Pages

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Review: A Year in the Wild


If you're looking for a book with serious wow factor, you have to check out this treasure from UK artist Helen Ahpornsiri.

Helen takes us through each season, introducing us to the cycle of nature. We meet the animals and plants that follow the pattern of the seasons, from the butterflies and blossoms of spring, to the winter berries and birds of winter.

This is a distinctly European book, where we meet the red fox and the deer, along with the meadows and woodlands, but it is still bound to ignite the imaginations of children everywhere.

The main reason, of course, is that every illustration in the book is made entirely from pressed plants. Every dot, every curve is either a seed, a petal, a frond or stem. The result is exquisite.

Helen is renowned for her nature artworks, made from plants that are grown or foraged responsibly and then pressed using traditional techniques. There are no paints or dyes in any of her pieces. This process is sure to mesmerise children and encourage them to look beyond the surface of things.

Helen's beautiful and delicate explanations of each season in the wild, with just a touch of whimsy, are also accessible and delightful for young children.

This is one you'll find them poring over for hours. And don't forget to look out for her latest book, Beneath the Waves.

Title: A Year in the Wild
Author/Illustrator: Helen Ahpornsiri
Publisher: Big Picture Press, $26.99
Publication Date: March 2018
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781783707966
For ages: 4+
Type: Non-fiction Picture Book