Down in the Forest

This title was first published in New Zealand in 2004 and has since become a firm favourite among parents of young children, being reprinted in 2020. It is based on a traditional rhyme or song from 1870, “Over in the Meadow” by American woman Olive Wadsworth who was fascinated by nature and keen to connect children to their natural environment.

This latest edition of the book is in a different format to its predecessors, being reduced to a quarto size, with a slightly different cover and smaller font size but otherwise the same.

Down in the Forest is primarily a counting book, but it brings in the warmth of family and the beauty of nature with the wonderfully realistic illustrations of Jenny Cooper. It is a very simple concept which has been copied throughout the world but in this case executed perfectly to make a real Kiwi classic.

There is also a companion book “Out in the Moana” by Morrison and Cooper (again based on an older rhyme, “Out in the Ocean”), which is just as engaging. Both these books are available in Te Reo Māori.