2026 National Children's Gardening Week runs from 23 to 31 May — a wonderful annual celebration of getting children outside, hands in the soil, and connected to the natural world.
And it got us thinking: what better way to spark that curiosity than with a great book?
Because here's the thing — you don't need a sprawling garden to grow something magical with a child. A windowsill, a pot, a handful of compost and a seed is all it takes. The real starting point is imagination. And that's where books come in.
The Book That Starts It All
Some of our favourite titles in our Planting Fond Memories & Growing Imaginations collection are practically instruction manuals disguised as stories.
Sam Plants a Sunflower (ages 2–5), illustrated by the beloved Axel Scheffler (yes, the Gruffalo man), follows Sam as he grows sunflowers with his friends Worm and Ladybird.
Lift-the-flap pages show what's happening underground — roots stretching, seeds swelling — and a sunflower pop-up at the end is genuinely delightful. Read it once and a child will want to plant a sunflower before the week is out.
Ruby Plants a Radish (suggested 2–5) and Ben Plants a Butterfly Garden (ages 2–5), both from the same National Trust series, follow the same winning formula — simple, joyful, and rooted in real growing knowledge.
Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables a child can try, which makes Ruby's story a brilliant companion to an actual pot on the kitchen windowsill.
For the Child Who Wants to Make a Difference
The Girl Who Planted Trees (suggested 2–5) is something a little different — lyrical, empowering, and quietly powerful. Inspired by Jean Giono's classic, it tells the story of a little girl who inspires her whole village to plant a forest.
It carries the message that no one is too small to make a difference, and it comes with a free Stories Aloud audio recording via QR code — perfect for the car or bedtime.
Tilly Plants a Tree (suggested 2–5), also illustrated by Axel Scheffler, takes a more hands-on approach — Tilly learns about trees and grows her own oak with Grandma's help. A lovely one to read together before heading out to find acorns or visit a woodland.
Beyond the Garden — Nature All Around
Not every child has outdoor space, but every child can be a nature spotter. Our National Trust sticker books — covering minibeasts, British birds, butterflies, and farm animals — are brilliant for building that sense of wonder about the living world just outside the window. Pair the Press Out & Learn: Butterfly Skies (suggested 5–7) book with a butterfly garden visit and you've got an afternoon sorted.
A Simple Idea for the Week
Pick one book. Read it together.
Then do the thing it talks about — plant a seed, press out a butterfly, go on a mini-beast hunt in the garden or local park. It doesn't need to be complicated or perfect. The muddy hands and the wondering questions are the whole point.
Browse our FULL Planting Fond Memories & Growing Imaginations collection and find the book that gets your child into growing - suggested ages 2-12 🌱
Find out more about National Children's Gardening Week and discover events near you at www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk