* “may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living.”
e.e. cummings
I’m neither a twitcher nor even an avid bird-watcher, yet I delight in the aviary activity in the garden as well as out and about in nature!
Whilst enjoying a break on the swing bench it’s a joy to see the birds flying with precision and speed to the feeder, some darting back and forth for a quick nibble, whilst others hog the stand for minutes at an end.
In the woods other birds swoop between the trees, their calls echoing around the neighbourhood.
Travelling abroad is always a revelation and this is true for the birds encountered. I will never forget the spectacle in Florida of pelicans flying eye-level past the balcony on numerous occasions, almost within touching distance. The sense of awe was phenomenal.
In today’s world the natural environment competes with digital elements of our lives. We seem increasingly time poor as screens easily win the battle for our attention. It would be a bleak and empty future if the wonder of nature and animals is lost to the latest generation.
In an attempt to combat this possibility, Denzil Walton has written a book to share his knowledge and experience of bird watching with children. Encourage a Child to Watch Birds is written for adults caring for children and gives advice on how to tempt children away from their screens to the outside world. In this first of a series of Encourage a Child the author begins by showing adult how to best bring the world of birds alive for children.
At first I was slightly sceptical. Surely it is just a matter of heading out and pointing at the birds! I could not be more wrong!
The book is highly informative, detailed and well-written. It is aimed for children from seven to twelve years old, however I feel it is relevant for both younger and older age groups. To be honest, I have found lots of helpful information for myself and made notes for future reference. Whilst the book concentrates on birdlife in Western Europe there are also many references to birds in America and Australia.
The book teaches us the difference between merely looking at birds and watching them with real engagement. The explanations are clear whilst still detailed. The format is easy to read and absorb, with sections broken up with a summary list of suggested questions to ask the child. There are ten chapters in all which progress from the basic bird watching, to feeding, caring, closer viewing through binoculars, taking notes etc. Later in the book various excellent project ideas are described and there are some for all age groups. In addition the personal anecdotes makes this a highly engaging and approachable book.
The information within the book includes the best viewing places, such as observing a swan from a bridge which allows the young person “to be able to see the swan’s large webbed feet, frantically paddling away, while on top the swan looks perfectly serene and calm.” Furthermore, Denzil Walton advices adults to teach children to “use mnemonics to memorise bird songs and calls.” The book explains the difference between bird calls and bird songs and suggest that listening to these will help children appreciate classical music such as Vaughn Williams’ The Lark Ascending.
The writer’s in-depth knowledge is superb and gives us nuggets of fascinating information. This ranges from becoming involved in bird census counts (the RSPB one in the UK has over half a million members) to learning the interesting fact that peregrine falcons reach speeds of 150 mph as they fly to knock another bird out of the sky! Furthermore I learned how to buy the best bird book and how to choose the right pair of binoculars. A quick hint, it’s not all about magnification!
The book helpfully includes a link to Encourage A Child website where there are many other numerous resources. I must hasten to add, the irony is not lost to the author of an ebook and website to encourage young people outside … I would argue that internet research is both unavoidable and imperative in today’s world.
Encourage a Child to Watch Birds is great aid and inspiration for all those looking after children with wonderful suggestions for appreciating bird life and I believe that not only parents, grandparents will find this extremely helpful but also nursery and school teachers etc. My only quibble is the lack images of birds, which I appreciate may be down to copyright, cost issues. However, as a result of reading the book I was inspired to print out lots of images myself from the internet for reference!
Watching birds is a wonderful and relaxing break from our busy and hectic lives and I’m confident that Denzil Walton’s wish to help give a child ‘resilience for stress later in life’ will be fulfilled through this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Ebook of Encourage a Child to Watch Birds is available on Smashwords and also here on Amazon UK & Amazon US.
Note: I received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Finally, I’d like to share a short video of bird life in my garden, centred around a couple of the feeders. Enjoy!
“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” Chinese proverb.
The photos are all by myself from my garden apart from the first one which is courtesy of pixaby.com.
Annika Perry 
highly informative and educative post… 👍👍👍
Thank you so much! I learnt a lot myself.
Brilliant presentation of birds and their awesome natural beauty, Annika! Beautiful photos. Children today need to put down their mobiles, go outdoors, enjoy and watch birds. Beautiful post.
