoors.
Bug Hotel – Libby Walden
All ages
Come one, come all to the bug hotel! Bugs of all shapes and sizes welcome! This a place for every bug. This book is a big hit with my little ones, especially as we have our own bug hotel in the garden, and we were able to identify many of our favourite creepy crawlies. This is a wonderful book to explore - children love lifting the flaps and discovering lots of wonderful information about our garden friends!
It Starts with a Seed – Australian Geographic
All ages
Using gentle rhyme and soothing illustrations, this story follows a seed during its growth. Weaving in and out of seasons and years, we follow the journey as it transforms from seed, to sapling, to young tree, to a fully-grown tree. The environment changes as it does, with many creatures coming and going from its embrace. It is a beautiful way to learn about growth, change and the importance of trees to our eco-system.
Pandora – Victoria Turnbull
Ages 3+
This is one of my favourite children’s books of all time, and I’ll tell you why, this entire book is an experience. From the moment you touch the beautiful fabric cover with its evocative illustrations, to the beautiful words that describe Pandora’s lonely home, this story gentle weaves a feeling of hope and regeneration throughout its beautiful pages. This book has an underlying environmental message wrapped in a story of friendship. It brings my daughter and I so much joy every time we snuggle down to read it together.
Here We Are – Oliver Jeffers
All Ages
Here we are little one, on planet earth, and what an interesting and bewildering place to be! Luckily you have so many people to guide you on this journey. “Here We Are” is a great big hug for children and adults everywhere, taking us on a lovely ramble to explore our beautiful planet and to answer some questions about how everything works. There is one thing to remember above all else though, be kind! This is a gorgeous book for people big and small.
