Benjamin Zephaniah’s Nature Trail

Description

Benjamin Zephaniah’s Nature Trail

Benjamin Zephaniah, illustrated by Nila Aye

(Orchard Books) – hardback 

Benjamin Zephaniah’s Nature Trail is a joyful celebration of nature and wonder of our world. It urges readers of all agesus to rejoice in the beauty of nature all around us. Furthermore, it directs our gaze and attention to the parks and outdoor spaces that are ours for enjoying. It seems as though this lush picture book is aimed at younger readers. Its simple, effective rhyming prose draws readers in. Thereafter, the font used and thoughtful spacing, suggests that this is a text to follow, reread, recite and love:-

“At the bottom of my garden, there’s a hedgehog and a frog,
And a lot of creepy-crawlies living underneath a log . . .”

The writer shows us that there is a world of wonder waiting for our discovery. It seems as though our flowerpots and window boxes like in wait for our attention! We’re prompted to look more closely at the world around us and thereafter, revel in nature’s bounty, wherever it might be found!

Since it is packed with animals and minibeasts galore, the imaginative rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud.  It has charming, bright and beautiful pictures by illustrator Nila Aye.  Can you find the foxes and squirrels, birds and amphibians which are hidden in the book?  We are reminded that a ‘garden is a lively place, there’s always something happening’ .

Have a look at other recommended titles by Benjamin Zephaniah, for example Funky Chickens and Windrush Child in the Bookwagon on-line store.

Furthermore, you can watch and listen to Benjamin Zephaniah read his Nature Train poem in this YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFRNIB8NdBc