Confession #982: Some of my favourite childhood memories aren’t grand adventures or elaborate holidays—they’re the simple moments spent outside. Lying in the grass, watching clouds shift into dragons. Collecting tiny treasures—smooth pebbles, curled-up leaves, the occasional snail who was gently (but insistently) rehomed to a shoebox. Nature was my playground, my quiet place, my teacher.

Now, as a parent and a writer, I want my children to have that same deep-rooted connection with the world outside our doors. And I want the stories they read—the ones that shape their imaginations—to reflect it.

Why Nature Belongs in Children’s Books

Children are naturally drawn to nature. It sparks curiosity, invites exploration, and reminds them (and us) to slow down. But in a world where screens glow brighter than the stars outside our windows, our kids need stories that nudge them back towards the wild and wonderful world waiting beyond the back door.

Stories set in nature do more than just entertain. They teach kids to notice. To appreciate. To wonder. They show them that magic doesn’t just exist in fairy tales—it’s in the way the wind shakes the trees, in the ripples on a pond, in the endless chorus of cicadas on a summer evening.

The Power of Storytelling (and a Well-Loved Picture Book)

Think about the books that stayed with you from childhood. Chances are, a few of them were set in the natural world. Maybe it was Possum Magic, with its gentle wanderings across Australia. Or Where the Forest Meets the Sea, with its lush illustrations capturing the quiet majesty of the Daintree. These books didn’t just tell stories—they built worlds. And they made us care about them.

When we read stories about nature, we build emotional connections to it. And for children, those connections often become the foundation for a lifelong love of the environment. A child who reads about a tiny wombat finding shelter in a burrow might grow up to be an adult who cares deeply about conservation. A little one who delights in a story about a garden might want to plant seeds of their own. Books plant ideas, after all.

Weaving Nature into My Own Stories

When I started writing Grateful, the first book in my Blooming Hearts series, I knew nature had to be more than just a backdrop. It had to be a character in its own right. Every leaf, every feather, every ripple in the water—I wanted them to be felt. To matter. Because when children see the beauty of nature in a story, they start looking for it in their own lives.

And that’s true for the illustrations, too. When I’m designing each page, I think about textures, colours, movement—the way light filters through trees, the way flowers lean towards the sun. I want my illustrations to feel alive, like you could step into the page and hear the rustle of leaves beneath your feet.

Bringing Nature into Everyday Life (Without Packing for a Three-Day Hike)

Not every family has the time (or patience) for grand outdoor adventures, and that’s okay. The beauty of nature is that it’s everywhere—it’s just about noticing it. Here are some simple ways to bring a little more nature into your child’s everyday life:

• Read Books That Celebrate the Outdoors – Choose stories that feature animals, gardens, oceans, and forests. Bonus points if they’re Australian books that connect kids with their own backyard.

• Collect Little Treasures – Start a nature table with found objects—leaves, feathers, seed pods. Let your child marvel at the details.

• Create Outside – Bring sketchbooks to the park. Draw the clouds. Paint with mud. Make leaf rubbings. Let nature be both inspiration and art supply.

• Tell Your Own Stories – Sit under a tree and make up tales about the ants marching past. Imagine what the wind is whispering to the trees. Let the outdoors be the setting for your child’s imagination to run wild.

A Gentle Reminder (For Us Grown-Ups Too)

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, to feel like there’s no time for slow walks, for pausing to admire a beetle, for lying in the grass just because. But maybe that’s exactly why we need stories grounded in nature—not just for our children, but for ourselves.

Because when we read about nature, we remember to step into it. To breathe a little deeper. To notice the small wonders around us.

And isn’t that the kind of childhood we want for our kids? One where magic isn’t just in books, but in the world around them?

If you’re looking for a picture book that brings a little of that magic home, Grateful is available now, with more Blooming Hearts stories on the way. Let’s raise children who see the beauty in the world—and grow up knowing they’re a part of it.

Explore Grateful and my upcoming books here.

From my hands to your heart and home. Handmade slowly, intentionally, wholeheartedly.

Until next time,
Your friendly homebody author from Murrumbateman.