Tag Kathy Urban

A Tree For Everyone

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A Tree For Everyone
Kathy Urban and Rosie Butcher
Little Steps Publishing

Jake, Aiden and Pip absolutely love the tree they have discovered. Indeed they’ve made it their own through their creative play. First it’s a castle, reaching high into the summer sky. Thereafter it becomes a pirate ship sailing the high seas searching for lost treasure and then a rocket bound for space. No matter what, it’s a place to laugh, share dreams and do all the things best friends do together.
However, one morning to their surprise, their place of play is no longer theirs alone: three other children are there. Seeing them as a threat to their private world, Jake et al tell the newcomers to go away. Despite knowing it’s not a kind way to behave, things escalate and the tree house is broken into pieces and silence prevails in their special place.

The children disperse and begin finding other things to do and other children to play with. No so Jake though; he stays near to home and can’t stop his mind wandering back to his special friends and the exciting things they’d done together. Eventually he returns to the tree but he’s not the only one who has done so. Lily too has drifted back and, after apologising to one another, little by little a fresh understanding and friendship develops.. Finally, joy of joys, there’s a new treehouse that, as the title says, is for everyone.

This heartwarming tale celebrates children’s creativity but even more important, being willing to offer apologies and accept second chances. Kindness, empathy and inclusivity are key when it comes to resolving differences. Rosie Butcher’s detailed illustrations show how the natural world and the oak tree in particular inspire the children’s imaginations: would that all youngsters had easy access to nature.

Kind Little Hands

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Kind Little Hands
Kathy Urban and Sally Garland
Little Steps Publishing

Noah, new to city life, is out walking with his Grandpa when suddenly a bee falls from the sky. Noah manages to catch the little creature and looks at it closely. It’s evident that something is wrong and his Grandpa agrees. They carefully place the insect in a discarded box and head off to their apartment. There Grandpa starts putting his plan into action: the box is opened and the bee put onto a flower, but it doesn’t move. Grandpa then mixes a sugar solution and positions it beside the bee. Noah watches closely and as he waits he tells the bee what he misses since moving to the city. Is the bee sipping the sugar-water?

Grandpa finds a book about bees and their role in nature and after a while, the bee crawls across the window ledge onto Noah’s hand and then off it flies through the window. Sensing Noah’s sadness, Grandpa suggests a walk and as they’re wandering, Noah notices some children busily working. This plants an idea in the boy’s mind and he shares it with Grandpa.

The following day, seeds in hand, the two set out scattering them as they walk. Slowly, very slowly, little by little the city bursts into bloom – an insect haven no less.

Yes, it’s been done before but you can’t have too many stories about helping our precious bees to thrive and the vital role that nature can play in urban areas. This one is engaging from the start and Sally Garland’s scenes of city life and Noah’s close encounters with the bee gently expand the words on the page.

The final three pages provide information about the importance of bees and offer some practical actions we can all do to help these important insects. A percentage of the sales from this delightful book will go to Bug Life’s conservation work, so get your copy and share it with young children.