3 Review(s)

When Covid 19 hit the world, everything looked bleak. Lockdowns and isolation plagued humans. During that time, the birds in my garden and in the bush kept me sane and entertained. I found myself keeping in touch with nature more than ever before. I looked forward every day to seeing the antics of the birds and their behaviour with one another and myself. They came to know me better and it was a wonderfully special feeling to be trusted by them. ‘Zooming’ became a virtual way of connectedness to other humans during the lockdowns, and it led me to join various song-writing, critiquing and performance groups. “Birds in My Tree” was one of the songs that I wrote during this period. I had never written a children’s song before. Someone in the critique group suggested that it had the potential for a children’s book. The seed was sown, so here it is! I hope the book brings much joy and appreciation of our flighty feathered friends. May their quirky personalities, bird sounds, photographs and this song, “Birds in My Tree”, enlighten and enliven the imaginations of ‘little folk’ 4 to 7 years of age. I hope it gives them a love for nature, leading them to a sense and desire to treasure, nurture and protect wildlife; to grow up and be advocates for protecting our ever-diminishing wildlife and their habitats; to spend more time in the fresh air and not lose the art of connectedness to Earth, and Nature. A QR Code and a YouTube link give free access to the live performance of the song, “Birds in My Tree”. This is a picture, music book and teaching tool, with colourful bird photographs, lyrics, guitar chords and music notation at the back of the book. It provides children, parents and teachers with an audio-visual experience and an opportunity to learn about different birds, their bird-calls and learn a new song as well. It allows for creativity and experimentation with creating bird sounds, flapping wings, strutting about and having fun singing together.