Thank you so much, Kamal and your kind words mean a lot to me! I love nature and being outdoors … and enjoy writing about this as well. We are blessed with so many varieties of birds in our garden to photograph, it’s a perfect way to while away the time. Denzil’s book is brilliantly encouraging and enables an adult to direct a child’s interest to bird-watching. Hopefully lots more will forgo the digital world to look at the beauty around them … for a little bit at least! 😀
Great to hear that Annika. Yes it sure is a blessing to have birds and greenery all around you. We r living in a jungle of urban life. Welcome.
What a beautiful, cheerful image you chose for the beginning of this post, Annika. It was a pleasure to read something light, warm, and happy. I’m with you — not a real “bird watcher” at all, but I do enjoy watching them.
I don’t see very many in my neighborhood. However, there are a lot of crows. I think they scare away the songbirds.
Have a wonderful rest of the week. Hugs.
Teagan, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post … I really wanted a light and cosy start to the New Year! It’s amazing how much joy watching birds gives a person; a harmonious and peaceful non-activity! I think you’re right about the crows scaring away the smaller songbirds – crows are slightly unnerving to view and always seem a bit sinister to me. I hope you get to see many birds elsewhere. Wishing you a lovely start to 2019 … can’t believe we are already half way through the month! hugs xx
Gorgeous pictures.
Thank you so much … I have very pretty birds to photograph!
Lovely photos of your garden and the birds who visit. I love birds too and am fascinated by everything they do. We have a few feeders and bird houses for them to lay their eggs and bring up their offspring. We watch them and have actually interacted with some when they came to our window and slider requesting food. They peck at the window or look in and cock their heads to let us know they are hungry. Sounds like a wonderful book for all ages. 🤗 😘
Janice, I’m smiling at your beautiful comment and your sweet birds. How wonderful that they coming and peck at your window…. a real opportunity to see them close! Now, how do you get them to live in the birdhouses? I’ve got a couple but none are occupied – although the starlings seem to prefer the eveas of the house! It’s a delightful book packed with useful advice … some of which I’ve already taken onboard! Happy Weekend! Xx 😀
I could do with this for myself. Then another on flower-spotting, trees, bugs etc. I love the outdoors but know nothing of the natural world.
Ditto, Roy! 😀 When my son was young I realised how rubbish I was at naming flowers and trees and borrowed a book from the library to impress him with my knowledge on outings! Denzil is planning a whole series of these and I can see them doing well!
bird watching for kids
of all ages, nice Annika!
kid watching for birds
of all feathers 🙂
Thank you, David! 😀 The magic of the outdoors always remains with us, the child within us never fails to be awed! Haha…I like the idea of the birds watching us … I often wonder what they make of us?
Annika, your lovely words ring true of the beauty of existence… jc
Jeff, thank you so much … the book gives handy advice to help us admire and appreciate nature even more!
What a great book for kids! And it sounds like it’s a good one for adults wanting to get into birdwatching as well. Wonderful review, Annika. Birds can be so interesting to watch.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
I’m glad you like the idea behind my book Julie. Yes, birds are indeed fascinating to watch and study, for all ages.
Julie, as you notice, the book has already proved invaluable to this particular adult … it is a great help to learn how to share the magic of bird life. I liked the little titbits of information with which to impress the child! 😀 I’ve always loved watching birds and being a writer I constantly make up a narrative for their actions … these can become very exciting!
Thank you, I had a brilliant Christmas which was so special with all the family together at my brother’s house. Hope you had a good and well-earned break too with your children back home for a while! Hugs, my friend! ❤️
How delightful. I loved your video, watched those happy hungry birds though I’m sure I wasn’t a productive watcher, as recommended by Denzil. We have a massive flock of blackbirds in my neighborhood that spends the day flying from one spot to another, one of which is my backyard with all my trees. There are so many, they fill the trees, almost darken the sky. It’s a joy to see when they come for a visit.
Oh, Jacqui! I’m wowed by the sound of your blackbird visitors, that must be incredible to see! Do you have any photos? I wonder if they are the same blackbirds as we get ..l’ll have to do some research. I discovered early on with blogging that although bird names are the same, the actual birds are very different across the Atlantic!
