Post by accipiter on Sept 16, 2020 15:38:07 GMT
Oh hello it’s the birdman from Alcatraz here, you will not be surprised to hear I’ve purchased another book, in point of fact I found this one very special indeed, since it’s written from an autistic young man point of view a view that’s sadly overlooked by so many. That such a splendid work could be produced by such a young mind can only be due to superb parenting, made all the more remarkable as four other members of his family are also on the neurodivergent spectrum making his work so special I feel it should be in every school library throughout the world in my humble opinion.
It also speaks volumes on how to live one’s life not only for the benefit of one’s own physical health but mental health too, something that spending time with nature will fulfil; and the title - (Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara Mcanulty.) Now you may be of the opinion is not for you since it’s only about the great outdoors but you would be oh so wrong. On reading this splendid work I felt myself being drawn in to his world which amounted to an enchantment on every page; a walk through the seasons in point of fact.
His description of a walk through the woods is one I first experienced as a young boy and still relive today every time I venture out which just about completes the picture in as far it took the mind of a very young man to appreciate what nature left to its own devices can produce, in short a dandelion promising “spring on a stem” (see link) or sunshine on a stick is how I like to refer to it untouched by man’s interfering hand. What a wonderful world it would be if all nature was left alone to flourish and not mistreated, e.g. governments’ continuing to create habitat loss intentionally the result being an unspeakable aftermath not only aboard but here too, albeit on a lesser scale but still with a substantial loss of flora and fauna. Ebola Aids, and Covid 19, was a consequence of encroachment into the natural world which may just be the least of our problems if this is left to continue.
However, if more young people behaved like this young man things would start to improve, and with Christmas not being so far away this book could just be the catalyst to do just that by being that perfect inspiring gift for a son, daughter, or indeed your grandchildren. Now I think back it was a book that first inspired me, namely the Observer Book of Birds that I received one Christmas whilst still knee height to a grasshopper, the best present I ever received, since it lead down the path to sheer wonderment enriching my life with treasures untold, not to mention my elder brother and heaps of derring do, but that’s another story as they say.
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara Mcanulty...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RouNh5qt0_g