For young readers

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 14

For young readers

A Second Scottish Poetry Book, compiled by Alan Bold. Oxford University Press.

What can one say about a book of poems? Poetry is such a matter of personal taste. This one certainly covers a complete range of poetry from Scotland, from Sir Walter Scott’s Lochinvar to a three-liner by Alan Jackson. A few of the poems are written in the native tongue, but to help the reader there is a glossary of Scottish words. As an educational tool the book would be excellent. Its appeal would be for older “Junior Press” readers. The illustrations are an outstanding feature of this anthology. Drawings and photographs used are very good. Isn’t it a Lovely Meadow, by Wilfred Harranth and Winfried Opgenoorth. Oxford University Press.

First published in Austria, this is the English version, translated by Jeffrey Tabberner and Ron Heapy.

One day some people from the town take a drive

to the country and come across a beautiful meadow (we would probably call it a field, or paddock even). It is so lovely with fresh air, sunshine, bees, flowers, and

butterflies they want to stop. They all agree that without noisy cars and busy trees it’s a beautiful place and should stay that way. But how can they all fit

into the meadow? Well, they start by putting up fences, so as not to tread on each other’s toes. That is the start of the finish of the beautiful meadow. Next its buildings, roads, garages, supermarkets and factories (so they don’t have to travel back to their rotten old town). Soon there is nothing left of the meadow. One Sunday some friends from the town came to visit and the people welcomed them to their beautiful meadow. Then they realised what they had done, so they all drove and drove and found another meadow. The children looked into their parents’ eyes and told them to be careful this time. They said everyone needed this meadow — grownups and children, too. And this time ... And this time? I wonder if the temptation was too great. The book provides a simple lesson in conservation. Imagine a world without meadows, flowers, bees, and butterflies at all. Dreadful. — Rosemary Brader.