So glad you enjoyed the videos … they are so funny to watch as they feed away. Some so greedy, the bluetits flying in for just a seed and then swoosh, they’re off again. Reading about the bird counting I would be daunted where to start with so many avian visitors in one go, flitting back and forth! Wishing you a lovely weekend, Jacqui … hope your display of blackbirds are flying around for you! 😀
Such a lovely post, Annika. These wonderful creatures are indeed so interesting to watch and observe… yes, listen to birdsongs too. Thank you for sharing your garden and photos with us. Happy 2019 and all good wishes! 😃
Iris, thank you so much for your lovely comment. Watching the birds gives me such pleasure and I love making up stories for them all! 😀 They are so concentrated at the task in had it is easy to become absorbed into their world … and the songs are delightful.
Wishing you all the best for 2019 and looking forward to reading your poems. 😀
Wonderful, Annika! Beautiful photos, and obviously an excellent book. Yes, children need to put down the screen device, go outdoors, and watch birds.
There is certainly an increasing movement to encourage children to put down their screens, Jennie.
And it is a good thing.
Jennie, a passionate and wonderful teacher as yourself knows all too well the magnetic power of screens, but also how to make everyday life even more entertaining, attractive. There is so much to explore in nature and wildlife and the book gives excellent guidance how to share bird life with young people!
Thanks you, Annika! Fortunately our school’s backyard and playground is fairly rural and full of nature and wildlife to explore. Teachers just have to make sure to point things out to children. Birds are a treasure and a delight!
I’m not very good at identifying birds so it would be a good learning process for me too. Thanks for the recommend. I do have a little one with whom I might share this. 🙂 🙂 (and an interested husband 🙂 )
Jo, the book gives excellent tips on how best to view birdlife with little ones and I liked the snippets of information about various birds. I hope your little ones enjoys learning the birds … and sure your husband will enjoy the book too! 😀
This sounds like a fantastic book my grandboys would love. As a child, I was an avid bird-watcher. I had a huge hardback book with all the species in North America. I wonder whatever happened to it. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing, Annika!
Let me know how your grandboys get on with it! I would be interested …
Jan, oh no! I feel for you and the loss of your special book … it’s sad to lose such precious items but is often the result of many moves! I love how you were an avid-birdwatcher and I bet you have a great time with your grand boys sharing this interest … the book is more for adults to read, giving insights how to encourage children to actively partake in birdwatching. Have a great weekend, Jan … and hope you find that book one day! 😀
Thank you for this recommendation – the book sounds right up my nightingale, or woodpecker, or… you know what I mean. I have become more and more amazed at the flight and song and eating spectacle of birds in our neighborhood, and in the paces I travel. At first our bird-feeding birds are skittish if I get too close, but then they become used to my eavesdropping. They share the feast with our squirrels, chipmunks, and wild turkeys who come around too. When I travel to the SF Bay, I stand for an hour and watch the shorebirds, who ignore the amazing pelicans as they swoop up and down and around. Each of these places, I point out the birdlife to my grandchildren, who so far aren’t as enamored as I am. Perhaps this book will help me! :-0
🙂 xo
I hope the book does indeed help you with your interest in birds! Please let me know what you think about it.
Pam, I love your comment and am enraptured with your description of your birdlife. It is amazing when the birds become used to one’s presence and remain around even when working out in the garden. Our little pet robin doesn’t even fly away as my husband is sawing away! I had to laugh at the plethora of wildlife sharing the bird food … chipmunks! Wild turkeys! Oh, the shorebirds in America are stunning and I can never forget the funny sandpipers when in Florida.
Even if your grandchildren are not so passionate about birdlife yet, I bet they will be when older, trying to teach their children all about it! 😀 The book does give some great tips though so definitely worth a look. hugs, my friend. xx❤️
I thought it was just looking at birds, too. Interesting book. Thanks for sharing.
A very different book from what I usually review but once I started to read I couldn’t stop! So many great tips and fascinating information! A delight to share and I couldn’t help but sneak in some bird photos! 😀😀
An excellent review. Congrats to Denzil and my best wishes that many children and adults will read and benefit from this book.
Thank you so much, Cynthia … it was a joy to review. How right you are that there is so much in this book for just adults as well … as you can tell from my deeper interest in the bird life in my garden! 😀
Beautiful post and review Annika. Denzil’s written a wonderfully engaging book that’s caused me to look even more closely at all the birds in my own backyard. I plan to eventually write a review as well but like Sharon said above will find it hard to match this beautifully created one. Well done to you and to Denzil. xx
Miriam, I can’t wait to read your review … each of us write in a very different style and varying elements will strike us more than others. You will also be approaching this from the Southern Hemisphere perspective … hope you include photos of some of your birds from your wonderful garden and outdoors!
