Secret Life of the Forest: Trees, Animals, and Fungi

Children’s book author Jana Sedlackova enjoys, among other things, singing in a choir and decorating gingerbread during Christmas. Her love for fairytales fuels her conviction that those who don’t read them are still searching for the perfect one. She graduated from the School of Textile Design and Management in Brno, Czech Republic.Katarina Kratochvilova creates editorial illustrations for magazine covers, children’s books, and games, using expressive lines and a combination of analog and digital media. Her work focuses mainly on children’s and young adult illustrations, as well as Japanese culture. In 2022, her comic book Used Kimono Store won a bronze Japan Manga Award. She is based in Prague.

Selected for The Children’s Book Council’s July 2024 “Hot Off The Press” Reading List"The Secret Life of the Forest: Trees, Animals, and Fungi is an especially engaging and educational introduction for children ages of 6 - 9 to exploring the intricate web of relationships that sustains a thriving forest. This introduction to ecology will spark curiosity and environmental awareness, presenting fascinating facts that turn learning into an enjoyable experience. The Secret Life of the Forest: Trees, Animals, and Fungi is especially designed for inquisitive young minds and nature enthusiasts alike as it nurtures a profound love for the natural world." —Midwest Book Review-Children's Bookwatch"The Secret Life of the Forest: Trees, Animals, and Fungi is a highly educational and fun read. Packed with so much information, there is plenty to read about! Broken down into 19 sections, readers will learn about the life cycle of a tree, different pollinators, levels of the forest, and so much more! Through-out the book, there are little "experiments" kids can partake in, and I encourage adults to as well. A lot of them are eye opening! I love the illustrations. They highly detailed and absolutely beautiful." —Cherokee Crum, YA Books Central"This cute, informative nonfiction book is full of valuable information about forest ecosystems. Even adult readers will learn something new in this fascinating book. The illustrations are colorful, fun, and very informative. Just paging through the book invites further exploration, like the page that shows a fungi plumber “re-establishing the connection” between two tree roots with a wrench and another tree paying for the service with sugar. This is a great book for early research about forest ecosystems." —Laura Gardner, Youth Services Book Review"The illustrations are very attractive; they're cute, detailed cartoons with occasional little humorous word bubbles. Verdict: I really liked the illustrations and I'm strongly tempted to take the book apart and use some of the diagrams and art for activities. Forestry/habitat books are not hugely popular with my audience and this would be an additional purchase or resource, best for someone who is familiar with the subject." —Flying Off My Bookshelf"Each of the 19 sections is filled with several text blocks as well as many supporting illustrations and good questions to inspire readers to do more research. The illustrations are fun, but realistic enough and filled with good details to impart excellent information. The writing is conversational and accessible for young readers while imparting a great deal of good scientific facts. Youngsters will read this one over and over to glean all the great information. It is a winner." —Rosi Hollinbeck, San Francisco Book Review

• Where do seeds come from?Trees – the lungs of the planetHow do trees make friends with each other?Protection against the windForests on the moveWhat’s it like to have a fungus as a neighbor?How do trees get along with ants?Oh, the parasites!Oh, the (animal) parasites!The secret kingdom beneath the tree rootsWhy do leaves fall in autumn?How wolves saved the forestNot all forests are the same: Types of forestThe forest water cycleTropical rainforestsDoes fire belong in a forest?Who lives in the swamp?Why do we need wood?Visiting the forest