Changing Leaf Forest School ← All stories

Stories at the heart

Our favourite nature books

Stories to share, and ideas to take them outdoors

Stories are at the heart of everything we do at forest school.

A good story can spark a child's curiosity before they even step outside, and help them make sense of what they find. Here are some of the books we love sharing, each with a simple idea for taking the story outdoors.

This month's Book Look

The Bowerbird
Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner

The Bowerbird

Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner

What it's about

Bert the bowerbird builds the most perfect bower, decorated with a pretty purple flower, to impress the bird of his dreams. But when Nanette arrives, she isn't impressed at all!

Why we love it

Catherine Rayner's illustrations are wonderful, and the story is full of emotion, with an ending that leaves everyone smiling. We love sharing it at forest school because there's so much to learn from it: feelings, caring for our planet, and even what a bower is!

A hidden message: look closely at the treasures Bert collects. Many of them are things that shouldn't be in nature at all, like litter left behind by people. It's a gentle way to start talking about caring for our planet, which is what we're exploring in This month at Changing Leaf.

Did you know?

Bowerbirds are real! Julia Donaldson got the idea from a David Attenborough programme about how they collect treasures to decorate their bowers.

Questions to ask while reading

  • What is a bower? Why do you think Bert built one?
  • How do you think Bert felt when Nanette wasn't impressed?
  • Which of Bert's treasures do you think belong in nature, and which don't?
  • I wonder what the purple flower is called?
Take it outdoors: build your own bower with fallen sticks, and decorate it with treasures you find on the ground, like leaves, feathers, pine cones and petals. If you find any litter, pop it in the bin and wash your hands afterwards. That's one treasure Bert would be better off without!

More books we love

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

A family sets off through swishy grass, a splashy river and thick oozy mud in search of a bear.

Take it outdoors: go on your own bear hunt. What sounds do your feet make on grass, leaves and mud?
Stick Man

Stick Man

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Stick Man has an adventure as he tries to make his way home to the family tree.

Take it outdoors: find a stick, give it a face with leaves or mud, and make a whole stick family.
The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A clever mouse takes a stroll through the deep dark wood and outwits everyone he meets.

Take it outdoors: look for places where a mouse, fox, owl or snake might live, then build your own Gruffalo from sticks and leaves.
The Go-Away Bird

The Go-Away Bird

Julia Donaldson and Catherine Rayner

A bird who always tells others to go away discovers the value of friendship.

Take it outdoors: stop and listen to the birds. What might they be saying to each other? Our bird factfile can help.
Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak

Max sails away to where the wild things are, and becomes king of them all.

Take it outdoors: have your own wild rumpus, then make a wild thing crown from leaves and twigs.
Owl Babies

Owl Babies

Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

Three baby owls wake up in the night and wait for their mother to come home. A gentle, reassuring story.

Take it outdoors: look for holes in trees where an owl might live. Can you hoot like an owl?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle

A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the week, then changes into a beautiful butterfly.

Take it outdoors: hunt for leaves with holes nibbled in them. Who do you think has been eating them?
The Bad-Tempered Ladybird

The Bad-Tempered Ladybird

Eric Carle

A grumpy ladybird picks fights with bigger and bigger animals, and learns to be kind and share.

Take it outdoors: look for ladybirds on leaves and stems. How many spots can you count? Let it walk gently across your hand.
Sam Plants a Sunflower

Sam Plants a Sunflower

Kate Petty and Axel Scheffler

Sam plants a sunflower seed and watches it grow taller and taller.

Take it outdoors: plant your own sunflower seed and measure it each week. How tall will it grow?
Good Night, Forest

Good Night, Forest

Emily Johnson

A cosy bedtime book of stories and rhymes about the forest animals settling down to sleep.

Take it outdoors: go on an evening walk. Which animals do you think are getting ready for bed?
Little Bee

Little Bee

Autumn Publishing

A little bee buzzes from flower to flower.

Take it outdoors: find flowers and watch quietly. Which colours do the bees seem to like best?
Little Frog

Little Frog

Autumn Publishing

Follow a little frog on its journey from tiny tadpole to hopping frog.

Take it outdoors: visit a pond in spring and look for frogspawn or tadpoles. Remember to look, not touch.

Borrow them for free

You can find most of these books at your local library, and joining is free for children. Find your nearest one on the Essex Libraries website.

Come and share a story with us

We'd love to welcome you and your child outdoors. Register your interest, or ask about a free taster session.

Register your interest Explore our sessions