Wild Languages of Mother Nature is a beautifully illustrated book for children, featuring 48 stories on how animals and plants communicate in very creative ways. Mother Nature has devised so many beautiful and surprising ways to share information. Nature can be marvellously noisy (with birds singing, bears roaring, frogs croaking and kangaroos stomping). But many creatures and plants communicate through other less vocal methods. In this book, children cam meet both noisy and not-so-noisy communicators including:
- Bees who ‘waggle dance’ to explain pollen routes
- Rhinos who leave messages, with their dung
- African elephants (who send vibrating messages)
- Demon mole rats (who communicate by headbutting!)
- Ravens who use silent sign language
- Ants who leave hormone trails
- Pufferfish who use artistic displays
- How chimpanzees use touch to talk
- How humpback whales communicate by song
- Trees who use underground fungal networks
The stories also delve into why wildlife communications, to share information within their pack, flock or herd. Or to win the affections or attention of a mate, or to scare off predators and rivals. A wealth of information is woven into the stories, to ensure readers are left with more knowledge and wonder for the wide world. From huge mammals to tiny insects to plants.
Chimps shake hands, and gorillas sing to say how much they’re enjoying their food! Humpback whales tell tales in long, lonely songs. Some birds warble, while others tap-dance to declare how they feel. Demon role mats say ‘Go away!’ by head-banging. And bees waggle-dance to describe where the nectar is sweetest.
Some plants send out smelly signals to call for help. Others repel with a stink or lure with perfume. Squid skin changes colour to hide or woo. Mosquitoes duet, fruit flies learn dialects and tiny pufferfish create underwater masterpieces. Fungi feel, probe and send messages with electrical signals. A Wood Wide Web links forests in huge communication systems!
Did you think humans were the only beings on earth to speak? Welcome to the wild and wonderful language of Mother Nature!
Mammal stories
- Human
- Kangaroo
- Chimpanzee
- White rhinoceros
- Humpback whale
- African wild dog
- African elephant
- African demon mole rat
- Egyptian fruit bat
- Prairie dog
- Black bear
- Gorilla
- Drongo & Meerkat
- European bison
- Hippopotamus
- Tarsier
- Koala
- Grey squirrel
Bird stories
- Crested pigeon
- Raven
- Blue-capped cordon bleu bird
- Peruvian warbling antbird
- Jackdaw
Fish stories
- Mantis shrimp
- White-spotted pufferfish
- Caribbean reef squad
- Electric eel
Reptile & Amphibian stories
- Grass snake
- Sea turtle
- Brazilian torrent frog
- Insect stories
- Fruit fly
- Mosquito
- Ant
- Blue butterfly caterpillar
- Honeybee
- Deathwatch beetle
- Cicada
- Tiger moth and Hawkmoth
- Treehopper
Plant & Fungi stories
- Grass
- Sea rocket
- Pitcher plant
- Sagebrush
- The ‘forest’ & the wood wide web
- Black walnut
- Camphor tree
- Cordyceps fungus
- Split gill fungus
about the author
Gabby Dawnay is a children’s writer and scriptwriter, who also runs art, reading and poetry workshops in schools. Artist Margaux Samson Abadie likes to focus on ecology, slow living and mindfulness.
