THE FOREST IN THE TREE: HOW FUNGI SHAPE THE EARTH
The story of a tiny fungus and a baby cacao tree who work together to survive…
A 48-page hardback, children’s picture book (for 8 – 12 year olds...and curious minds of all ages)
Available from CSIRO Publishing: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7960/
(Free Teacher Notes available for download)
Written by Ailsa Wild
Illustrated by Aviva Reed
Created by Briony Barr & Dr Gregory Crocetti
(Scale Free Network: Art-Science Collaborative)
Co-published in Australia with CSIRO Publishing.
The Forest in the Tree is the fourth book in the Small Friends Books series: Stories of Partnership & Cooperation in Nature. The Small Friends Books series combines cutting-edge scientific research, rich narrative and beautiful illustrations to tell stories that describe symbiotic partnerships between microbes and larger life forms.
“The Forest in the Tree is an important and beautifully crafted book.”
- Jeannie Baker, Author & Illustrator
“A story that is poetic in its simplicity with beautiful, luminous illustrations that surprise and delight; inviting the reader to see the world with fresh eyes.”
- Nadja Slovak, Primary School Teacher & Librarian
Book Trailer Production Credits:
Cinematography by Sherwin Akbarzadeh
Animation by Benjamin Portas
Edited by Raechel Harding
Art Direction by Briony Barr
Narrated by Ailsa Wild
Soundtrack by Brainbeau
Mastering by Patrick Telfer
The creative development of the The Forest in the Tree was supported by Creative Victoria and the Australian Society for Microbiology.
This production of this book trailer was supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria's Sustaining Creative Workers program.
Both video and book were produced on Wurundjeri country (Melbourne, Australia).
Small Friends Books: www.smallfriendsbooks.com
Scale Free Network: www.scalefreenetwork.com.au
The Forest in the Tree is now available from CSIRO Publishing!
The Small Friends Books series tells stories about symbiotic partnerships between microorganisms and larger life forms.
Combining cutting-edge science with engaging narrative and beautiful illustrations, each book contains a story and a science section, with accompanying teacher notes.
Featuring microbes, molecules and mucus…this series nurtures an appreciation for our small friends – from bacteria and viruses, to archaea, fungi, protozoa and algae.
Each story is developed collaboratively by a core creative team, with support and feedback from scientists, teachers and students, with support from the Australian Society for Microbiology.
All four titles are co-published in Australia by Scale Free Network and CSIRO Publishing.
"Biological verité…but as gripping and exotic as a fairy tale" DORION SAGAN - Writer and Theorist