Tag: Tree Thing

Tree Thing longlisted for Wainwright Prize Children’s Fiction 2026

Posted on July 15, 2026 by - Awards, Books

Tree Thing, illustrated by Matthew Taylor Wilson, has been longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Children’s Fiction 2026.

The Wainwright Prizes are the UK’s foremost awards celebrating nature, conservation, and environmental writing. Named in honour of Alfred Wainwright, writer, walker, and champion of the outdoors, the prizes were established in 2013 to spotlight the growing genre of nature writing and inspire readers to connect more deeply with the natural world.

I wrote Tree Thing to encourage children to wonder about the mystery of our natural world, in particular the deep and deepening mystery of trees and how they grow, communicate and change in order to renew and survive our changing world. It’s a privilege to see that recognised today, alongside a list of completely fabulous books for children on nature and conservation.

Tree Thing wins Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award!

Posted on July 7, 2026 by - Awards, Books

Tree Thing, illustrated by Matthew Taylor Wilson, has won the Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award 2025/6

Established and run by Wolverhampton Grammar School eight years ago, the Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award continues to celebrate the best children’s books published in the preceding twelve months. It remains an opportunity for children in Years 5-8 to read a range of fiction, and to nominate new books which they have enjoyed reading.

Both the longlist and shortlist of books are chosen by young people from schools across the region. The purpose of the Wolverhampton Children’s Book Award is not only to celebrate children’s literature but to promote reading for pleasure and to reinforce the importance of fiction.

Children from across Wolverhampton voted for the 2025/26 shortlisted titles, which encompassed a fantasy adventure inspired by Irish folklore; thrilling animal adventures inspired by a beloved children’s classic; a celebration of the warmth, memories and bonds shared between children and ageing relatives; and a celebration of bravery, hope and the marvels of the natural world. All four books have left an indelible emotional mark on, and brought joy and pleasure to, their readers.

The four shortlisted authors were  Sophie Kirtley for Swanfall; M. G. Leonard for The Adventures of Portly the Otter: Untold Tales from the Wind in the Willows; Onjali Q. Raúf for The Game I Will Never Forget; and Piers Torday for Tree Thing.