Billy Conker is a young adventurer and conservationist who enjoys exploring the world around him. In this book he needs the reader’s help locating wild animals in their natural habitats. The second you open the covers of this book you are brought along a whirlwind tour of all the major biomes in the world as well as various other habitats.
It has a ‘Where’s Wally?’ feel to it, but is a lot more purposeful and meaningful. (Can I say this??!!) As the endangered animals were the most difficult species to find on each page I felt this really highlighted and reinforced their endangered status to the reader.
The illustrations throughout this book are incredible and full of amazing detail. You immediately feel transported into each habitat as a result. For a book that isn’t very text heavy, you certainly learn a surprising amount of information on each habitat and the different species that live there.
The story is beautifully written and I like how the author includes proper terminology along with definitions in brackets for the more uncommon words that some readers may require.
In a classroom setting this is the type of book you could dip in and out of throughout the year depending on what topic you were covering in SESE. It is perfect for carpet time or as a whole class activity where each habitat can easily be displayed on your interactive whiteboard or panel and children can come up and circle each wild animal they find.
Nature loving students and those with inquiring minds would love to curl up with this book and read in one sitting. It really is the type of book you’d pick up again and again. Every time you examine each habitat you discover even more to see and learn!
I read this book with my 1st Year Special Class students and they loved it. They particularly enjoyed the ‘Did you know?’ section for each habitat. It led to further enquiry and exploring online! I think the author deals with a serious global issue in an engaging and child friendly way.
The end sections on ‘Our Planet and Us’ and ‘Other Ways to Help’ are thought-provoking and a nice addition to the book. They certainly sparked wonderful conversations among my students.
‘Billy Conker’s Nature-Spotting Adventure’ by Conor Busuttil is a fabulous asset to any classroom, library or home and is suitable for all ages. I found it extremely accessible for my students with special educational needs and really welcomed this feature. For that reason I’d give it a 10 out of 10.
By Niamh Brady, Special Class Teacher, Naas, Co. Kildare.
“Billy Conker’s Nature Spotting Adventure” by Conor Busuttil, published by O’Brien Press, is on sale now for €14.99 (H/B).
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review
