ACHUKA

children's & YA recommendations on the go

You are here: Home / Archives for trees

Paper Chase by Julia Donaldson ill. Victoria Sandøy

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Sep 2026

Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 9780702348709

“The simple, circular tale is both a generous explanation of how humans consume natural resources and a subtle reminder that these are gifts to be respected. An author’s note emphasizes that ‘trees are precious’ and encourages youngsters to recycle this very book should it eventually fall apart. Perfectly satisfying.” KIRKUS

We didn’t list this when it was published in hardback last year. Not sure why but I can only imagine it was because we felt a new book from Julia Donaldson needed no extra recommending from us. Nevertheless, we’re pleased that the release of the paperback gives us the opportunity to correct that omission. As you can see below, the illustrations and the panelled layout are very pleasing. And Donaldson’s rhyming rhythms are as perfect as ever.

A captivating paper chase, and an unforgettable adventure…Two children meet under a tall tree. James has a book. Ginger has a paper plane. They become friends…but then they’re parted. Will they ever meet again? 

But this isn’t just James and Ginger’s story: it’s a paper chase!

Much-loved storyteller Julia Donaldson weaves the children’s tale of friendship into the amazing story of how paper is made.

With perfect, read-aloud rhymes and glowing illustrations by Victoria Sandøy, this is a story of friendship and adventure like no other.

Victoria Sandøy is a Norwegian illustrator based in Oslo. She studied illustration in the UK, graduating with a first-class degree from Falmouth University. You can follow her on

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Victoria Sandøy (@victoriasand)

 

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 18 May 2026

Publisher: Thames and Hudson
ISBN: 9781760764913

See also:
This Small Blue Dot

“A magical blend of ancient and modern storytelling, reminding us that all things are deeply connected in ways both known and unknown.” Shaun Tan
“A love song, a protest march and a reminder that we are all a forest. This beautiful book draws attention to the small, the vast, and the interconnections across our world.” Jazz Money, poet
“A beautiful, wholly original story of hope and the more-than-human world. Once I was a Giant is a stunning blend of language and imagery that sits in the mind long after reading. This is the work of a master picture book creator.” Zana Fraillon

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Rabble Books & Games (@rabblebooks)

When a picture-book maker runs out of stories, his pencil decides it’s time to tell her own… Here is the story of a green giant and a small wanderer who formed a friendship that spanned lifetimes..

Read a Q&A interview with the picture book’s creator here:
https://paperbarkwords.blog/2026/04/09/once-i-was-a-giant-by-zeno-sworder/

Follow Zeno Sworder on

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Zeno Sworder (@zenosworder)

The Big Green: Everyone Can Make a Difference by Ken Wilson-Max

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Jan 2026

Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
ISBN: 9781915659651

“The art is as bright and simple as the ideas expressed, and for readers inspired to make a difference in their own worlds, the author closes with directions for planting a tree. A bright promise, founded on hope and local support. ” KIRKUS
“Broad stroked, flatly applied primary and secondary colors rendered in pencil, gouache, and digital techniques establish the sandy surrounds in which the foregrounded figures undertake their efforts. Plainspoken second-person narration speeds through the process, from digging holes to watering the plants, ascribing feelings of purpose and pride to participants: ‘They all knew they were making a difference to their world.’ Closing spreads zoom forward as emerald smudges visualize the ‘bright future’ planted by the community and the ‘laughter… food… safety’ it offers. The result makes for a compelling call for greenification.” PublishersWeekly

Set in Mali, this powerful story is about the creation of The Great Green Wall of Africa, an exciting real-life project to bring trees, growth and regeneration across sub-Saharan Africa.

ACHUKA really loves the forthrightness of this picture book — bold perspectives, bold page design and bold print characterise the story from the opening end papers, the title page and then throughout the book (see image inserts). At the end there is some information about the real-world project as well as instructions on how to plant a tree.

