Alison Binks, 9 things to remember (and one to forget), Berbay Publishing, March 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780648785194
It’s easy to forget so many things in our lives. 9 things to remember (and one to forget) reminds us of what we should remember when we’re out in nature – not only remember, but also discover, investigate and marvel at. The pelican is such a ‘clever flyer’ that she can glide so close to the water without getting wet. It is the ‘silent work of the moon’ that causes the waves of the ocean. Polar bears leave ‘scent messages for other bears’ in their footprints!
This quiet but self-assured book is a wonder. It reminds us to look for the extraordinary moments and details in the natural world around us. Binks’ watercolour illustrations are wonderfully detailed and fluid, at times expansive and at others intimate.
Children and adults alike will enjoy sharing this book together. They could start their own list of things to remember and perhaps even things to forget on their adventures outside. Teachers could have students investigate the facts in the book, write up their understanding of them and even research their own wondrous facts about nature. They could even experiment with watercolour paints or pencils to illustrate their facts.
Reviewed by Madeleine Crofts