A Story of the Seasons

‘A Story of the Seasons’ is another beautifully produced collaboration from Nosy Crow and the National Trust. Lettering capturing elements of the changing seasons surrounded by creatures, birds, insects and flowers stands out against the matt cream background of the cover, instantly tempting the reader inside whilst attention to detail - such as a purple ribbon bookmark and the green edging of the pages - all add to the special feel of the book, making it a gift to treasure!

The content of the book is just as well presented and engaging. The introduction explains that the book looks at the changing nature of eight habitats through the seasons of the year, exploring the life cycles and habits of the creatures who live there. What follows is a real celebration of the natural world with the enthusiasm of the author encouraging readers to pause, enjoy and explore nature around them. Accessible sections of text offer facts and clearly written explanations with headings and side headings, guiding the reader and helping them to locate information.

The book is bursting with information, but also offers plenty of inspiration, encouraging active engagement with nature- noticing the first signs of spring, looking for different birds on an estuary, enjoying the park in winter. There are also historical details, references to poetry and folklore- all of which offers an enriching reading experience for all ages to enjoy, all complemented by beautiful illustrations. This is a book for families to share throughout the year- a book which will develop family traditions for experiencing and enjoying the wonders of nature.

A Story of the Seasons

Anna Wilson, illustrated by Carilina Rabei

National Trust and Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1805130031

2023 Nature Month-by Month: A Children’s Almanac

According to the Oxford Dictionary, an almanac is ​a book or digital resource that is released every year giving information for that year about a particular subject or activity. As this fascinating book explains, the first almanacs were created by the Ancient Egyptians about 3,000 years ago, containing lists of dates that were thought to be lucky or unlucky. This ‘ Nature Month-by-Month’ almanac is the perfect accompaniment to having fun, learning and discovering nature as the year unfolds.

Each month starts with a special section outlining the special days and anniversaries ahead before a line or two of poetry introduces more information - the birth signs associated with the month, how it got its name, birthstones and birth flowers, for example. This is followed by a section on ‘Festival Fun’, some activities and- as you might expect- a focus on nature!

Published in collaboration with The National Trust, this is the perfect size for popping in a bag to take on an adventure! Bursting with useful information and fascinating facts, this Month by Month almanac is sure to be a hit at home and at school. I wonder how many eagle-eyed children will spot the references to the Queen’s and Prince Charles’s birthdays and the information about his being next in line to the throne- perfect for encouraging discussions!

There are lots of lovely activities to try, including some tasty recipes, and some colourful pages at the end have been left blank for the reader to add their own notes. ‘2023 Nature Month-by-Month: A Children’s Almanac’ would make a wonderful stocking filler or gift for Christmas. Bright, fun illustrations are scattered throughout the book, this is a book which will encourage children to get active and engage with nature.

2023 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children's Almanac

Anna Wilson, illustrated by Elly Jahnz

Nosy Crow in collaboration with The National Trust

ISBN: 978-1839945380