Many thanks for your lovely comment about the review … and the book is incredibly engaging and an invaluable guide to encouraging children to enjoy watching birds!
Hope you’re having a great weekend! 😀
Thanks Annika. You’re so right about all of us writing in our own unique style. I’d definitely include pics of birds from Australia, I just have to find the time to put it all together. But definitely a worthwhile book to review. Enjoy your weekend. 🙂
Annika, you wrote an excellent review of Denzil’s wonderful new book. I’ve read it also and plan to post my own review on my site soon, but it will be hard to match what you’ve created here.
Happy New Year to you, Annika, and to Denzil as well.
Shari, warmest thanks for your kind comment about my review here. 😀❤️ I find we all add our own individual spin to our reviews/posts and I can’t wait to read yours of Denzil’s book.
Hope you’re having a lovely start to 2019. hugs xx
Hi Annika! I really enjoyed this post because we have just gotten a little bit into bird watching here. I got my husband a bird feeder for Christmas and we were very excited to put it out and wait for the birds to come. Unfortunately, I got the wrong size hook (it was too low and actually meant for hummingbirds) and some animals got at the feed on the second night. Rather than go out and get a new hook, we’re going to wait until the warm weather and get a hummingbird feeder to hang from the short hook! We have a lot of wildlife in our back yard – it’s no wonder other critters got to the bird’s dinner!
Barbara, perfect timing for my post for you both! 😀 I am trying (but failing) not to be too envious of you with hummingbirds … I too would wait until you can put the feeder out for them. What I have seen of them from other blogs is amazing and they look spectacular! It’s always a problem with other animals getting to the feeders and it’s taken us a while to get these sorted. Ours are now squirrel-proof and high up enough away from the cats … just as long as the other animals don’t get to the birds I don’t mind too much!
Hi Annika, yes we are complete novices and have already learned our first lesson. You have to know what you’re doing when there are so many critters out there!
Anything that can get young people interested in nature is valuable, Annika. Thanks for sharing. As I type here, I am looking out my window at one of our bird feeders. Chickadees, nuthatches and an occasional junco are flittering about, helping themselves to sunflower seeds. Jays and squirrels have also stopped by today, but this bird feeder is designed to keep them out. Good thing, the seeds would be gone in an hour or so, instead of lasting several days! –Curt
Curt, I just adore the names of the birds you mention and once I looked them up found they are just as cute to look at! What a delightful array of birds and jolly good the bird feeder is squirrel proof! Before our most recent feeder, we seemed to be feeding the squirrels more than the birds and their ingenuity knew no bounds as to getting the seeds out! Denzil is on a missions of sorts to bring young people back to nature with this book and the whole series … a great resource indeed.
Hope you’re having a good start to the New Year! 😀
There are hours of entertainment involved in watching a bird feeder, Annika, not to mention in watching a squirrel get into a bird feeder. It often interferes with my writing, since I have a front row seat. 🙂 Growing up, I was privileged to be surrounded by woods, and to have time to explore them. I feel that young people who don’t have similar experiences miss out on a great deal of what the world and nature have to offer.
The year is going well, so far. We are in Las Vegas and journeyed out to Death Valley, one of our favorite wild areas. Thanks. –Curt
Wonderful post and book review, Annika! Shared on Twitter and Facebook. Taking the children out into the natural world is one of the best gifts we can give not only to the children, but to ourselves as well. As for nature books–they’re awesome! :<3
Bette, thank you so much for your lovely comment and all the shares! ❤️ How true that enjoying the natural world is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves, as well as our children … the sense of awe and inspiration never fails to lift one’s spirits and gives one inner strength and joy.Yep, the more nature books the better! 😀
What a great post Annika. First you have inspired me to read Denzil’s book and then I was amazed by your photographs and the video of your feeders in your garden. Do you always have so many birds at the feeders at once or was it just one of those times? I thought we attracted quite a few birds in our garden but nothing like this.
Thanks for brightening up a somewhat grey day. Now where are my binoculars!
Mike
Glad that you are inspired to read my book Mike! And I hope you find your binoculars!
Haha .. hope you find those binoculars, Mike … but you’ve got to read the book to see if they are the right ones for you and for a child! 😀 I’m glad you’re inspired to read the book and I am sure you will find it very interesting and useful. As for the birds in my garden, the feeders are often so busy but I must admit they tend to come out when I’m washing up or sitting near the feeders. I used to think they were just happy for the company but now wonder if my presence keeps the cats away!
