Books by Rachel

Praise for Rachel’s Books

  • “Beautifully illustrated with a really good story ... A lovely book!”

    — Chris Packham CBE, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “These books are exactly what would have inspired me as a kid. They will certainly inspire today’s kids and their parents, guardians and teachers.”

    — David Lindo, The Urban Birder. Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Voted 7th most influential person in Wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine

  • “Rachel captures perfectly the absolute pleasure of creating your own mini wetland and watching wildlife flourish.”

    — Kevin Peberdy, Deputy CEO of WWT, and designer and creator of the London Wetland Centre, on Daisy and Jack’s Perfect Pond

  • “A fantastic book, beautifully illustrated, with a really important message.”

    — Megan McCubbin, Zoologist, Wildlife TV Presenter, Conservationist and Photographer, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “A beautiful tale of perseverance, problem-solving and community. It’s a gorgeous plot and the illustrations are a treat - so much rich scope and opportunities for learning about mini beasts, plants, flowers and lifecycles. The story concludes with the added treat of some truly fabulous informational pages on meadows and their wildlife.”

    — Clara Maria Fiorentini, Lecturer in Education (Literacy & ECE), MIE, on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • “This joyful tale really captures the magic of bringing all kinds of families and nature together!”

    — Beccy Speight, RSPB Chief Executive, on Daisy and Jack’s Perfect Pond

  • “A delightful story, beautifully illustrated, which successfully conveys the joy and wonder of spending time in nature… a great reminder that there are wild spaces and creatures to be found, even in the most urban of settings.”

    — Dr. Jess French, conservationist, author and CBEEBIES presenter, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • Wonderfully illustrated with handy guides at the back showing what you might find in a nature-friendly garden. With illustrations of a butterfly life-cycle and several types of common bee. Perfect for a bedtime story - or any time!”

    — Seed Ball, on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • “Stories are a powerful tool to engage youngsters in learning, and Finn’s Garden Friends, with its detailed illustrations and endearing storyline, is sure to ignite curiosity and wonder in the natural world.”

    — Gerry Turner, Education Manager, Countryside Restoration Trust, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • "A beautiful book about nature and wildlife in an urban setting. Wild flowers, butterflies and bees, the simple things can bring so much pleasure. Lovely story with gorgeous illustrations."

    — Independent Book Reviews, on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • “A magical story about how renewing your connection to nature can mend a broken heart. I even learned a new word – hoglets!”

    — Timothy Knapman, best-selling author, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “The perfect book for revealing to children what really matters about life on planet earth. A triumph!”

    — Janey Louise Jones, best-selling author, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “A gently profound story illustrating the magnificence of the natural world.”

    — Richard Louv Author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods, on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • “A fantastic encouragement for kids to discover the wonders of nature through the prism of a small garden pond. Having spent endless hours looking into ponds and raising tadpoles as a boy, I totally got Daisy and Jack’s excitement at all the visitors theirs attracted. And charming to see that families come in all shapes and sizes too. This book is a must, as is a pond.”

    — Sean McCormack, Vet, wildlife presenter, conservationist, and naturalist, on Daisy and Jack’s Perfect Pond

  • “This is a wonderful children’s picture book filled with gorgeous illustrations. Perfect to show children so much about nature. You can try and spot and name all the wildlife as you read: will certainly spark a child’s imagination. FIVE STARS”

    — Independent Book Reviews, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “Finn’s Garden Friends by Rachel Lawston and Lia Visirin is a beautiful picture book about finding wildlife wherever you are and learning to look after it.”

    — Jo Cummins, Library Girl and Book Boy, on Finn's Garden Friends

  • “A beautiful and inspiring book, which celebrates the joy of nature and its ability to unite people and communities. A must-read!”

    — Dr. Jess French, conservationist, author and CBEEBIES presenter, on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • “If you are looking for an inclusive book to connect your little ones to wildlife and the outdoors from an early age, then look no further. Mia Makes a Meadow is a great example of urban rewilding and will (with luck) inspire many schools, families and community projects to get together and create something fantastic on their own doorstep. The ID pages and fact sheets at the end add an extra interactive guide, which children can implement immediately on their own adventures. I hope Mia and Finn’s urban adventures get shared as far and wide as possible, it’s never been more important to connect cities with nature!”

    — Sarah Roberts, Naturalist, Eco Journalist, Author on Mia Makes a Meadow

  • Daisy and Jack’s Perfect Pond will encourage children to look more closely at their local environment and enjoy what they see. They will be delighted by what can be found in towns, cities and small spaces. This book, and others in its series, would be a welcome addition to any early years, KS1 and lower KS2 classroom.

    Anne Bradley, for justtimagine.co.uk