I love Eliza Wheeler's illustrations and the wisdom she weaves into her stories. Miss Maple is a tiny, bird riding, Mary-Poppinsesque adopter of orphan seeds. Each autumn she gathers in those that have fallen far from their parents and cares for them over the winter, teaching them about the world they will encounter, reading them stories, and keeping them safe. She teaches them that despite the vastness of a world which can sometime feel overwhelming when we are small, even the tallest of trees starts as a tiny seed. It's a gorgeous book with multiple layers - great for talking with little ones about how seeds spread and are distributed in a science lesson, but also equally wonderful as an allegory for parents, teachers and children everywhere. It's a story that will leave everyone smiling!