The Great Oak Tree

The Great Oak Tree is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces children to the life of an oak tree through story and discovery.

The story follows a curious little blackbird who wonders why an old oak tree appears to stand still, seemingly doing nothing. With the help of a wise owl, the bird is taken on a journey that reveals just how much is happening within the tree — including the syrupy sap rising through its roots to pollen carried being from its flowers. These ideas are explained in a gentle, story-led way that makes complex processes easy for children to understand. A lovely touch comes at the end, when the blackbird, no longer little, passes on what it has learned to a young woodpecker.

The end pages show different types of leaves with their names and the back of the book contains ten clear and engaging oak tree facts, making it an excellent resource for linking literacy with science. Using it in class can easily lead to observation work outdoors. Discussing a real oak tree, such as one in the school grounds, and watching both subtle and obvious changes across the seasons brings the book to life and helps children connect reading with the real world.