In a Nutshell: A nice story highlighting how trees communicate through an underground network.

In an ancient forest, a little Douglas fir is trying to grow up but her progress is quite slow as she is surrounded by giant trees and gets little water. When the little tree’s sadness leaves through her roots, the underground fungal network that interconnects the roots of all the trees in the forest spread an SOS alert: ‘Little Tree needs help.’ A paper birch who grows next to a stream responds immediately, sending sugars through her roots to the Douglas fir, who benefits from this act of generosity. The little fir wants to repay the paper birch, and soon, she gets a chance to do so.

I had been aware of the mycorrhizal network connecting tree roots and fungi in a complex subterranean network of communication, thanks to Peter Wohlleben’s ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’. As such, the content of this book was no surprise to me. But I am sure kids will find this information mindboggling. The idea that trees can communicate with each other and even assist each other when needed can make us look at them in a whole new way. Such books are perfect in demonstrating how trees also have awareness.

There are plenty of things to recommend this book:
🌳 The lovely story about the two trees.
🌳 The scientific information about the Wood Wide Web presented in simple terms.
🌳 The message about helping those in need and also about being grateful for favours received and returning the favour when we can.
🌳 The detailed glossary that provides a simple meaning of all the difficult tree-related terms in the book.
🌳 The final note that highlights Professor Suzanne Simard’s discovery of the arboreal WWW.

Of course, the Wood Wide Web as demonstrated in this book is at a very simplistic level as it covers only the communicated need for help and not the other kinds of communication trees indulge in such as alerting each other about dangers. But it should serve the right reading group well, and in a way that they might get encouraged to explore more about tree talks.

The colour pencil illustrations are sweet and work well for the story, but a part of me found the effect of the illustrations quite subdued. I want more vibrant colours.

In short, little nature lovers are sure to find this book a delight. Definitely recommended to classrooms as it offers several learning opportunities. The target age group is 3-7 years.

4.25 stars

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

The author cleverly uses a sweet, fictionalized tale of a little, lonely fir tree sapling to introduce children to the concept of the Wood Wide Web, a way that trees can communicate, and even help one another through their root systems. It's a fascinating look at all the activity that is occurring under our feet, and a beautiful way to teach youngsters to appreciate nature. The artwork by Hannah Abbo is truly lovely, and really adds to the enjoyment of the text.

A perfect choice for libraries or your own bookshelf.

This is a really amazing children's book, which shows how trees communicate with each other and help each other through their network.

My daughter and I absolutely loved this book so much. I wish that all children in the world could read this book, as it is so wonderful, interesting and informative. I love trees, and I find it fascinating how they work and communicate with each other, helping each other through tough times like a real family. I highly recommend this book!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Amazing! 🌲 The science in this is real and I'm just blown away! What an incredible discovery. Beautiful illustrations, beautiful story. Trees are magnificent 🌳..oh, and the fungi too! 🍄

This picture book is wonderful! It explains how the mycorrhizal network in the forest works suitable for little children through a kind story of a little fir tree. The illustrations are amazing and beautiful and cute but also accurate. I am familiar with the basic concept of how the wood wide web works but still tears welled up in my eyes all throughout the book thanks to the wonderful implementation of the theme.

I think this is a very important book and a perfect way to introduce children to one of the most wonderful phenomena of nature.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.

What a great way to teach kids a bit about the interconnected nature of, ah, nature. "Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web" tells the story of one young tree struggling to put down its roots in a big forest—and the other trees that come to its aid through a network of woods and fungus. ('The Wood Wide Web' is wonderfully punny, but the book tells us that it was actually coined by Suzanne Simard, who is—I Googled—a professor of forest and conservation sciences at UBC.)

The illustrations are soothing and eye-catching, somehow managing to be both consistent and varied. I love the little faces in the trees, but my favorite spread by far is the one where Little Tree is sad at night; the colors in the leaves are really gorgeous.

Adults reading to children—get out your reading glasses, because the text is small. Worth it for the combination of story and science, though!

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This was very very cute and I'm so happy that the author went with the Wood Wide web! The whole concept of it is incredible, and a childrens book based on that is exactly what I would read to my own kids.
I found a few parts a little strangely worded, but that might just be on me as I don't usually read childrens books.
Overall though, I would highly recommend this one to any parent out there wanting to explain and immerse their kids with forests and nature.

Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web is the real story of how trees communicate to each other and share resources through and underground network grown between them. It's the perfect read-aloud book to teach children about this concept of symbiotic relationships between trees. The story is well told, with artistic illustrations and sweet conversation bubbles. This is a perfect addition for any librarian or garden lover.

So cute and informative! Perfect for classroom projects. I'm definitely getting it for my students. My collection about trees will grow this year!

This book has set a new bar for children's nature books.

Exploring the fungal network beneath the forest and how trees communicate with each, sending distress signals through the wood wide web.

Inspired by the incredible Suzanne Simard, this book is the most beautiful, educational children's nature book I have come across. It actually made me a bit emotional, knowing that kids can now grow up reading about one of the most important systems on our planet.

