AC Bradburn

Cara is digging a big hole in her grandfather’s garden.  Soil encourages her to dig deeper and Cara is surprised that Soil is wet and warm to the touch. Soil explains that it is kept warm by the trees, plants and grass, who send warmth from the sun through their roots. Soil also holds onto the rain, to provide water to other living organisms. In return, Soil stores the warmth and the water in winter and helps the trees, plants and grass grow. Cara talks to Wren, resting in her grandfather’s apple tree. Wren explains that by singing, it wakes up the flower bulbs, trees and some animals in the spring. Cara helps Wren wake up spring by singing a song ‘Wake up, wake up, springtime is here!’. Cara feels the apple tree vibrate and hears it creak as it wakes up for spring. Cara is toasting marshmallows on a fire with her grandfather when she notices how the flame changes color. Flame explains how it transforms her marshmallow, and how it can transform other things too, through its ashes. Cara talks to her Tear, when she is sad when her bunny is injured. Tear explains how it comes out when she is hurt or feels upset, and sometimes when she is happy too.

Dancing with Cara: The Nature Stories is a collection of short stories by author AC Bradburn, that takes young readers on a sensory journey through nature. The book is told through the eyes of Cara, a curious and adventurous little girl who loves spending time in nature. As Cara interacts with the environment, she converses with the wildlife and the natural elements around her.  As Cara communicates with the natural environment, she learns how the soil helps plants grow, and how birds wake up spring. She discovers how all living organisms are connected through the web of life, and her own place in the ecosystem.

This is a delightful and profound collection of stories about nature, beautifully written by Bradburn in a lyrical prose, with exquisite illustrations by Ivy Trazsi.

I was completely immersed in these stories, and for a brief moment in time, I felt like I was one with nature – just like Cara.

This is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

Star rating: 5 Stars 

Summary: An immersive, heart warming and touching exploration of nature, and our place within it.