Where Once There Was a Wood

Reach for this book when your child notices a new construction site or wonders why the trees at the end of the street were cut down. It provides a gentle framework for processing the environmental changes happening in their own backyard. While it acknowledges the sadness of losing wild spaces to housing developments, it moves toward a sense of agency and hope. The book uses rhythmic, rhyming verse and vibrant paper-pulp illustrations to show the diverse creatures, from owls to salamanders, that lose their homes when land is cleared. It is perfectly pitched for preschoolers through early elementary students, balancing a realistic look at habitat loss with practical, empowering suggestions on how families can welcome wildlife back into their own gardens. It is a beautiful choice for fostering empathy for the small creatures in our immediate world.