Roger the Squirrel and the Ancient Oak Tree
A free children’s story and grown-up guide about self-worth, Presence, and belonging
Roger the Squirrel and the Ancient Oak Tree is a tender animated story for children and grown-ups about what happens when we forget our self-worth.
High in the canopy of the ancient oak tree, Roger lives close to light, play, and wonder. But one day, he begins to believe he needs to prove himself. He climbs down to the forest floor, gathers more and more nuts, compares himself to others, and slowly forgets the quiet glow that has always lived inside him.
Through sadness, frustration, tears, and the patient presence of the ancient oak, Roger begins to remember something simple and profound: His worth was never something he had to earn. It was always there.
More Information
A story for children. A doorway for grown-ups.
This story was created by Jonathan Wilkinson, founder of Living Wisdom, after the birth of his daughter, Savi. When Savi was born, Jonathan began journaling the hopes he held for her life. The first hope was worth. Not achievement. Not confidence. Not success. Worth.
Because before children learn what the world expects from them, there is something deeper we hope they never forget: that they belong to life before they perform, prove, please, compare, or achieve. Roger the Squirrel and the Ancient Oak Tree brings this teaching to life through a simple woodland story that children can feel, and grown-ups can reflect on more deeply.
Sample from the Grown-Up Guide:
What children may take from the story
Roger’s story helps children explore big emotional themes in a gentle, symbolic way. It can help children begin to understand that:
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They do not have to be the best to be worthy.
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They do not have to earn love through achievement.
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Big feelings do not make them bad.
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Getting lost does not mean they cannot return.
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Their worth is deeper than what they do, have, win, or prove.
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Love is not fragile.
The story gives families a shared language for talking about self-worth, belonging, sadness, frustration, comparison, and the quiet inner glow that can sometimes feel hidden but is never truly gone.
The Grown-Up Guide
Alongside the animated story is a short grown-up guide for parents, caregivers, teachers, and adults who want to reflect more deeply. The guide explores the meaning behind the story and helps grown-ups consider how our own relationship with worth can shape the way we parent, teach, lead, love, and respond to children.
The grown-up guide includes:
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A deeper reflection on the meaning of self-worth.
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Exploration of self-worth and the ways we learn to outsource.
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Gentle prompts for parents, teachers, and caregivers.
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Questions to help adults reflect and hold questions with children together.
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Simple practices for helping children feel seen, valued, and loved.
This is not a parenting lecture. It is a reflective companion.
The story opens the door. The guide helps the grown-ups walk through it too.
The Savi Deck
Roger is the first adventure in The Savi Deck: Story Series that explores important themes with children through animal characters and symbolic stories.
It helps parents, teachers and caregivers begin meaningful conversations about the experiences children are already having but may not yet have the words to express.
The Savi Deck: Reflection Series is a guided journey for adults. It creates space to slow down, notice what is happening beneath the surface and reflect more deeply on how we meet ourselves, each other and life.
Through the two connected series, The Savi Deck offers different ways for adults and children to explore who we are, understand each other, and make sense of life together.
Learn more about The Savi Deck at www.livingwisdom.com/the-savi-deck