August Giveaway: Mended Wood Literary Society
Before we say goodbye to summer, we’ve got one more giveaway to help us all appreciate those warriors of the steamy summer months: the trees! I lived in a pretty heavily treed neighborhood, in a very green city, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And let’s not forget that the patron saint of Story Warren, The Professor himself, J. R. R. Tolkien, had an intense and unswerving love for this part of creation. Anyone who reads The Lord of the Rings would be unable to conclude otherwise!
...But a man
is small before those who have stood so long
He stands under them, looks up, sees, knows,
and knows that he does not know.
-Wendell Berry, Sabbath Poems, 1987, II
This Month’s Books
The Hidden Life of Trees: A Graphic Adaptation, Peter Wohlleben, illustrated by Benjamin Flao. The original version of this book was a simple hardcover, and it became an international bestseller. The author teaches about the quiet behaviors of trees: how they adapt to city and suburban life, how they relate to one another, and more. Now this hit title is a graphic novel, fantastically illustrated. If you are planning to branch out (ha) in your nature study this year, or if you have a kid who is curious about trees, or if you’re just looking to increase your wonder at your leafy neighbors, this is a great resource.
A wonderful companion to the above title is The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, by Tristan Gooley. Gooley has published a whole battery of these types of titles. The subtitle of this one is the very wordy description: “Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills.” But seriously, if you have a kid who is constantly reporting back to you about what he or she found outside, you should own this book. When my family read this book, my kids were surprised to learn that the theories I had posited about how to tell the weather (learned from my mother, the farmer’s daughter) turned out to be verified. So I guess what I’m saying is that this could also be useful for winning arguments with teenagers.
We couldn’t let this month go by without one of Story Warren’s very favorites, the graphic novel version of Richard Adams’ Watership Down, illustrated by our pal Joe Sutphin. This classic story takes place on the downs of England, following a band of rabbits as they look for a peaceful home. Sutphin traveled to the locations mentioned and illustrated a loving tribute to the landscape and story.
And lastly, to help you capture all of these magical natural moments you’re looking forward to capturing, we’re also including a sweet nature journal. It’s small enough to take on the trail, but still sturdy enough to survive the trip.
One winner will receive not only these fantastic books but ALSO our minivan-proof, sturdy, beautifully made-in-the-USA tote with our logo on it! Two runners-up will receive one of our fantastic bags as their prizes.
There are a few ways to enter this giveaway:
On Instagram: Follow @story_warren, like the giveaway post, and share the giveaway (be sure to tag us!). You’re welcome to tag a friend in the comments for extra entries, too!
On Facebook: Follow Story Warren, like the giveaway post, and share the giveaway (be sure to tag us!). You’re welcome to tag a friend there in the comments for additional entries.
No social media? Leave a comment on this post, naming one of the titles here that you’d love to own or give away!
Giveaway not associated or affiliated with Meta; ages 18+; US addresses only, please. Giveaway ends at midnight Eastern Time on Monday, August 17, 2026; winners will be contacted by Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
(above links are affiliate links)
When she’s not behind her laptop, Kelly enjoys live music, baseball, reading great books, and traveling with her husband, David. Kelly hails from beautiful snowy New England, but after two decades in North Carolina, she feels right at home.
She invites you to subscribe to her newsletter, On the Common, or to follow her on Instagram.
- Story Warren Weekend, Vol. 14, Issue 33 - September 5, 2026
- The Wisdom of a Pure Heart: A Short Biography of Ezra Jack Keats - September 2, 2026
- Make Someone (You) Happy - August 31, 2026
Oh my! One of my daughters would LOVE this collection and I would love to give \”the lost art of reading nature\’s signs\” to my mother in law. Also – sorry you got stung while taking these photos!!
The Lost Art of Reading Natures Signs would be awesome to read with the kids. We live in the south and we have been getting outdoors more as it’s a love of mine and this would be a great teaching tool.
The Tristan Gooley book would be great for me and my boys! Planning to get into camping with them this coming academic year, and it sounds like this book would make a great reference.
I would love to share both the hidden life of trees, and watership down with my kids! This looks like a great giveaway.
The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs sounds like an amazing book!
The Hidden Life of Trees looks great, they all do actually! Thank you for the opportunity to win.
The Lost Art of Reading Nature Signs would be an awesome family read/study. My kids are constantly playing among the trees and they love being out in nature. I’d love to show them how to use what’s around them to their advantage.
Great collection! Would love \\\”The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\’s Signs\\\”
Watership Down has been on my bucket list of books to read. This would be a great year to read it.
All three of those are on my list to get and I know my sons would love the graphic editions. Thanks!
I’d love to have all of these books! I know my kids would pick up and read Watership Down, especially since Joe Sutphin is a favorite in our house, but The Lost Art of Reading Nature Signs is probably most intriguing to me.
