The woodland library: A book to take home
Every child at Footprints has their own library card. At the end of their last session each week they choose one book from the woodland library, take it home for the weekend, and bring it back to choose again.
Their own library card
Each child's card has their name, their own number and a line for every book they borrow, stamped with the date when it goes out and again when it comes back. Children can do the stamping themselves.
The card lives in the front pocket of their book bag. When it is full it goes into their Field Notebook and they start a new one, so a whole year of books stays together.
The woodland library
Library card
This card belongs to your name here
No. 0001
| Book | Out | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Owl Babies | 9 OCT | 16 OCT |
| The Gruffalo | 16 OCT | 23 OCT |
| Leaf Man | 23 OCT | |
How it works
- 1
Choose
At the end of their last session of the week, each child chooses one book from the library box, with all the time they need.
- 2
Stamp
The book goes on their card with the date, stamped by the child if they like.
- 3
Take it home
It travels home in their book bag for the weekend: for bedtime, the car, or a wet Sunday afternoon.
- 4
Bring it back
Next week it comes back in the bag, gets its second stamp, and they choose again.
From the first shelf
Picture books about woods, weather, animals and feelings, chosen for their pictures as much as their words. A few we can't wait to share. Choose a book to take it off the shelf.
A gold ribbon marks the books for this time of year.
Twos and threes
Twos and threes
Owl Babies
Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson, 1992
Three baby owls wait in the dark for their mother to come home. For anyone who has ever waited at drop-off.
Twos and threes
Little Owl Lost
Chris Haughton, 2010
A baby owl tumbles out of his nest, and a kind squirrel helps him look for his mum.
Twos and threes
Rosie's Walk
Pat Hutchins, 1968
A hen takes a walk round the farm and never notices the fox close behind her.
Twos and threes
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram, 1994
Two hares, one big and one small, try to measure how much they love each other.
Twos and threes
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Eric Carle, 1969
A tiny caterpillar eats its way through a week and comes out a butterfly.
Twos and threes
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth, 1988
Little Bear is frightened of the dark, so Big Bear brings bigger and bigger lanterns, and then shows him the moon.
Twos and threes
Shh! We Have a Plan
Chris Haughton, 2014
Three friends with nets try to catch a bird. The smallest has a better idea.
Fours and fives
Fours and fives
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, 1989
Through long grass, a river, thick mud and a dark forest, and all the way home again, fast.
Fours and fives
The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, 1999
A clever mouse walks through the deep dark wood and talks his way past a fox, an owl and a snake.
Fours and fives
Stick Man
Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, 2008
A stick is carried further and further from his family, and tries to find his way home for Christmas.
Fours and fives
Tidy
Emily Gravett, 2016
Pete the badger tidies the forest until there is no forest left. A gentle lesson in leaving the woods as you found them.
Just right for now
Fours and fives
Leaf Man
Lois Ehlert, 2005
A man made of autumn leaves blows away on the wind. Where will he land?
Just right for now
Fours and fives
The Squirrels Who Squabbled
Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field, 2017
Two squirrels race for the last pine cone of autumn, and find out it is better shared.
Just right for now
Fours and fives
One Snowy Night
Nick Butterworth, 1989
On a freezing night, Percy the park keeper's animals come knocking at his door one by one.
Fours and fives
The Snowman
Raymond Briggs, 1978
A story with no words: a boy, a snowman, and a flight through the winter night.
We have drawn each cover our own way. The books themselves are by the authors and illustrators named.
Looking after books
- Books travel in the book bag, away from flasks and wet kit.
- A muddy page means a book has been somewhere good.
- If a book gets damaged or lost, just tell us. There is never a charge, and never a fine.
Their card in the Den
Each child's card is in the Den too: the book that is out, when it goes back (with a reminder the evening before, beside tomorrow's kit), and a trail of every book they have read this year.
Join the founding familiesEvery child gets their own card on their first day.