Tree Hole Homes by Melissa Stewart illustrated by Amy Hevron

The subtitle of this book is 'Daytime dens and Nighttime Nooks'

Publisher blurb: Imagine this: one day you’re walking through the woods and spot a tree hole large enough to slip inside. So you do. And you wonder, what kind of creature lived here? In this science and nature-themed picture book, nonfiction expert Melissa Stewart and illustrator Amy Hevron offer up an inviting peek into the secret world of tree hole dwellers. From black bears to tree frogs and bobcats, it’s surprising just who you’ll find! A main text gives general information about tree holes (“a treehole can be a daytime den”) and a secondary text provides more detail. This inviting look at trees, tree holes, and fascinating animals is sure to be a classroom and kid favorite.

Who lives in the hollow of a tree? You might think of the owl, squirrel, a bat, sugar glider or a bird but I imagine you don't know about these:

• Liberian Tree Hole Crab
• Black Spiny-tailed iguana
• Fisher
• Deer Mouse
• Black Capped Chickadee (bird)
• Raccoon
• Brown Bear

I think the Deer Mouse surprised me the most because I didn't know they were real! The main character of Poppy and the sequels by Avi is a deer mouse - I thought this was just a made up creature. Thanks to this fabulous book I now know they are tiny creatures 8-10cm, living in woodlands, grasslands and deserts in North America. They only live for about a year and the like to eat insects, seeds, fruits, fungi and nuts.

I also did not know much about the fisher which is an animal that looks a little like a cat. They are 90-120cm and live in the forests of North America and Canada. They live up to ten years and eat snowshoe hares, porcupines, squirrels, mice and birds.

Tree Hole Homes was published in 2022. It comes from the US but it does contain one Australian animal - the sugar glider which lives in Eastern Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. This is a book that is sure to spark curiosity in your young reading companion or young library user. Melissa Stewart has a wealth of wonderful non fiction books on her webpage. Exploring tree hollows could be a terrific science topic or mini theme in your library. Perhaps you might be lucky and find a tree with a hollow in your own area or school playground. 

Companion books:

Life in a Hollow