On the shelf Events of the week

Press, 5 August 1980, Page 14

On the shelf Events of the week

Conservation Week makes us more aware of the natural environment, particularly the forests, and the beasts, birds and insects that find food and shelter in them. We hear many interesting things about national parks, ■ forest parks and scenic reserves, but we cannot always go to see for ourselves. So the next best thing is to read about them. This collection of books on natural science will be of special interest this week: “The Forest World of New Zealand.” by C. G. R. Chavasse with photographs by J. H. Johns. Published by A. H. and A. W. Reed. Both the author and the photographer have worked with the New Zealand Forest Service for more than 20 years. Mr Chavasse is now a scientist at the Forest Research Institute. This history of the New Zealand forests begins with a short version of the Maori creation story and Tane-Mahuta the god of the forests. The many coloured photographs include trees, birds, native flowers and introduced animals.

Suitable for 12 years and older: “Nature Alive.” Written and illustrated by Colette Portal. Published by Chatto and Windus. (1980) . T With beautiful coloured illustrations, the book covers many branches of natural science in a simple interesting way. It includes sections on flowers, mushrooms, wheat and bread, ants, frogs, volcanoes, clouds, the moon. Easily understood by five-year-olds, with help from an adult. Independent reading for sevenyears and older: Four books of the “Nature’s Way,” series, produced by the Oxford Scientific Film Unit. Each of the four zoologists in the team is an expert photographer. They have made 50 television films and 100 teaching films.

The stories tell the life history of the different animals in simple language accompanied by large colourful illustrations, under the following titles: “The Butterfly Cycles,” "Bees and Honey,” “The Spider’s Web,” “Common Frog.” Suitable reading for eight to 10-vears.

Conservation Week is in full swing. Tomorrow at mid-day first form pupils from Cobham Intermediate School will perform “The Lorax” by Dr Seuss in the children’s section at the Canterbury Public Library. On Saturday there will be tree planting at Riccarton Bush from 10. a.m. to 4 p.m. (bring a spade), and also at the Sign of the Takahe at 3 p.m. Student rangers from Lincoln College are talking at schools this week, and scouts, cubs, girl guides and brownies are busy on conservation projects for different badges.