River, the First Discovery Books

.Is there a more beautiful bird than a Kingfisher? Is there a more tranquil scene than a river flowing quietly by? "The River" captures the moods and describes the creatures that live along a stream.The river is in full flood; we turn the transparent overlay and now the stream has shrunk to a trickle. A little boy is playing with his toy water wheel.We learn about the trees that grow along the riverbank and the roles they play. Poplars provide shelter and alders bind the soil together.The highlight of the book is the focus on birdlife. Mother moorhen is on her nest. Turn the transparent page and the eggs are hatching with the chicks heading towards the water.Now the kingfisher is diving for a fish into the river. Turn the page and he's caught a minnow. The joke is on the fisherman sitting on the bank with his rod and line. All he gets is his float and hooks tangled in an overhead branch.Our amphibious friends get into the act. The book shows an accurate portrayal of two frogs mating. We also see the life cycle of a dragonfly, going from an egg to a nymph to an adult.In winter the stream is partly frozen. Now the fish stay in the deep water.There is a strong environmental message in this book, powerfully told through the use of the clear overlays.On the penultimate page we see a family relaxing by the riverbank. Turn the page and it is all despoiled by rubbish and pollution. There is a clear message ...... look after the river!What a shame this book is out of stock. Lobby the publishers and suppliers and make this fabulous book available once again.