This charming nature journal comes like a whiff of fresh air, brought to young readers by none other than India’s great nature lover and most-loved writer, Ruskin Bond.
‘Nature is like a giant magical book, waiting for you to open its pages,’ he observes. After all, it is ‘brimming with amazing wonders—wild creatures scurrying about, tall trees swaying in the breeze and colourful butterflies dancing from flower to flower! With so much to see, hear and feel, every walk outside can become an exciting adventure.’
So, we set out to uncover the secrets of the great outdoors, using this nature journal like a treasure map. We follow the simple steps outlined as we gear up with all our tools…pencils, erasers, crayons, a magnifying glass, binoculars, a small jar, camera or phone and a bag pack. And now we are equipped to explore for the next 10 days as we observe flowers, creatures, the sky above, creepy crawlies below, and the enchanting sounds of nature.
Refining all our five senses to become a ‘nature ninja’ we move on to a 5 day-5 senses challenge. There are fun charts to jot observations along the way.
The changing seasons bring in exciting and subtle changes in the environment round the year. So, a Seasonal Nature Tracker helps record these transformations as we pay close attention to trees, flowers, animals and the weather, all of which have their own seasonal surprises. It’s not surprising that we become nature sleuths next, tracking animals through their prints, watching the sky, listening to the sounds of nature and finding varied colours of nature. Several blank pages are thoughtfully provided for sketches, lists, descriptions, collages and anything of extraordinary interest that we may come across.
Walk With Me: A Nature Journal is innovative and creative, inspiring sensitivity to nature. It makes avid nature lovers of us all, whether we are nature sleuths in just our balconies or backyards, or in the great outdoors like a jungle safari, a beach or even a neighbourhood park. These activities bring a new dimension into lives which are for the most part spent cooped up in closed apartments, saddled with schoolwork or extra classes. They open our eyes to the many wonders of nature which we mostly take for granted or ignore. A new generation of nature lovers could perhaps resolve the severe crises of climate change and environmental degradation that threaten the very survival of our planet today.
Attractively brought out by Red Panda, with bright images, a clear font and good paper, although the cover paper could have been a little heavier, this reasonably priced hands-on journal will make a true adventurer and detective of you. So, grab your tools and get set to explore a whole wide world that is waiting for you out there! And what better guide can you have but India’s eternal nature lover, Ruskin Bond!