The graphic adaptation of \”The Hidden Life of Trees\” looks like a great resource.
Hark and hullo! I’ve read the “Hidden Life of Trees” and would love the illustrated version. We launched into another year or home education last week. This giveaway feels like a taste of summer. Thank you! 🙂
This is great! The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs looks like a good one for our home library!
I read Watership Down as a kid, and I\’ve been wanting to introduce it to my children through this graphic novel version. I love all the nature themed books as well though!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature would be a great book for my kids as we enjoy camping, hiking & generally being outdoors. I think my kids would love to learn all this book as to offer.
Yes, please! Family LOVED Green Ember but somehow, how is it possible, that we have never read Watership Down? Currently have a real bunny living in the house now. Thank you, S.D. Smith haha.
Watership Down for our newest reader in the house!
They all sound wonderful, but I NEED The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs. Thanks for the encouragement to start a book club!
My son would love The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs.
I would love the secret life of trees. I listened to it as an audiobook but would love the pictures!
I would love to add the Hidden Life of Trees or The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\\\\\’s Signs, actually all of them;). Thank you for for the inspiring book reviews and encouragement. I appreciate these posts.
Thanks for the option to comment here for people with no social media! Those books all look great. I\\\’ve been seeing the book, \\\”The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\’s Signs,\\\” everywhere lately, so I\\\’m very intrigued by it!
I\’d love to get the graphic novel of Watership Down! It is one of my favorite fiction novels and a graphic version would be lovely!
I’m interested in the first two as resources for nature study!
Watership Down would definitely be something me and my family would love:)
We would LOVE to own Watership Down!
All of the books look great, but the Hidden Life of Trees looks especially intriguing. This is a great giveaway.
My boys and I would love all of these books! The Hidden Life of Trees sounds especially intriguing.
We\’re outside every day in all seasons here in Wyoming…Tristan Gooley\’s book would be a fantastic addition to our shelves!
Watership Down looks so cute! They all sound amazing, though.
I\\\’ve read The Lost Art…fascinating. Would love to read others in this stack and share with by book-lover kids
I’m looking forward to reading all three of these book recommendations. They sound right up our alley.
All of them! They all sound amazing, but especially The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals―and Other Forgotten Skills, one of my friends and his brother would absolutely love that book! Your awesome S. D. Smith!
All three books seem cool, but I think The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs would be the most interesting one to own.
Only the June (and past) reels are showing up on Instagram and Facebook?
I love ALL these books – my boys and I would especially love to have The Hidden Life of Trees. 🙂
I have had my eye on Watership Down the graphic novel. Two years ago I listened to the audiobook narrated by Peter Capaldi. I was mesmerized. Such a wonderful story.
I didn’t know that the hidden life of trees had a graphic novel adaptation!
All of these books look wonderful! My family would love Watership Down, its been on our list of books to add to our collection! I would love to look into the other titles you have included as well! Thanks for offering the giveaway & the great recommendation of selected books!
Watership Down would be an amazing end of summer read!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs ☺️
The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs looks like so much fun. we would have so many adventures with this! Thank You!
My son would love to have the graphic novel of Watership Down! All of the books look wonderful!
Another great round up of books! Thank you for hosting the giveaway. My crew would be most interested in The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs.
How do I choose just one of these? I have never read Watership Down, but I could also see my kids loving The Lost Art of Reading Nature Signs. Thank you!
I would love to read/ own Watership Down and The Lost Art of Reading Natures Signs!
I would love to read The Lost Art of Reading Nature Signs by Tristan Gooley and go out for nature hiking, or just observe anf study nature in my backyard. Thank you for the opportunity to win these beautiful titles.
The Lost Art of Reading Nature Signs has been on our to buy list for Nature Study for a while now! This is a great list.
Our top pick would be: The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs. We make every excuse to be outdoors and I think this book will give us a few more!
Reading and not only understanding what you read is becoming a lost art.
“Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realise the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors,”
“We realise it best when we talk with an unliterary friend. He may be full of goodness and good sense but he inhabits a tiny world. In it, we should be suffocated. The man who is contented to be only himself, and therefore less a self, is in prison. My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through those of others. Reality, even seen through the eyes of many, is not enough. I will see what others have invented.”
– C. S. Lewis
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs!! It will fulfill my dream of personally living out My Side of the Mountain. Or at least, will help me and my kids know more than we do, and maybe even practice it.
My Kids would enjoy all the titles but I\’m most interested in Watership Down it looks like a new favorite!!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs looks like it would be a big hit with our children.
We would love an illustrated Watership Down!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs sounds really fun.
Oh man, I\’d love for us to own Watership Down and the Hidden Life of Trees!
Oh, I can\’t even choose a favorite! I\’ve added them all to my list.