Happy bird watching and may the weather brighten for you soon. 😀
This sounds like a great book for “kids” of all ages, Annika. 🙂 I can imagine learning a lot myself. I too love to casually watch birds, but never thought of making it an activity to do with children. And I agree that any time outside in nature is time well spent. Thanks for sharing the book and your review. Happy Bird-Watching. 🙂
Diana, I like your speech marks around “kids” … the best kept secret about adulthood is that you never lose the kid within you! 😀 I was so taken with the book and even though I enjoy looking at birds, Denzil’s book has given me guidance on how to really watch them, what to look and listen for! It’s been a delight to share here on this first post of the year … can’t wait for warmer days bird watching whilst out on the swing bench! 😀
We have a lot of birds in our forest (and some that sound just like baby dragons!) Spring is on its way. 😀
Sounds like a great book to look into.
It definitely is, Dorothea and I am now impressing friends and family with some interesting facts!
A lovely idea for a book. So good to encourage children to be interested in what is around them. I’ve come to enjoy nature much more I recent years and I wish Id appreciated it earlier. Happy New year Annika.
Thanks for your positive feedback on my book; much appreciated!
Alison, I totally agree and the series Denzil is releasing is perfect in today’s world when nature comes second to the digital world! I felt myself inspired and am sure many young people and adults will enjoy the book and find it helpful on what exactly to look out for and how to record and study certain topics in more detail. 😀 A very Happy New Year to you too and hope it is one filled with joy and laughter! xx
Thanks so much for this wonderfully positive and insightful review of my book, Annika. I’m so glad you liked it and are already putting some of the ideas into practice. Greatly appreciated. Denzil
Denzil, it’s been a real pleasure to read your book and review your book! Wildlife is so important for us all and I love that you are inspiring us to share this with children from a young age. Good luck with both this book and your whole series. 😀
Such a lovely post and share, Annika. A fabulous start to the new year. 🙂
I love the tranquil beauty of listening to and watching birds in their wonder. Incredibly soothing. Thanks again for sharing. Wishing you and yours much joy and peace in 2019.
Yes, watching birds can definitely be soothing and relaxing!
Natalie, thank you so much for your warm and positive comment … I’m so glad it was a good first post of the new year. I agree that watching and listening to birds is both a wonder and very soothing … it is easy to lose oneself into their world – and I end up making narratives for all their busyness!
Likewise, wishing you a new year filled with peace, joy and creativity. xx😀❤️
This book does sound excellent, Annika. Children benefit a great deal from experiencing nature.
Robbie, how true that being out in nature is a boon to children … and the adult accompanying them. 😀 There are so many discoveries to be made. I also think it is precious to be with a child discovering the world, working with them … and that is something you know very well working with your son on your books.
Hi Annika! What a great start of the year with cummings’ quote and talk about birds! As you already know, I lean heavily on birds. Thank you so much for this delightful review. Wishing you a wonderful and creative year ahead. Hugs ❤
Khaya, thank you so much and also wishing you a wonderful 2019 filled with creativity.❤️
Nature and its wildlife never ceases to amaze me and I totally understand how you draw on this, including birdlife, for both yourself and your work.
The cummings was a new one to me but overjoyed to come across it and just perfect for this post! hugs xx
What a beautiful book, and what a thoughtful read that must be.. To share our delights of bird watching, to name them and their habitats etc to share with children..
No better time to catch our young minds to blend with nature and birds especially..
I love to sit in the garden weather permitting bird watching.. In the winter we moved the feeders closer, so we could sit and watch the birds feed.. Like you we have bluetits, robin, wren, blackbirds, sparrows,( unfortunately for the sparrows, we now have a regular Sparrow Hawk.. who has been successful a time or two now 😣)
We even had a Black Cap visit, very rare here abouts.. The birds bring such delight, we so enjoy their company..
Loved the video share also Annika..
Wishing you Much love and many happy hours in your Garden Swing.. ❤
Sue, it’s lovely to read your comment and thank you for sharing about your garden. I know how precious it is to you from your blog and comments and the active bird life is part of that enjoyment. Not good news about the Sparrow Hawk but I suppose that is the way nature works. We too moved some of the feeders nearer the house for the winter and at first the birds were not impressed. However, this month they have now deigned to use these as well and a joy to view them from the warmth of indoors!
