Billie The Buffalo Makes Nature Fun!

By Author: kelly.pedrettizj
Total Articles: 14
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It's not often that a children's book comes along that combines the adventures of a buffalo with an ecologically sound message. But then again, Billie the Buffalo Goes to Great Sand Dunes National Park is not one of your ordinary, run-of-the-mill children's books. Unlike many children's stories today that often deal with the supernatural and magic, the story of Billie the Buffalo allows children to see the magic in nature and the real world that is around them. In this particular book, it focuses on the importance of appreciating our natural parks.

The Importance Of Nature

The sad truth is that much of what children read, see or hear today is not geared toward the outdoors. In the cities, this may be because of the concerns of children's safety. But there are other factors at play here as well. Many children spend a lot of time playing video games, browsing the Internet, or watching television and movies. Not only are they not reading as much as they should, they are not being exposed to the natural world very much either. The sad truth is that many young children have never visited a National Park ...
... in their life. They may not even be aware of the different kinds of wildlife that are out there.

One of the ways to bring the appreciation and importance of nature to our children is through books. While a child may not have the chance to visit the Flying Eagle Bison Ranch which is just outside Del Norte Co, they can experience it through reading about Billie the Buffalo. With the help of photographs of these natural sights, it becomes much easier for children to make a connection with Natural Parks and nature itself. Since these are things which they can see and touch in the real world, children will naturally want to visit these places. In this way, books can become an important portal for children to learn and appreciate nature and different kinds of wildlife.

A Unique Perspective

One of things that make the stories of Billie the Buffalo so unique are the writer and photographer. The books are written by Judith Stone who is a member of the Sophia writers circle, the Wyoming writers association and the Monte Vista writer's guild in Monte Vista Co. Along with photographer Mark Niederquell, they both are members of SCBWI, or the Society for Children's Book Writers. Stone is one of those children's authors who work to combine learning on a number of different levels. For instance, the current book on Billie isn't just a way to learn about the National Park in Alamosa Co. It is also a fun way to learn how to read.

Many children and parents alike have fallen in love with Billie and look forward to her other adventures. These books offer the rare ability for children to not only take an interest in reading but to also take an interest in nature. Having a book that is filled with wonderful photos of animals and the national parks makes it easier for children to connect and ultimately appreciate the natural world around them.

Childrens books provide children with the capability to not only take interest in reading but also increase their IQ about nature and the various geographical regions of the world.