The Phoebe Book of Poems for Children
Editions:
Paperback:
Colour illustrations by Izak Vollgraaff
Published by The Cactus Foundation and Seed Readers | African Sun Press
The Phoebe Book of Poems for Children
This collection of poems celebrates a little dog called Phoebe who survived terrible abuse at the hands of misguided and uneducated children.
Phoebe is now the Ambassador for Animal Rights at The Cactus Foundation and her story is told on https://cactusfoundation.africa/phoebes-story/
Suitable for children aged 3 to 5 (Read-to-me) and 6 to 12 (Read alone)
“Would you like to rise and go
Where the glorious baobab grows
Where the vultures circle high
And the basking lizards lie?
“Would you like to sit with me
Under a musasa tree
There to listen to some poems
Of creatures, pets and wild biomes?
“Would you like to hear tales told
Of ant-bear shy and crocodile bold
Of hippos fat and wild dogs barking
Of rhinos huge and monkeys larking?
“If you come, you’ll learn to cherish
The message of Creation’s wishes
That humankind might take good care
Of natural wonders, vast or rare.
“Now—do please open up these pages
Where you’ll find how life engages
With all the beauty on our Earth
Our blue-white planet of wondrous worth.”
Reviews:
“This collection celebrates the natural world and urges human children and adults to protect and care for it. It should be present in every classroom and every child’s home.”
“These poems beautifully illustrate how indeed we hold the Earth and every living being in our hands. I will be encouraging young people to read this book as a call to action.”
“Delightful, touching and essential for every child.”
“Many children will not be fortunate enough to see a wild animal in their lifetime, but the poems in this book serve as a bridge to bring them closer to an imagined experience. It draws on the imagination stimulated by accurate illustrations and words that evoke the grace of a giraffe or the power of an elephant or the peace of trees.”