One hot day at the edge of the desert, Maryam and Issa know something exciting is going to happen. Mum and Dad bring spades, Uncle Cedric brings lots of plants and seedlings, the neighbours bring water. Everyone works together, digging, planting and watering – and the children all help too. Then they wait… and hope…

You can follow Ken Wilson-Max on

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Ken Wilson-Max (@wilsonmaxken)

Tree Thing by Piers Torday ill. Matthew Taylor Wilson

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 23 Jan 2026

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Group
ISBN: 9781786541482

A fully illustrated hardback novel with a classic feel inspired by the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

“The Sycamore Gap tree, as it became known, was part of my childhood, part of my daily life (I was born and spent my early childhood very nearby), a seed planted in my growing imagination.
Then, in 2023, two men – for a dare, a laugh, who really knows or cares – came with a chainsaw and cut the tree down in the middle of the night.
It was headline news across the globe the following morning.
Why?
What did one tree matter, in a year when we lost an unimaginable 28.3 million hectares of forest, a quarter more than we had in 2022? Trees cut down legally to make paper for letters like this, or illegally logged, or lost to wildfires, never mind those taken by age and disease.
Perhaps because this famous, single tree standing on its own, by a remnant of a long-lost empire, stood in some way for all those other trees?
A symbol, not just a tree, but a tree…thing.
So I sat down and wrote a story. It’s about the gift of trees – and I mean trees in their varied and multiple splendour, not just the Sycamore Gap – and love, and life and the power within us all for change.”

When the dark rider on a horse arrives, Marlo’s bravery is the only thing standing between Tree Thing and certain destruction … 

Nothing grows in Marlo’s valley, and it’s a struggle to survive. But when his squirrel Rinti finds a glowing emerald acorn, it grows into a miraculous Tree Thing.

Tree Thing changes everything, bringing life and hope. And when the shadowy Rider arrives with an axe, Marlo needs all his bravery and ingenuity to stand between triumph and disaster.

You can follow Piers Torday on

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Piers Torday (@piers_torday)

You can follow Matthew Taylor Wilson, the Kentucky-based American illustrator, there too:

Leave the Trees, Please by Benjamin Zephaniah ill. Melissa Castrillon

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Apr 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

“A visual feature to pore over.” BookTrust

Follow a little boy’s friendship and journey with one tree, in this powerful and beautiful love letter to nature.

Benjamin Zephaniah’s  story poemshowing how trees offer us the perspective and connection to nature we crave in our daily lives. The final scene is an honest representation of the devastating effects of deforestation and urban development, encouraging all of us, everywhere, to ‘leave the trees, please’.

 

Superb artwork by Melissa Castrillon, an English and Columbian illustrator. 
Follow her on

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by (@melissa.castrillon)

Follow her Domestic course on Picturebook Illustration: Explore Color and Composition.

My Heart Was a Tree: Poems and stories to celebrate trees by Michael Morpurgo ill. Yuval Zommer

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Jun 2023

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

This collection of poems and stories is based on Michael Morpurgo’s passion for trees and what they mean to animals, humanity and the world around us. Inspired by the Ted Hughes poem  which gives this book its title, by the woods around his home, and by the mighty forests that support our life on Earth, this book is a celebration, and Michael’s love letter to trees.

There are stories from an ancient olive remembering Odysseus and Penelope, and from a eucalyptus that gave shelter to a koala; from a piece of driftwood that was made into a chair, and from a tiny sapling carried by a refugee as a reminder of home – these are poems and stories that will amuse, move and energise families and readers of all ages to appreciate the beauty and wonder of trees.

Yuval Zommer’s beautiful, detailed illustrations bring the natural world to life. Follow him on Instagram:

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Yuval Zommer (@yuvalzommer)

What’s Wild Outside Your Door?: Discovering Nature in the City by Peter Wohlleben tr. Jane Billinghurst

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 May 2023

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Peter Wohlleben is one of the world’s most notable foresters and a passionate advocate for tree conservation. He lives in Germany, where he founded a Forest Academy for education and advocacy, and teaches forest owners to manage ecologically conscious forests. His books are bestsellers in countries around the world.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees and Can You Hear the Trees Talking? comes a guide to finding nature in the city.  The book features STEM activities, fun facts, quizzes, photographs, and more.

