Changes

This book knows that if you're going to learn about forest life and the animals, plants and trees in it, then you're only going to be itching to go and explore the woods for yourself. It's for a very young audience, so always expects an adult hand to guide you – but provides a warm companion itself through several quick and easy tasks, and a few lessons. The balance between carrot and stick, or duty and reward, is great – but what exactly is the edutainment going to provide, and what will it demand of us?

But a strong side of the book is also play fun, which is where several crafting opportunities arise, as well as a quick little junior maze. We can demolish a paper plate or two and come up with a reasonable bear mask, and there's even a junior-friendly recipe to follow, but the core of the jobs involve fetching things from the woodland – a pinecone to make an amusing little owl, summer leaves to make into a large clay-bodied bug, or nesting material for a diorama involving a bird made from card, cupcake cases and googly eyes. The book really doesn't belabour its intent, to get you exploring and learning first hand, but it is that attitude, of getting you (safely) dirty and inquisitive, while providing some pre-school level information, that makes me recommend it. If only more books could combine the provision of knowledge with the impetus to seek things yourself. Although I will be most interested to see the health and safety warning at the front of this volume's sister title, regarding [[Sharks and Other Sea Creatures by DK|sharks]].

I must thank the publishers for my review copy.

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