|
.
Miracles Of Nature Explained
In Delightful Childrens' Book
.
|
 |
|
|
Coastweek
--
Author Jacquelin Nazareth-Tomaschko [left]
seen with her book 'Come Find Me' and her
illustrator Nelmarie Sanders. |
.
Diani
Forest Creatures ARE THE STARS In Jacquelin
Nazareth-Tomaschko's NEW Book 'Come Find Me'
BOOK
PREVIEWED BY
Patricia
Hughes Scott
.
Coastweek
--
Well known Kenyan singer Jacquelin Nazareth-Tomaschko
has held a most successful launch in Diani for her new
book on the environment, specifically written for
children.
'Come Find Me'
is a slim volume that is entertaining and colourfully
illustrated and is about some of the creatures and
trees found in Diani Forest.
It touches upon the
habits of various species, the miracle of
metamorphosis, food chains, simplicity of camouflage
etc.
The small fact file at
the back nurtures parent/ child discussion and
activity - a cultural tradition sadly missing in
today's fast-paced life, which the author is trying to
revive.
At the book launch at
Ngiri's restaurant, Diani, Jacqui was attired as
Mother Nature - a tree bedecked with greenery and a
toy colobus monkey sitting on her shoulder.
Together with
Nelmarie Sanders,
the illustrator, they signed all afternoon, whilst
kids coloured work sheets of the animals from the
book, or sat enthralled, listening to fascinating
facts and stories from the Colobus Trust guides.
The book is beautifully
produced, the text kept simple, and the attractive
illustrations saying as much if not more than the
words.
Jacquelin envisions the
book reaching all schools, however remote, along with
her puppet show and self-composed sing-a-long songs
relating to the animals.
The author would also
like to see a 'forest day' for each book she releases
- a fun event for all to raise awareness and
appreciation, inviting schools to show-case
environmental projects, music, theatre and dance, and
"a treasure hunt filled with clues from Mother Nature.
Jaquelin, the female
half of Fandango Duo along with her husband
Peter, is internationally renowned for making music
but she has much to say locally on another subject she
is also passionate about - environmental education -
hence this book.
"I lived in Diani, on
the south coast mainland, for over ten years, and I
was recently reduced to tears upon returning to see
the decimation of forest cover in what UNEP has
claimed to be one of the last Coastal Rag Forests of
the world, Diani Forest.
"The alarming rate of
de-forestation in our country due to the overwhelming
greed of some people or the plain ignorance of its
consequence is no secret" she says.
But believing early
education is a good way to address the problem,
Jacquelin resolved to write a series of books on every
Kenyan forest, portraying the fragile, critical
balance between man and nature, and just how dependant
we truly are upon her bounty.
Deciding against waiting
for sponsorship with all its accompanying red tape,
four months on sees her first book
'Come Find Me'
filtering into bookstores with phenomenal response
from kids and adults alike.
"Every drop of 'water'
given to nourish this project will be rewarded
ten-fold by 'Mother Nature' " claims Jacquelin.
Jacquelin Nazareth-Tomaschko email
contact:
acquelinnazareth@fandangoduo.com
Part proceeds of
Come Find Me will
go to the Diani Colobus
Trust who work hard to protect and
conserve this particular forest.
.
|
