Trees tell stories about places. 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. Many have found clever ways of dealing with drought and fire.

Their leaves, flowers and seeds are food for birds, insects and mammals. Old trees have lots of hollows, which make good homes for possums, sugar gliders, birds and bees. But trees aren't just important for other animals, we need them too. What trees breathe out, we breathe in. They are a vital part of the Earth's ecosystems.

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.

The first book for children from one of Australia's most beloved authors.

About the Author

Inga Simpson (Author)
Inga Simpson began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers 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 Were, 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, will be published in June 2017.

Alicia Rogerson (Illustrator)
Alicia Rogerson is a regional artist and illustrator that lives in Bridgetown, Western Australia. 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 reoccurring theme is weaving in elements from her dreams, childhood and the imagination.

Book Information
ISBN 9780734418531
Author Inga Simpson
Format Hardback
Page Count 32
Imprint Lothian Books
Publisher Hachette Australia
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 316mm * 236mm * 10mm