Tag growth and change

Ava and the Acorn

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Ava and the Acorn
Lu Fraser and Paddy Donnelly
Hodder Children’s Books

The cycle of the seasons and of life itself are sensitively related in rhyme between the leaves of this poetic picture book which focuses on the loving relationship between Ava and her grandfather and the ancient oak tree growing on a nearby hill.

The glorious illustrations show the two travelling through the seasons from ‘singing spring’,

through the long days of summer when they’d picnic ‘neath the oak’s spreading canopy, on into the golden glowing autumnal months when breezes bent the boughs of the oak sending its leaves dancing into the air now starting to chill in the shortening days and there are acorns to collect from among the fallen leaf litter. Then come the chills of winter time. Chills which cause Grandad to stay snuggled beneath his quilt and Ava to venture forth alone with only her teddy for company as she makes her way to the hill to the now drooping Oak standing still and silent as snow swirls around its bare branches. Leaving her bear to stand sentry guarding the tree she then whispers to it of the coming spring.

This she continues to do night after night till, joy of joys, Grandad is ready to sally forth again to visit their Oak now spring’s approaching.

What they find however brings tears to Ava’s eyes: the tree no longer stands tall. Thanks to Grandad though, first with his wise, uplifting words and then with his discovery of an acorn which they plant together, Ava’s heartbreak turns to a loving memory and hope of what is to. come. Little by little both acorn and Ava grow and grow through the years and we’re reminded that ‘All the things that you’ve lost – that you’ve loved – are not gone. When they’re held in your heart, a small part still lives on.’

A truly beautiful story to share and to cherish.

Caterpillar and Bean

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Caterpillar and Bean
Martin Jenkins and Hannah Tolson
Walker Books

Here’s a beautifully illustrated, narrative information book that cleverly combines two life cycles, that of a runner bean and an unnamed butterfly. (I’m not aware of a butterfly whose food plant is the runner bean.)

Written by conservation biologist and author, Martin Jenkins it’s the latest in the Science Storybook series for young children with growth and change as its themes.

Starting with a wrinkly bean seed ‘neath the ground, readers can follow its development as first a tiny root emerges, followed by (above ground) green leaves, then more green leaves onto one of which a white dot of an egg appears.

From this hatches a caterpillar that nibbles and grows, nibbles and grows,

shedding three skins, almost stripping the plant of its foliage.

Fortunately though, the plant too continues growing apace, but of the caterpillar there is no sign. Instead, dangling on a thread is a chrysalis.

Meanwhile bean pods have replaced the flowers and are swelling ready to shed new bean seeds after which, come winter the plant dies.

Not so the chrysalis however, that is awaiting spring when …

Simply and effectively told in a reader-friendly chatty style, alongside growing your own beans and caterpillars this is an excellent introductory book.