The book is incredibly helpful and inspired me to actually watch them with more awareness as well as finally learning some more names!
Wishing you many lots of enjoyment and peace watching the birds … and may it soon be Spring to enable this activity from the beautiful garden! I’m looking at my garden swing with longing… can’t wait for warmer days!
love & hugs 😀❤️
Thank you Enjoy your birds, garden and writing Annika.. Much Love ❤
I recently went home for a visit, and my mom have bluejays living in her yard. I watched them for hours, and found it so peaceful. So I very much love this post and the book recommendation! Nature is way more interesting than our screens!
Happy New Year, Annika! Hope 2019 brings you endless amounts of happiness and love. Hugs from way over here! 💕🥂
You’re right! Nature in reality is better than screens; even nature documentaries!
Tanya, it’s lovely to see you here and thank you so much for sharing about your mother’s bluejays. You sent me straight to google to look them up! 😀 Oh my, they are stunning, what a glorious iridescent blue and no wonder you become mesmerised viewing them. It’s the individualistic nature of the birds that proves irresistible and I often find myself making a story up about some of them!
Wishing you a fabulous and joyful 2019, Tanya, filled with light and laughter. I saw your post and will head over to comment but it looks like an exciting year for you and I’m so happy you’re taking the plunge in writing a book … I’ll miss you here on WP though. ☹️ Have loads of fun along the way and enjoy all the ups and downs of writing. Hugs & love, Annika ❤️ Xx
Hopefully, you get to see a Bluejay in real life one day, Annika, they truly are magnificent! They remind me of little cartoon characters – they seem too beautifully weird and unusual to be real! Ha. But, they most certainly are.
Thank you so much for saying that Annika. 2019 is going to be such an exciting year for me; I have headed into it with a fire in my soul, and intend to extract every possibility from it. You making your dream coming true by writing a book has inspired me in many ways and has shown me that it is possible. Thank you so much for that. In June I am heading to England and a couple of other countries, and I can’t wait to see what I find along the way. I may be vanishing from my blog, but I will be popping in to see what is going on in your world -so you will hear from me throughout the year.
Sending lots of love to you, Annika, and an enormous hug from me. I that hope 2019 brings you miracles and love and oodles and oodles of happiness. Keep being you, what a gift you are to this world! xo
Dear Tanya, I have been quite poorly so only now saw your most beautiful comment … that is between misting up with tears. Bless you, you have no idea how much your words mean to me. ❤️ It is amazing to know I have helped inspire your decision for your book and you will do this! Your last sentence is incredible … I have no reply but a very humble thank you. xx
It will be lovely to see you popping by the blog when you have a chance and have a fantastic time on your travels. If you are in my area of the UK we could possibly meet up … see how it goes as I am sure you already have lots of plans.
Love & hugs … keep strong and well … keep writing … through all the doubt … you will do brilliantly! Annika xx
What a brilliant idea. We all need to balance between virtual and reality and this seems like such a pleasant way to be outdoors. Happy bird watching, Annika!
Glad you liked my idea Carol! Best wishes. Denzil
Absolutely,Carol and I find, as with everything in life, it is a matter of balance. 😀 I remember as young TV viewing was the big evil that was ruining us children … as a huge fan I was ‘addicted’ to American police shows amongst others but equally loved the long rambles on the moors. Oh yes, I’m thoroughly enjoying watching the birds outside … from the warmth inside! Hope you’re having a lovely start to 2019, Carol. X
Thanks for the review of this book, so different from the usual ones around us and lovely images Annika. What a wonderful beginning to refreshing reading!
Digital devices can never compete with Mother Nature and her mates. Children still love outdoors and the moment you say let’s play outside, they quickly drop their iPads and run out. In fact I use this trick all the time! Would you believe my grandson is just 4 and already has his favorite bird and talks about it whenever we sit in the backyard. Birds attract our attention even when we are engrossed in a book. Bird feeder is a wonderful device to invite their company in our garden. Our sensitivity to flora and fauna gets passed on to kids and its good to talk about them.
