Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web by Lucy Brownridge illustrated by Hannah Abbo

This is a powerful book, that teaches children about a hugely important discovery in contemporary science, about a secret world beneath our feet and most importantly, about the strength that comes with asking for help, and discovering that you are not alone.  Quarto

Children will likely discover hidden treasures each time they read the book—from worms to burrowing moles to buried bones—and these discoveries can expand learning with ecological conversations about subterranean dwellers and decomposers. Importantly, this story calls our attention to organisms often overlooked in our environment—plants and fungi.

The Wood Wide Web is a network made from strands, or hyphae of fungus. It exists under the forest floor and connects a tree's roots to other trees in the forest. The network enables trees to share all sorts of resources and signals with each other.

This book was the 2024 winner of the Giverny Award. 

The Giverny Award is an annual children's science picture book award established in 1998 by Dr. Jim Wandersee and Dr. Elisabeth E. Schussler who was at that time affiliated with the 15º Laboratory at Louisiana State University.

1. This singular annual award is bestowed to the author and to the illustrator of the chosen book.
2. The book must be a children's science picture book written in the English language and published within five years of the award date. These books typically have ~ 32 pages and serve children between ages 4-8.
3. The book must teach its young reader at least one important scientific principle well, or encourage the reader toward specific science-related attitudes, pursuits, or inquiries.
4. The book's artwork, illustrations, photographs, or graphics must work in harmony with the text to tell an important story well.
5. The text must have a story with a plot and characters.
6. All other factors being equal, books about plants and/or plant science or biology will have preference. However, books on geobiology topics are also considered and have been chosen.
7. A book must be published in the English language to be eligible, but the award is international in scope.

Read the School Library Journal review. And here is the Kirkus review. 

Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web is a nonfiction book [582.16] told in the form of a narrative. It is so important to add books like this to your library collection both as a book for teachers to use but also as a terrific way to share an interesting aspect of nature with young children. I first heard about this phenomenon though, in a fiction story - Mikki and Me and the Out of Tune tree - and then I went on to find other story books linked with this topic:

Mikki and me and the Out-of-tune tree

Apple and Magnolia

Little Sap

Previous winners of the Giverny Award:

1998   Common Ground Molly Bang

1999   Sam Plants a Sunflower Kate Petty & Axel Scheffler

2000   A Log's Life Wendy Pfeffer & Robin Brickman

2001   Henry Hikes to Fitchburg D.B. Johnson

2002   Rare Treasure Don Brown

2003   The Hidden Forest Jeannie Baker

2004   Lonesome George Francine Jacobs & Jean Cassels

2005   Squirrel and John Muir Emily Arnold McCully

2006   Daniel and His Walking Stick Wendy McCormick & Constance R. Bergum

2007   The Snail and the Whale Julia Donaldon & Axel Scheffler

2008   The Prince of Butterflies Bruce Covile & John Clapp

2009   Forest Bright/Forest Night Jennifer Ward & Jamichael Henterly 

2010   Redwoods Jason Chin

2011   A Tree for Emmy Mary Ann Rodman & Tatjana Mai-Wyss

2012   Eliza's Cherry Trees Andrea Zimmerman & Ju-Hong Chen

2013   Green Laura Vaccaro Seeger

2014   Maple Lori Nichols

2015   Up in the Garden down in the dirt, Kate Messner & Christopher Silas Neal

2016   Frog in the House David Mather & Stephanie Mirocha   

2017   The Tree Lady H. Joseph Hopkins & Jill McElmurry 

2018   Bat Count: A Citizen Science Story Anna Forrester & Susan Detwiler 

2019   Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 Helaine Becker    

2020   They All Saw A Cat Brendan Wenzel

2021   Little Turtle and the Changing Sea Becky Davies & Jennie Poh  

2022   Old Rock (is not boring) Deb Pilutti

2023   The River that Wolves Moved Mary Kay Carson & David Hohn

2024   Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web Lucy Brownridge & Hannah Abbo

Green

Old Rock (is not boring)

Apple and Magnolia by Laura Gehl illustrated by Patricia Metola

"Nana said unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all. 

And deep down in her heart, Britta knew it was true."

Britta's two favourite trees are the apple tree and the magnolia in her garden. Britta is sure these two trees are best friends. 

Her father and sister think this is just a silly idea. Luckily Britta has a wise grandmother. One day magnolia starts to look unwell with patchy bark and brown leaves. Britta makes a plan to save the tree but this is not at all the plan you might anticipate.

"She tied a string with two cups so that Apple could hear Magnolia's sighs, and Magnolia could hear Apple's sweet whistling songs. And she wrapped a long scarf between the two trees so they could feel each other's warmth through the cold winter months."

She also hung lights between the two trees so they could see each other on dark nights. Over time the trees appeared to be moving closer together. Britta is a scientist so she tests this theory by taking daily measurements. In Spring blossoms appear on the apple tree. Then suddenly a blossom appears on the Magnolia. 

Image source: RHS UK

"Trees really can help one another. Trees can send nutrients to each other through a network of fungi in the soil. Trees can send warning signals about environmental change via the same network. Trees can also release a gas into the air to warn other trees of attach by animals or insects." (Author note)

This is a very special book and one that would be a very worthwhile addition to your school library. Check out my Pinterest of Apples in Picture books. If you read the list of labels for this post you can see so many themes here - communication, hope, perseverance, trust, problem solving and the importance of optimism. 

With glowing illustrations from illustrator Patricia Metola, this gentle story explores the mystery of trees, the magic of nature, and one girl’s hope, determination and nurturing spirit. Walker Books UK

What’s not to love about this endearing and effervescent picture book? Kirkus Star review

Here is the web site for Laura Gehl. I would like to also see this book illustrated by Patricia Metola who lives in Spain.

Companion reads to follow Apple and Magnolia:

Mikki me and the Out-of-tune Tree

Little Sap