I\’d love to own Watership Down. I read a library copy and would love to own it
Trees are so fantastic! My family would enjoy all the books but I am especially interested in The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, by Tristan Gooley. Also, the Mended Wood tote bag is super cool!!! Thank you
I would be very happy to read The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\\\\\’s Signs ! I have been watching a couple that plan and walk/hike for days and thousands of miles, for example: Mexico all the way to Canada!!! This book would be the perfect accompaniment for me to read and understand nature as they experience it on their thru hikes ! I am living vicariously through them haha!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs sounds really interesting.
What an incredible collection. I almost feel like I’m outside just looking at this pic— … oh, wait, I am outside.
The Green Ember is my favorite book series, it taught me the joy of reading!
So personal I mainly hope to win the tote.
I have an old, tattered paperback copy of Watership Down. It would be so cool to have a graphic novel version!
My family would love all but if I had to choose, I would say the Lost Art of Reading Nature\’s Signs would be at the top of the list.
The hidden life of trees sounds cool!
Ohhh….my son would LOVE the graphic novel version of Watership Down! But our family would devour all of these.
Yesss! How great you all are- first last night and now today, my boys would love Watership Down. ❤️
I would enjoy The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\’s signs.
I think my youngest would enjoy The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs — as anything in \\\’code\\\’ is fun to decipher
The graphic novel version of Watership Down looks amazing. Thanks!
I would love to read The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\’s Signs with my son!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature\\\’s Signs would be so much fun to have especially since we live where there is so much nature! We went from a desert city in CA to green Kentucky with our own patch of woods. Also, weather… We have so much weather now!
I would love to read Hidden Life of Trees. I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’d always heard rumblings about it, but never looked into it.
Hello,
“Adventure is out there!” My kids would love to read the whole collection. We have many so we cannot just name one.
Thank you for all you do and God bless.
We would love to own all of these, but I am especially interested in the Lost Art of Reading Natures signs. We have been watching Alone, and I am amazed at the knowledge and skills many of those people have to survive.
After all the poison ivy my daughter has gotten into this summer, I think I need to add “The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs,” by Tristan Gooley to our home library. Maybe it will help more than “leaves of three, let them be” because it is not cutting it. Lol
I haven\’t read these yet, but I\’m probably most interested in the Hidden Life of Trees
I would love to read The Hidden Life of Trees with my son! He is in love with trees!!
The Hidden Life of Trees looks like a beautiful adaptation!! I’d honestly love all of these books. We own Watership Down already, so that’s one it will be fun to gift!
I’m so interested in The Lost Art of Reading Natures Signs! My 13 year old would be super into that one. And Watership down is a stunning version that we’d love to pass on, since we own/love it already.
These all sound incredible but I’m super excited about that graphic rendition of The Hidden Life of Trees! But we don’t have any of these so it’d be a treat to get them all!
Would love to finally read the story of Watership Down!
The Watership Down graphic novel looks amazing!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature would be wonderful and great skills to learn.
Hello! How fun!! We have Watership Down, so that one would be easy to give away. The others look like so much fun. The secret life one was available at the local library but the other was not. Thanks for the chance!
Blessings, The Broyles Family 🙂
Would love to have Watership Down for my sons who are flying through graphic novels these days!
This looks so cute! I would love to give watership down and the hidden life of trees a read! They look like cool books! Thank you so much for these fun give away!
What a wonderful giveaway!! I would love to give Watership Down to my cousin. Her mom (my aunt) adored that book and we both read it. It always makes me think of her!
I would love to share Gooley\’s book with my kids.
I would love to read any and all of these books with my daughter and my grandchildren. I’m especially interested in the book, The lost art of nature signs. I love looking to nature to fall more in love with our amazing creator. Thank you for a giveaway that helps us do that with our families! I love reading your book recommendations. Thank you for what you do!
My boys would love The Hidden Life of Trees!!
All of the books look great! Watership down has been On my mental list for a long time to read to the family.
The graphic version of hidden life of trees looks lovely!
We have been wanting to read Watership Down for a long time!
Would love to read Watership down with my kids!
All of these books look amazing, but I would love the graphic novel of Watership Down for my art loving children! Thanks for all you do for children, families, and the future!
My daughter loves Peter Wohlleben books and is dying to read Watership Down!
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs is a book I think my kids would love for enhancing their outdoor adventures, and it would probably help me in my own writing too!
The Hidden Life of Trees sounds fantastic, and it would be a blessing to receive it!
I have never heard of The Hidden Life of Trees, and it was an international bestseller! It\’s a beautiful book and I\’d love to have a copy.
I would love to read The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs!
The Tristan Gooley book looks so neat!
I think my crew would enjoy Watership Down.
I have always wanted to read Watership Down.