Dr Jim Taylor, Director Environmental Education Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
The book Enya & James – In The Land Of Magic is an innovative and beautifully illustrated story that can be used to support environmental education processes. It is a wonderful storytelling tool for educators to address a wide range of issues, such as environmental degradation and climate change in an entertaining, non-threatening way, and to build action projects around the themes of the book.
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Dominique le Roux, Moonshine Media Publishing, Cape Town
Good storytelling and sheer entertainment with an educational edge. A must-have for today’s children.
A wholly fresh approach to children's storytelling, Enya and James in the Land of Magic takes a range of tried and trusted children's book techniques, shakes them up with some innovative ideas and delivers an interactive reading experience for primary-school-aged children. And one with a powerful and most inspirational message at its heart.
The tried-and-trusted techniques: in the style of Harry Potter and other successful children's literature, the central characters are seemingly-normal, outgoing, inquisitive children who become endowed with special powers and must take on the responsibility of saving the world in the face of adults' failure to do so.
Also, we know that a children's book must be filled with colour. This one simply bursts with every hue of the spectrum, courtesy of Paul Godard's breathtaking nature photography, not to mention the intimate portraits and documentaries of the two central characters, Enya and James, who also happen to be his own children. (Would that all fathers had Paul's ability to capture such precious moments in their children's lives so gracefully.)
The innovation comes in writer-mom Petra Vandecasteele's story-telling techniques: the first-person emails from Enya and James to the reader of the book, inviting responses, and the journal entries in which Enya confides in her Dear Diary, once again drawing the young reader into the inner circle of friendship and trust.
Good storytelling and sheer entertainment aside, what sets this book apart is its intent: to educate children about the metaphorical magic of nature, and the role we can each play in caring for our planet. In that respect, this is really a book for adults - a tool with which parents, aunts, educators and others can begin a very grown-up conversation with those who will inherit the Earth.
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I love it! This is not a ‘don’t book’; it’s a ‘DO book’ in which the young reader is invited to actively take part in the story.
Erica Goldstone, English teacher, Strand
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Ronel Pieterse, mother of Tina - Forest Edge Lodge, knysna
The idea of Enya & James: In the Land of Magic originally appealed to my passion for watching children learn and grow in the authentic enjoyment of Nature. But once in my hands, I was simply overawed by the power and magic of this uniquely interactive kid's journey. I could almost see the fairy dust glitter around this book! I devoured it, wishing it was my own copy so that I could fully participate, and dream, and write and draw along... This book belongs in schools and at least in the home of every aware parent.
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André Oberholzer, proud father of Ninnaku and Nakita - Group Head Corporate Affairs, Sappi
Giving the responsibility back to the parents.
When I first read about Kids of Nature I was intrigued – why would it be relevant to me as a parent of two young girls (aged 9 and 12), and would it recognise that companies like mine are serious about sustainability, building profitability the right way and conserving the present for the future? A brief chat with Petra was all I needed. Here was a lady who was passionate, who had a clear vision, but most importantly a person who understood that it takes responsible people, responsible parents and responsible companies working together to build a sustainable future. Petra told me she wanted to harness the potential of paper and the Internet combined to enthral children, but also to remind all parents that it is our responsibility and privilege to shape our children’s views of the world and of the future.
As parents we are too often caught by other priorities, and we tend to forget that we can only enjoy our young children close to us for a short time before they leave the nest to broaden their horizons. As parents we have the incredible privilege to create memories for our children that will last a lifetime. So why give away that privilege for a stranger to enjoy while we chase careers, fame or fortune? Reading In the Land of Magic inspired me. It is a story based on Enya and James’ real adventures – adventures we do not have often enough with our own children; now I can’t wait to plan a weekend away with my family, discovering the magic of nature!
When my children start their own families, I would like them to think back to the many special moments we spent together in nature, assuming that they will still have nature to enjoy. Because if we don’t act now, there will not be much left to enjoy. Other than through this book, what better way is there to discover the magic of nature than to share with our children the wonderfully rich natural heritage that sets South Africa apart – the beaches, rivers, mountains, grasslands, bushveld and forests – to let them play freely and benefit from all the goodness our natural world has to offer us?
It is up to us, as parents, to be committed to where we work, live and play with our children, so that we will build the future generations as custodians of the Earth.
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Jacqui Taylor, mother of Lisa - marketing manager at Meerlust Wine Estate
I’d call this a children’s book for adults. Highly entertaining with dazzling photography of children and nature at their best!