It is a gorgeously illustrated story of Little Tree who is struggling to grow in a crowded forest. Until the fungal network beneath it send his distress signals to all the other trees in the forest, letting them know Little Tree needs help.

It is a wonderfully executed, accessible resource introducing children to this hidden world beneath our feet.

Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Publishing for this DRC

What a creative, lovely book expressing the importance of interconnectedness! I loved both the story and the illustrations. Thanks #NetGalley

I would first like to say, the illustration is absolutely stunning. Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web is an informative and educational book that’s easy to digest for children. It’s so interesting to learn how trees communicate amongst themselves and other plants/moss in their network. It’s cute, resourceful, and a valuable tool for raising environmental awareness. This just charmed my nature loving self. I hope it finds it’s way into so many school libraries.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publish for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are looking for a book that is educational, but also very detailed with his pictures, and I would definitely be picking this book up. I would recommend this book for upper elementary and on. As a teacher, I would definitely use this for my third graders because just the way, it brings about the subject as well as the pictures. I think it would be able to really help them and understanding the concept.

We're all interconnected, even trees. Although I've actually read a few things on this topic, it was interested to see this idea being set forth for children in such an interesting, easy to understant way. I couldn't help glancing out my own window and wondering what my spruce and birch trees might be talking about, so to speak, as I sat all nice and cozy in my warm home. I know I shed a tear or two when storm damage took down one of my majestic spruce trees, so I pondered what messages it may have been sending to its fellow trees as it ended its life.

I won't try to explain how trees communicate and collaborate since the author, a professor of Forest Ecology in Canada, does such an excellent job making it understandable to all ages. Well, okay, maybe with adult assistance for younger readers but you get my drift. Bottom line, a tree-in-need puts out a call through the web. No, not the World Wide web. The Wood Wide Web. It's all rather fascinating, actually.

More importantly, while teaching how trees communicate and help each other, Brownridge subtly sends the message of the importance of human interaction and collaboration. It's even noted that when Little Tree was finally healthy and able, she returned the favor Paper Birch did for her. It's all told with lovely illustrations, with what I'd dub saturated colors, darker than I'm used to in most children's books, showing the world in what appears to be the depths of a forest as well as the intertwined roots, ie web below.

There should be ample learning moments inspired by the illustrations alone. How are the trees shown alike and different? What sounds might you hear in the forest? What animals might live there? What animals/things do you spy as you look at the pictures....and many more. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #IvyKids for taking me for a walk in the forest. We really are never alone, a good thing to remember.

This picture book puts a fun perspective on how to care about others and how to be cared for. The little tree learns that when others help you that you grow and that you can also help others grow. The illustrations are fun and colorful for young children. Great read to help teach children how to love, care and how to be cared for. Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group-Ivy Kids, and Lucy Brownridge for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and is my own opinion.
#netgalley, #littletreeandthewoodwideweb, #quartopublishinggroup-ivykids, #lucybrownridge, #love, #care

A scientific expose on the Douglas Fir tree, revealing all about its stages from seedling to the tree. It tells of the first few years it struggles to survive and what constitutes its survival. An educative book that teaches kids all about trees and their survival.

A charming picture book highlighting how interconnected the natural world is! Introducing young readers to the concept of symbiosis through the relationship between trees in a forest and the mycorrhizal network! Beautifully illustrated by Hannah Abbo!

I received ARC of “Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web” from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing/Ivy Kids in exchange for an honest review.

This picture book, written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Hannah Abbo, is really educational. The author based the idea for this book on Dr. Suzanne Simard’s discovery of the Wood Wide Web. As a Professor of Forest Ecology in Canada and author of “Finding the Mother Tree,” Simard discovered that mycorrhizal fungus in forests, and particularly among trees like the Douglas Fir and the Paper Birch, were able to communicate and share resources like sugar energy and water

Brownridge is able to communicate this very exciting (and also very difficult concept) to small children through the use of language that is easy for them to comprehend. Abbo did a fantastic job and was likewise able to convey important messages to children via her art. For example, when Little Tree (an immature Douglas Fir) needed both light and water, she sent out a distress signal through the fungi and the artist made this signal appear as tears.

The author and artist duo clearly show how interspecies cooperation helps forests to flourish. However, this story can also be used to inspire kids (and adults!) to help others in times of need. In addition to the text, the author did an excellent job of including a glossary and also an ‘Inspired by the True Story’ section at the end of the book so that young readers can learn more about the subject.

This well-written and beautifully illustrated picture book will likely find its way onto numerous library shelves and, hopefully, on the personal bookshelves of children around the world. I highly recommend this book to all children and especially to those kids who are highly inquisitive about the natural world.

This is a beautifully drawn book that combines cute characters with environmental lessons. My little nature lover enjoyed thinking about how trees are alive beyond what she already knew, thinking of them communicating was different for her.

This lovely little picturebook tells a story from the perspective of a young fir tree, and uses its sweet story to teach children about the ways a forest is interconnected through a web of fungus. The imagery is artful and the story both poignant and educational.

Thank you Lucy Brownridge, NetGalley, and Quarto Publishing Group – Ivy Kids, Ivy Kids Eco for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.