When I was a child, I was entranced by microcosms. For hours, I'd stare into my fish tank, imagining myself around an inch in height, swimming about among the fish. I constructed terrariums, seeing the mosses and ferns as forests and jungles. My brother and I took our Matchbox cars on "safaris" in the garden. And of course, my dolls' house was a world in which I conjured epic tales of domestic drama.
In her first children's book, My Little World, Julia Cooke (with illustrator Marjorie Crosby-Fairall), has tapped into this childhood fascination with the tiny. Shortly to gain her PhD in plant ecology, she chose for her subject matter the more diminutive flora and fauna of Australia, specifically those of Black Mountain in Canberra.
In her first children's book, My Little World, Julia Cooke (with illustrator Marjorie Crosby-Fairall), has tapped into this childhood fascination with the tiny. Shortly to gain her PhD in plant ecology, she chose for her subject matter the more diminutive flora and fauna of Australia, specifically those of Black Mountain in Canberra.
A few weeks ago, My Growing Passion hosted a guest post by Julia, on "getting the science right". Since then, I've bought a copy of My Little World as a present for the young daughter of friends. What better gift for a child than something to help open their eyes to the natural world around them?
The book is truly a delight. The text is in verse, whimsical, inspiring and accessible. The illustrations are detailed and elegant, and, of course, technically accurate. I would have loved this book as a child. So many hidden creatures to find within, so much to awaken curiosity. So much to motivate an exploration of the garden or the local bush.
Heartily recommended!
Author: Julia Cooke
ISBN: 9781862917903
ISBN-10: 1862917906
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Hardback Book
Pages: 24
Language: English
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