The Book of Australian Trees

Author: Inga Simpson

If you value, love and respect trees it makes sense that you will want to share those feelings with children. The Book of Australian Trees is an engaging book that discusses 15 iconic Aussie trees and explains the differences between them and the vital part they play in the earth’s ecosystems. From providing food and habitat for birds, insects and animals to why they are important to humans “What trees breath out, we breathe in”.

Trees are often undervalued in our society, particularly in our cities. Educating our children to learn the importance of trees and the stories they tell is crucial to ensure trees receive the love and respect they deserve.

“Australia has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world. They have changed over thousands of years, adapting to this continent’s deserts, mountains, and coasts.

When you first stand in a forest, the trees all seem the same. But if you look more closely, they are each a little different, like people.

This book is a love song to Australian trees, from the red Ironbark to the grey gum, the Moreton Bay fig to the Queensland bottle tree”.

I think this is a lovely book to gift to a child (and a good way to get them off their electronic devices for an hour) or to introduce to a school library or even for a garden centre to have ‘story time’ while parents are shopping for plants. I loved this book!

Author: Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining her PhD in creative writing. In 2011 she took part in the Queensland Writer’s Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel MR WIGG, in 2013. NEST, Inga’s second novel was published in 2014 before being longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Stella Prize and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. Inga’s third novel, the acclaimed ‘Where the Trees Where’ was published in 2016. Inga won the final Eric Rolls Prize for her nature writing and recently completed a second PhD exploring the history of Australian nature writers. Inga’s memoir about her love of Australian nature and life with trees ‘Understory was published in 2017.

Illustrator: Alicia Rogerson is a regional artist and illustrator that lives in Bridgetown, WA. She creates her artwork within her studio that sits on a hill beside a forest. Inspired by nature, objects and collections of things, her artworks are bold, inspiring and feminine. A recurring theme is weaving in elements from her dreams, childhood and the imagination.

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Hardback 9780734418531