Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web

Have you ever wondered if trees can communicate with each other? Well, they can. Recently, scientists have discovered that forests communicate via underground networks of fungal threads known as the wood wide web.

In this picture book for young children, we meet a little fir tree sapling who is stretching her first leaves into a dark ancient forest full of huge trees. She feels very lonely and she can't reach any light or water. Her worried feeling sinks down to the tips of her roots, which, little does she know, are connected to the wood wide web.

The fungal network sends her message all over the forest: "Little tree needs help!" The message reaches mother trees who can't spare the energy from their own little ones, others who are sick and can't help but ultimately, one friendly paper birch tree helps her in her time of need. When the winter comes and the birch tree needs help in return, the strong, not-so-little fir tree with her evergreen leaves can come to the rescue.

Our little tree learns that she is part of a loving, caring community, filled with family and kind strangers of entirely different species. She learns all the ways that there are to care and be cared for, and most importantly, that she is not alone. After all, the forest is only as strong as its smallest tree.

Trees can communicate using up to 50 words and can send messages of distress, warn each other about incoming danger in the form of disease or pests, and learn which trees are their parents and which are their offspring. If a tree is in danger, others can send spare sugars and water via the network and even sabotage trees they see as a threat. And they do it all via the wood wide web.

Little Tree and the Wood Wide Web 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.