You might think cities are the last place to find nature. But nature is actually right outside your door — you just need to know where to look. From the roofs of apartments to parking lots, cities are bursting with plants and animals. In this fascinating and interactive guide, readers will learn about how birds build their nests on bridges, where salamanders and toads hide, and how plants push through sidewalk cracks. The author shares engaging, science-based activities, including how to: Identify animal sounds; Raise a slime mould, Make your own compass, Collect plants to start your own herbarium; See shooting stars… and more The author also provides information on what animals thrive in cities and which could use our help, as well as tips for staying safe and having fun while embarking on a nature adventure.

Perfect for outdoor education, What’s Wild Outside Your Door? equips children in urban and suburban environments with the knowledge to engage with the natural world around them, and the confidence to go explore.

Follow Peter on Instagram:

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 21 Apr 2023
Times Children’s Book of the Week 8 Apr 2023

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“Look upon this work, ye mighty picture-book creators, and despair. A stunning accomplishment.” KIRKUS
“Becker’s books are a breath of fresh air in a shouty market that is so often overrun with crude digital printouts adorned with brainless verse that might as well have been written by ChatGPT.” The Times
“Spectacular…” Publishers Weekly
“Becker’s world-building feels cinematic thanks to his dramatic use of color and light. This picture book is sure to spark much discussion regarding humanity’s relationships with and responsibilities toward one another and the natural world.” Horn Book

A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind – and our impact on the natural world – from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form.
Borrowing from multiple cultures and architectural styles to craft astonishing new humanscapes, Aaron Becker tracks the evolution of our species — and its toll on the Earth — through the fates of a lone tree and an enduring river.

River and tree bear silent witness over time as people arrive to harness water, wind, and animals; devise technology and transportation; redirect rivers; and reshape the land. Timely and ultimately hopeful, this wordless epic invites readers to pore over spreads densely packed with visual drama. Marvel at intricate details — from holographic billboards to flying machines — and see our precious shared world through fresh eyes.

Follow on Instagram:

What Do You See When You Look At a Tree? by Emma Carlisle

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day Tue 24 Jan 2023

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Published in hardback last year and now available in paperback…

What do you see when you look at a tree? Just leaves and twigs and branches? Or do you see a real, living thing, that moves, and breathes and dances?

Immerse yourself in this gentle picture book that encourages us to explore our connection with nature. This wonderful picture book explores themes of empathy, mindfulness and personal growth through the eyes of a child. Beautifully written and illustrated, the book urges readers to reconnect with nature by asking questions that encourage critical thinking and reflection on their own development, as well as helping to establish a deeper appreciation for the environment and their place within it.

Produced in association with the Royal Botanical Gardens, KEW.

Follow on Instagram:

Adoette by Lydia Monks

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 29 Sep 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

A special picture book by Sheffield-based author-illustrator inspired by the cull of  trees in her city in the recent past. I have personal interest in the story, as tree surgeons were prevented from felling one such tree, very like the one on the cover of this book, when my grandson, a young schoolboy (then), refused to move away from it. It was directly outside his house and bedroom window.

Monks sensibly generalises her story. The street could be any town street in the UK. Listen to the interview below to discover more background to the book.

Adoette lived to be 100 years old. Just imagine all the things she saw! She lived on the same street all her life, but one day, people decided it would be best if she would go…

Award-winning and best-selling author-illustrator Lydia Monks tells the tale of the life of one tree, from being a young sapling to becoming a mighty oak,  the beating heart of the community she lived in, right up until the day they cut her down.

But there’s hope, when one little girl takes one of her acorns to plant in the community garden.

Follow Lydia on Instagram: