Wonderfully Wild: Rewilding a School and Community

K-Gr 2–Generations of students have fallen in love with the schoolyard willow tree. When a fierce storm arises that snaps the tree’s trunk, everyone’s hearts are broken. One industrious class decides to find a way to preserve the memory of the willow, working through the winter to realize this dream. While the process is not always easy, the lessons the children learn improve the landscape of both their school and their community. This lovely picture book celebrates the magic that can happen when a human-constructed space is permitted to return to its natural state. Based on true events, the narrative incorporates limited word choice in a poetic structure that enhances the richness of the story without overburdening the book with text. Expressive illustrations form the core of the book, featuring children with a range of skin tones and abilities, which allows readers of many backgrounds to see themselves within the pages of the story. Though fictional, the book incorporates detailed images that showcase the progress of a tree’s growth, providing a STEM component within the overarching narrative plot. Back matter offers readers a wealth of additional information about what rewilding is and how children can collaborate with adults in their lives to create spaces in their own communities.