Our favourite books, tips & links...
We are constantly coming across brilliant books, tips, links and resources that inform and inspire our outdoor storying obsession...and we want to share them with you!
If you see anything missing - let us know!
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
For all who love words and wild!
If you need inspiration when it comes to buying your next book - look no further! Thank you to everyone who sent in recommendations and helped us put it together!
Little ones (Up to 7 years)
Nature Activity Book by Usborne Books
Winter Sleep by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss
'Uh Oh', Said Flo by Uh Oh Books
Snow Leopard by Justin Anderson
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty
Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley
Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem
The Lost Words and Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (all ages!)
The Tin Forest by Helen Ward
Greta and the Giants by by Zoë Tucker and Zoe Persico
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapa Adeala
For You are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane and Ana Juan
Bigger ones
Wild Wood by Colin Meloy
The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethall
October, October by Katya Balen
Sky Dancer by Gill Lewis
Here In The Real World by Sara Pennypacker
A Year Of Nature Poems by Joseph Coehlo
The Wilderness Wars by Julia Green
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright poetry collection Ed. by Fiona Waters illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree Ed. by Fiona Waters & illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Milton the Mighty by Emma Read
Rewild Yourself: 23 Spellbinding Ways To Make Nature More Visible by Simon Barnes.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Grey Men by B.B
The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Andersen
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Nosy Crow & The National Trust also have a whole series of non-fiction books on enjoying nature if you look on their website!
Great pages on our website to visit:
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Check out our blog for lots of tips, links and suggestions for story-inspired activities!
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Have you had a go at Fairytrails or our Valentine Ramble? Both excellent ways to get out adventuring with story!
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Have you listened to our podcasts? All are focused on story and the outdoors!
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Are you a nursery, primary or secondary school setting looking for Interactive Storytelling Workshops or CPD training for your educators?
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Are you a company looking for a new and unique way to reach out to your staff and support your families in feeling better connected? Click here to check out all the things we do and to get in touch!
Grownups and older readers
Common Ground by Rob Cowen
Strands by Jean Sprackland
Gossip From The Forest by Sara Maitland.
The Natural Storyteller: Wildlife Tales for Telling by Georgiana Keable
Woodland Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland by Lisa Schneidau
Botanical Folk Tales by Lisa Schneidau
Dancing with Trees: Eco-Tales from the British Isles (Folk Tales) by Galbraith
Kafka on the Shore by Murakami
The Book of Trespass by Nick Hayes
The Wild Places by Robert MacFarlane
Foxfire, Wolfskin and other stories of Shapeshifting Women by Sharon Blackie
The Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley
Ogham Sketchbook: A diary of Tree Lore and Spiritual Growth by Karen Cater and Colin Cater
Britain's Trees: A Treasury of Traditions, Superstitions, Remedies and Literature by Jo Woolf
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie
Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold ed by Carolyne Larrington
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
TEACHING RESOURCES
Creative storytelling activities for Early Years
www.theimaginationtree.com/12-creative-storytelling-activities/
Breaking gender boundaries
www.thealphaparent.com/feminist-childrens-books-part-one/
www.thealphaparent.com/feminist-childrens-books-part-two/
www.thealphaparent.com/feminist-childrens-books-part-three/
Tales for travelling
www.storynory.com (Free audio stories great for travelling about with kids in the car!)
Breaking racial boundaries
www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/oct/13/50-best-culturally-diverse-childrens-books
www.goodreads.com/book/show/25377078-for-the-right-to-learn
Book recommendation sites
www.booktrust.org.uk/books/100-best-books/
www.tutorful.co.uk/blog/the-90-best-children-s-books-of-2017
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Further reading on the Arthurian Legends (and other classic stories)
The Tales of King Arthur' by Usborne Classics Retold provided me with the stories in a nutshell, and the 'Usborne Illustrated Tales of King Arthur' is also a beautiful book - I've popped the links below. A huge range of stories are actually available in the 'Retold' series from Jason and the Argonauts to the Canterbury Tales!
The more confident reader might like to try out Michael Morpurgo's 'Arthur: High King of Britain' and graphic novel enthusiasts might also like 'The Adventures of King Arthur' (Usborne Graphic Legends)
Out littlest knights yesterday might be interested in the 'Muppet King Arthur' - a graphic novel that recounts the fantastic quest of King Arthur and his Muppets of the Round Table!
Don't feel left out though grown-ups! Bernard Cornwall has written a trilogy based on Arthur, and I've just come across 'Queen of Camelot' which tells the Arthurian myths from the perspective of Guinevere - apparently compelling and well written...so I'm going to give it a try!
Online stories
www.thewildofthewords.co.uk/online
www.shortkidstories.com/story/
Supporting young readers and writers
Music to tell tales to...
https://brunuhville.bandcamp.com/
A list of free printable books for children or people who are learning to read English:
(Contributed very kindly by Elouise Hoover!)
https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/learn-english-free-books/.
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