Tag

Nature

Seasons
by Hannah Pang & Clover Robin

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“Wow! Wow Mummy, wow!” – and that’s pretty much all Ivy said the first time we flicked through this stunning book together! I have to admit she’s right. It’s an absolute joy to behold and is jam-packed with amazing facts about nature.

This non-fiction book takes you on a mesmerising journey around the world as we learn the effects the seasons have on different environments.

First up is the European Oak Tree which should be very familiar to your child if you live in the UK. The clever laser cut pages show us the tree at different stages throughout the year and the text introduce us to the variety of tiny creatures which call it their home.

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Take Me Outdoors: A Nature Journal for Young Explorers by Mary Richards

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Today is Earth Day 2020, which seems like the perfect time to share this gorgeous nature journal with you.

Split in to 5 chapters, this beautifully illustrated book is designed to help kids explore the great outdoors, discover new facts about nature and preserve the memories of their adventures.

Children are encouraged to engage with their surroundings, whether they are in their own garden, at the park, on the beach or on a woodland walk. What can they see? What can they hear? What can they name? What can they imagine? What can they do to help preserve?

There are sections to write field notes and draw pictures, as well as prompts and ideas for children to craft their own stories about nature. The pages are filled with interesting and accessible facts about nature, animals, artists and explorers. It’s hugely inspiring and extremely well designed. We’ve had lots of fun with it in the garden over the last few weeks!

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A River
by Marc Martin

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A RiverI bought this book based solely on the beautiful cover and when it arrived I loved it – but if i’m honest I wasn’t sure if it would hold Ivy’s attention. I was very wrong!

The story is about a little girl, living in a city who likes to watch the river through her bedroom window. As she sits there she imagines the journey the river takes as it moves towards the ocean.

The illustrations are a joy and my initial assessment that it might be a bit old for Ivy was immediately proved wrong when we read the book together and she was completely memorised by the pictures. The river moves from the city to patchwork fields, then through rolling mountains, over a waterfall and in to a jungle rich with animal life. Finally we move through mangroves of crocodiles before reaching the ocean and gazing at the sea life beneath the little girl’s imaginary boat.

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One Happy Tiger By Catherine Rayner

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One Happy TigerWe love ‘Augustus and His Smile‘ by Catherine Rayner so we were really excited to see this lovely counting book which features the same character.

The book starts with lovely Augustus sitting on his own feeling lonely, but as we slowly count from 1 to 10 he meets some new friends, including bugs, birds, butterflies and bees.

This feels like it has a little more depth than your average counting book because the themes of friendship and nature are central to the simple narrative. As always, Catherine Rayner‘s illustrations are breathtaking and the animals seem to jump off the page.

If you’re looking for a baby or toddler gift that is educational, sturdy and beautiful to look at then this would be perfect.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2t0dcug

Under The Same Sky By Britta Teckentrup

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Under The Same SkyThis beautiful book from Britta Teckentrup takes us on a journey around the world and shows us animals in many different habitats all united by one common thread.

Whether you’re a deer in the mountain or a bunny in a field you still play the same games under the same sky. Whether you’re a dolphin in the ocean or a bird in flight you still sing the same songs under the same sky.

The poignant illustrations and the cleverly arranged cut-out sections draw your child in and encourage them to peek through to the next page, whilst the thoughtful text teaches an important lesson. We are all different but we all share the same hopes and dreams for ourselves and our loved ones. If we unite and celebrate our similarities and differences then the world will be a better place for all of us.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2KObDXo

Unplugged By Steve Antony

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UnpluggedThis fantastic book will be a useful tool for any parent whose child loves screen time a little bit too much.

Blip is a little robot who loves to play on her computer all day long. She uses it to learn new things, to see faraway lands, to listen to music and to challenge herself with puzzles and games. But then one day there’s a power cut and she trips over her wire, tumbles out of her house and down a hill and ends up drifting down a river in to a forest.

This is unknown territory for Blip – she is outside and unplugged! What will happen to her and what will she learn in the great outdoors?

The imagery in this book is beautiful and I love the way the pictures move from monochrome and ‘blocky’ when Blip is on her computer to bright colours and soft lines when she is outside. Blip herself is adorable and Ivy thinks she’s super cute!

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Augustus And His Smile By Catherine Rayner

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Augustus And His SmilePoor Augustus the tiger is sad. He’s lost his smile and he can’t find it anywhere!

Determined to find it, he sets off on a quest which takes him to the top of the tallest trees, the bottom of the deepest oceans and the peaks of the highest mountains. Will he find his smile at the end of his journey, or is it just possible that it has been with him all along?

Ivy loves tigers and the beautiful illustrations (by the author, Catherine Rayner) in this book mean she pulls it down from our shelf to be read again and again. The pictures are simple but you can really feel every emotion that the tiger feels.

The story is  a lovely exploration of the wonder of nature which ultimately shows that it’s the simple things in life which makes us happy.

Buy it now: https://amzn.to/2GgYWlm

Sloth Slept On By Frann Preston-Gannon

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Sloth Slept OnToday we visited the zoo with Ivy for the first time and she loved seeing all of the animals. In the gift shop I let her pick a book for her collection and she chose this lovely one about a sloth.

Three little children are playing in their garden when they discover a strange animal sleeping in the tree. What on earth is it and where did it come from?

They try asking grown ups but they’re too busy. They look in their books but they can’t find any animals that look like him. They use their imaginations and wonder if he came from space or if he’s a hairy pirate or a brave knight.

Will they ever find out what he is and where he comes from? And if they do, how will they get him home?

The illustrations are gorgeous and the book features lots of interesting facts about sloths for your little ones to learn!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2EQdJ9h

The First Slodge By Jeanne Willis & Jenni Desmond

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The First SlodgeThis adorable little green thing is a Slodge and she is the very first creature on earth. She watches the first sunrise and the first sunset and as she surveys the world she thinks it all belongs to her.

However one day she awakens from a nap to discover that someone or something has taken a bite out of her fruit. She soon discovers there’s another Slodge who looks just like her.

Learning to share her world proves difficult but when the two Slodges are forced to work together to survive they realise that life just might be better as a twosome.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2o6GUuh

Blown Away by Rob Biddulph

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Blown AwayPenguin Blue has a brand new kite and he’s very excited about flying it for the first time. Unfortunately he picks a day which is a little bit too windy and a big gust carries him away. His friends grab his feet but the wind is too strong and soon they’re all flying over the ocean – 3 penguins, a seal and a bear!

Eventually they land on a tiny tropical island. They seem to be trapped and they’re not used to warm weather.

Will they be able to find a way home?

A lovely tale of friendship and ingenuity with really quirky little illustrations.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BsM783