Balroop, thank you so much for your wonderful comment and I loved hearing about your dear grandson with his favourite bird … I have to ask but you don’t need to say … what has he named his bird? How special to share your love of the outdoors with him and young children are so alert and receptive to nature and animals. I’ve found even if children are not outside as much when they are older, they never seem to lose their enjoyment in nature if they’ve been encouraged to enjoy it as young. This book was not fiction which I usually review and therefore needed a bit of a different approach I felt – I’m so glad you liked the format of the post/review! 😀 wishing you and your grandson many peaceful and blissful moment observing the beauty and variety of the outdoors! Precious precious times. Xx
You’ve got some beautiful photographs here Annika! Just what I needed after a very frosty morning here. We need to look after Mother Nature. I plan on building some hedgehog homes this year. Hope you’re well and you had a fantastic new year. Xx
Charley, I love the idea of hedgehog homes! How do you make these? I see an opportunity if not for a book but for a post! 😀 Ahh…a frosty morning sounds idyllic. So glad you enjoyed the post and the book review – I love being outdoors and luckily my son does too after endless walks/playing outside as very young! Wishing you a wonderful 2019 … we (the family) all seem to be suffering with the virus lergy which seems to be affecting half of the country but no doubt will be better soon. xx
Aw no. Please get well soon!
Hedgehog homes are all wood based and basically they look like a smaller dog kennel. Or you can go for the easy option and pile up twigs and branches for them to make a little home in. I’m not an expert yet but I shall keep you posted!
I love all of your posts! I am blessed to know you. The joy of WordPress. Xx
Hi Annika. Happy New Year. This sounds different nice to see a book to encourage children’s interest in wildlife. 🙂
Absolutely, Marje … it is packed with helpful advice and the inspiration felt by the adult reader will be reflected in the child! A very Happy New Year to you too … may it be one filled with creativity! 😀
Indeed. Happy creating! Xxx
Hi Annika. Such an enjoyable post to read as we welcome the new year. The wonderful pictures of those delightful creatures of the sky, your positive review of the book and finally the beautiful video of those lovely birds from your garden made it so perfect. Thanks for sharing this.
Wishing you a great 2019 filled with loads of goodness !!
Radhika, I was so inspired by the book I began to take so many photos and videos … and the post wrote itself around the review in the end! 😀I’m so happy you enjoyed all the elements … the birds are a delight to watch, full of character, some tenacious, other kinder, caring … all very cute. I didn’t manage to capture a photo of the stunning white doves that visit the garden – almost an ethereal sight.
Hope you have a magical 2019 filled with light, joy and laughter! xx
Indeed you are lucky to be having such wonderful visitors 🙂
Thanks Annika- you’ve piqued my interest!
Jenna, that’s wonderful! 😀
What a wonderful start to my day and new year, Annika. I think you know that I’m a bird lover. I could spend hours watching them at our feeders. I love that Walton has written this book to encourage children to take time to enjoy our little feathered friends. Thanks for the review and the video! Wishing you and your family peace and joy in the new year. ❤
Jill, I always love your posts about your birds and still remember the video of all your hummingbirds – I’ve never seen anything like it! 😀 I’m glad to share a bit of our English birdlife and happy to give you a wonderful, very early, start to the day! Denzil’s care and interest in both wildlife and wish for children to become enthralled by nature shines through the book … his enthusiasm is contagious! Wishing you and your family likewise a peaceful and joyful 2019. hugs xx ❤️
We’ve definitely had some crazy hummingbird action…we love it! ❤
Thanks for your kind remarks about my book Jill. It’s always so encouraging to get positive feedback.
Wow ! Annika. My spirits lifted when I saw and read this wonderful post with so
much light and love. To start with Cummings quote is a bright idea.
I understand that this is a review of Denzil Walton’s book ” Encourage children to watch birds”
and your very positive review has as usual woken my interest. It sounds like a book much
needed as guidance how to watch with real engagement.
I am sure Denzil with agree that your beautiful dreaming in your own haven of a garden
is a superb gift to us all and your pictures do give us chance to watch birds deeply and
with feelings.
I love the film clips as well and the business of each bird. Brilliant addition to your positive
post that reminds me that spring is next.
Thanks ❤️ .
Miriam
Miriam, heartfelt thanks for your wonderful comment! ❤️ I wanted to start the New Year with light and positivity and wildlife never fails us! Denzil’s book is inspiring and although I have always enjoyed looking at the birds in the garden, I now watch them with deeper interest. So glad you enjoyed the video of the busy birds … their at times frenetic activity is still peaceful and a joy to view.
Oh, now the delight of Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, I find Spring can’t come soon enough … oddly enough many bushes are in bud and bulbs peeping out of the ground. hugs xx ❤️