Which children's books teach kids about nature and adventure?
- Reeta Dhar
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 26
All four Willow the Wonderer picture books are tales of high adventure set in the natural world. The epic tales as well as stunning illustrations help children learn about nature and even look forward to having a few adventures of their own! I would particularly recommend the second book in the series, Honey Time, as it teaches kids to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around them -- and experience the beauty and wonder of nature for themselves.
I grew up on a diet of adventure stories
When we started working on Willow the Wonderer series, it was always going to be epic tales of high adventure...
I have always loved adventure stories and from a very early age would be setting off on pretend-adventures in our very large and wild backyard. Where this thirst for adventure came, I know not, as my parents were fairly home bodies ...
Perhaps it was the influence of all the Enid Blyton books I read growing up, where little protagonists like myself were always setting off on the most fantastical adventures. Whether it Joe, Beth and Frannie climbing up the magic faraway tree to discover new magical lands or Molly and Peter setting off to unknown lands on their wishing chair. Just thinking about these journeys into the unknown fills me with trepidation even now - as an adult. So you can just imagine what reading these tales as a child felt like.
Another incredible influence was no doubt all the Indiana Jones movies that we used to devour as kids. There was one in particular that we would watch on repeat : Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The villain in that movie was an iconic actor from Bollywood, the late Amrish Puri, whose evil gaze would fill us with dread. Add the enticing touches of a monkey skull cup, eyeball soups, slithering snakes and a temple filled with booby traps ... the filmmakers had us eating out of their hands.
So yeah, as soon as I was earning a wage, the first thing I spent my spare cash on was a plane ticket to India - and thus began my very own adventure into the unknown. When I finally picked up the pen to write my own children's storybooks in 2020, I was going to make sure that my little protagonist (and readers) did not miss out on their fair dose of adventure.
Willow the Wonderer picture books are tales of high adventure set in nature
All our Willow the Wonderer books are epics -- They tell stories of high adventure.
The adventures are not without cause -- our little hero is usually attempting to solve one riddle of life or another. And even when he is not, life manages to find a way to teach him a much needed wisdom.
All his adventures (through the first four books) are set in the natural world. Why? Because nature is untamed and unpredictable - she cannot be controlled. For an author, this is a very helpful device to create tension in the story. Besides, I love and adore everything about the natural world, and through my life have found so much comfort, solace and adventure in her loving embrace.
As our little hero navigates these wild natural terrains, he also learns some natural wisdom along the way. Sometimes he has a guide who teaches him and at other times he naturally intuits the lesson - after all we are all part and parcel of nature, are we not? This is a lesson Willow learns in Space Odyssey.
Honey Time teaches children to appreciate nature
The second book in the series, Honey Time, is particularly great for teaching children to learn to appreciate nature.
In this book, Willow is forced to slow down after the Queen Bee encases him in a blob of honey. He tries his best to get out but the sticky honey holds him fast. He eventually lets go and becomes super still. It is only then that he begins to notice all the fine details in the natural world around him. He learns to appreciate the beauty and wonder in nature. He returns back home, content, calm and happy.
Nature and adventure are a great mix for children
In today's modern world where children are spending more and more time indoors, hypnotised by one screen or another ... we need more books and stories about nature and adventure to entice kids to step out into the natural world and have real adventures of their own.
This will not only give them a great sense of self confidence but also keep them level-headed as they go through life. Even a short walk has been shown to do wonders for one's mental health.
We commend any parent who is out there searching for books on adventure and nature for their children and hope that you add our Willow the Wonderer series to your collection.
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