The Lost Words
With acrostic 'spells' by Robert Macfarlane and beautiful watercolour artwork by Jackie Morris, The Lost Words conjures back to glorious life some natural words fading from usage.
Published in October 2017, this beautifully illustrated book focuses on words that are moving to the margins of many children's lives and stories – bluebell, dandelion, otter, kingfisher, acorn – and presents them as both challenge and celebration.
- Watch Riley Stemp’s #TeacherEffect story on The Lost Words as shared by the Department of Education. “I was just blown away… you feel that something that you were very inspired by, has inspired some beautiful writing as well.”
- Read about how The Lost Words is inspiring new audiences in accessible and inclusive ways.
- The Lost Words for Schools Padlet is a moderated online board showcasing children's work, teaching ideas, and resources.
- The Scottish Book Trust blog post shows how two primary school have used The Lost Words to help their reading journey while working towards a John Muir Award.
- Read how our John Muir Award Scotland Education Manager Rebecca Logsdon used a 'Wild Day' in nature to help her rediscover her own ‘lost words’.
- Knoxland’s Primary 5 pupil's write songs, raps and poems about venturing into their nearby woods with Tullochan to explore The Lost Words and dream of being wild animals. Watch here
- Share your own examples using #TheLostWords
- To mark one year since The Lost Words was published, Penguin Books asked Rob Bushby to summarise the breadth and depth of responses generated. Read Rob's guest blog here.
- ‘Badger or Bulbasaur - have children lost touch with nature?’ Guardian article by Robert Macfarlane, 30 September 2017
- ‘Lost and found’ Rob Bushby explores how a new book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris has truly captured the public’s imagination, John Muir Trust Journal Spring 2018
- Jackie Morris' blog. Numerous offerings from The Lost Words’ origins to stories of support for crowdfunders
An Explorer's Guide to The Lost Words
This free guide by Eva John accompanies The Lost Words. It’s for anyone with an interest in nature, words and images who wants to explore further some of the ideas and creatures conjured up by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris in their enchanting 'spell book'. It's especially useful for teachers and educators.
In action
Articles
The Lost Spells
This follow up pocket-sized book introduces a new set of natural spell-poems and artwork from Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. Focused on relatively commonplace yet underappreciated animals, birds, tree and flowers – from barn owl and red fox, to grey seal and silver birch.
An ‘Explorer’s Guide’ of accompanying resources is available to download – with editions being released to follow the seasons. Find them here
Crowdfunder and campaign information
Advice and recommendations for creating your own campaign or crowdfunder based around The Lost Words.
More literacy & nature resources
Download our Literacy & Nature Resource Guide and Training Guidance, and view case studies
Find out more