BOOK : ENYA & JAMES IN THE LAND OF MAGIC   

If you are a corporate buyer, you can help us reach even more children by donating this book in bulk to schools or organisations of your choice.

Price @ R182 VAT incl. + postage @ R25/book within South Africa. For international delivery, contact us first.

We strongly invite you to purchase your book online (payment via bank transfer or secure credit card transaction) to avoid third party commission as all the proceeds of the book fund the Kids of Nature programmes.

During March 2010, for every 5 books sold online, Kids of Nature will donate a book to an underprivileged learner.

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However, if you want to touch and see the book before buying, it is available at the points of sale listed at the bottom of this page.

Enya & James In The Land Of Magic is not a ‘don't book'; it's a ‘do book' in which the young reader is invited to actively take part in the story; is a great source of inspiration for children and adults alike to discover the magic in nature; is based on Enya and James' adventures during the many travels with their parents, and offers dazzling photography of nature and children at their best.

THE BOOK

Eight-year-old Enya and her younger brother, James, must rescue the last wild horses on earth from extinction, and in so doing encourage all children worldwide to save our only home, the Earth. Their resultant journey will not only engage young readers with stories of magic and adventure, but will teach today's pre-teen generation about the beauty of the earth and all we can do to preserve it.

Lavishly illustrated with full-colour photographs that draw the reader into the heart of the action and highlight the beauty of Southern Africa, this book is an exciting new storytelling tool for all nature-loving parents, grandparents, teachers and carers.

The story might be one of fantasy, but the inspirational lessons are modern truths.

The Story

Enya is a child of nature: she loves all living creatures and is particularly passionate about horses. One day, she and her younger brother, James, receive magical powers that enable them to hear the voices of nature and to travel to the most extraordinary places on earth. Enya's greatest desire is to ride a wild horse up to the stars. Her wish will be granted only if she proves worthy of such a special adventure. She is eager to help and save the last wild horses on earth with James, but there are other challenges to overcome before having her dream fulfilled...

The photography takes the reader to the Cape Floral Kingdom, Kwazulu-Natal, the Richtersveld and the Namib. As the story unfolds we meet many interesting characters, including a horse whisperer and a San hunter, not to mention Prudence, the fat potbelly pig and Mr Savvy, the paranoid ostrich.

The Author

Inspirational writer Petra Vandecasteele was born in Belgium in 1965, and now lives in South Africa. Her fluency in French, Dutch and English has equipped her as a freelance travel writer for a leading European magazine, as well as a multilingual creative writer for international corporates. She regularly contributes to leading South African publications, was the author of the book In Celebration of Fynbos (Struik New Holland, 2008), and is the founder of Kids of Nature. She enjoys capturing the essence of her subject and creating a motivational reading experience (Inspirational Writing by Petra). Her two young children, Enya and James, enabled her to re-discover the magic in nature through their young enthusiastic eyes.

The Photographer

Paul Godard was born in Belgium in 1959 and has a PhD in science. He is a nature photographer, co-founder of Kids of Nature and father to Enya and James. Photography has always been his first love. It soothes his soul, and he experiences immense joy through photographing pristine nature. His work has been exhibited in Brussels, Paris, Washington, Harare and Cape Town (Paul Godard - Soul Photography). He is the photographer for the book In Celebration of Fynbos. Paul is passionate about conservation and feels strongly about re-connecting children with nature.

Book Reviews & Comments

An African adventure story told through the eyes of 2 normal children for other children but with a message for adults as well. Regardless of your age you will find this fascinating book entertaining, colourful and interactive in ways seldom seen in books before.

This childrens story can be described as an e-mail book, colouring book, adventure book, magical book, nature discovery book and African adventure story book all rolled into one.

Each page has places for the reader to interact through pictures or messages, drawings, colourings or the opportunity to send e-mails to the young adventurers. Explanations for the wildlife and flora encountered in this African adventure story are highlighted with links to the website where Enya and James, with help from their parents explain the terminology in easy to understand language.

Carefully crafted, the book brings in the responsibilities and importance of the role of the child in the house and the world in general, and the sharing of responsibilities, feeding of pets and animals etc. Discussion is encouraged on whether it is better to speak up when you experience something being done "wrong" or whether you should just ignore it.

This is a true thinking book whose message stays with you long after you have put it down. Clever and subtle humor is apparent particularly in an apt comment made about a certain computer program in the middle of the book

Industrialisation threatens the existence of the last wild herd of desert horses and it is up to the children to find a solution. With help from some magical characters, animals, creatures of all shapes and sizes. This is the world as seen through these kids eyes and experiences, unfettered by the blinkers of money and commercialisation.

Driven by their love of nature and all things animal and flora, Enya and James set-out on their trip of discovery and adventure from their home high on the mountains above Gordon's Bay overlooking False Bay in South Africa and journey through the Cape Floral Kingdom, Kwa-zulu Natal, the Richtervlei and the Namib.

Share their unique story telling style as you experience life with the San Bushman and survival tricks that are used daily when hunting, the horseman of the sea and the gatekeeper of the mangrove crabs, toktokkies, shongololo's and dozens of other creatures big and small.

This beautiful childrens story book will have a treasured place on your bookshelf for decades to come.

Michael Jones, NetSmart

A wholly fresh approach to children's storytelling, Enya and James in the Land of Magic takes a range of tried and trusted children's book techniques, shakes them up with some innovative ideas and delivers an interactive reading experience for primary-school-aged children. And one with a powerful and most inspirational message at its heart.

The tried-and-trusted techniques: in the style of Harry Potter and other successful children's literature, the central characters are seemingly-normal, outgoing, inquisitive children who become endowed with special powers and must take on the responsibility of saving the world in the face of adults' failure to do so.

Also, we know that a children's book must be filled with colour. This one simply bursts with every hue of the spectrum, courtesy of Paul Godard's breathtaking nature photography, not to mention the intimate portraits and documentaries of the two central characters, Enya and James, who also happen to be his own children. (Would that all fathers had Paul's ability to capture such precious moments in their children's lives so gracefully.)

The innovation comes in writer-mom Petra Vandecasteele's story-telling techniques: the first-person emails from Enya and James to the reader of the book, inviting responses, and the journal entries in which Enya confides in her Dear Diary, once again drawing the young reader into the inner circle of friendship and trust.

Good storytelling and sheer entertainment aside, what sets this book apart is its intent: to educate children about the metaphorical magic of nature, and the role we can each play in caring for our planet. In that respect, this is really a book for adults - a tool with which parents, aunts, educators and others can begin a very grown-up conversation with those who will inherit the Earth.

Dominique le Roux, Moonshine Media Publishing, Cape Town

I’d call this a children’s book for adults. Highly entertaining with dazzling photography of children and nature at their best!

Jacqui Taylor, mother of Lisa - marketing manager at Meelrust Wine Estate

The book Enya & James – In The Land Of Magic is an innovative and beautifully illustrated story that can be used to support environmental education processes. It is a wonderful storytelling tool for educators to address a wide range of issues, such as environmental degradation and climate change in an entertaining, non-threatening way, and to build action projects around the themes of the book.

Dr Jim Taylor, Director Environmental Education Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa

Good storytelling and sheer entertainment with an educational edge. A must-have for today’s children.

Dominique le Roux, Moonshine Media Publishing, Cape Town

The idea of Enya & James: In the Land of Magic originally appealed to my passion for watching children learn and grow in the authentic enjoyment of Nature. But once in my hands, I was simply overawed by the power and magic of this uniquely interactive kid's journey. I could almost see the fairy dust glitter around this book! I devoured it, wishing it was my own copy so that I could fully participate, and dream, and write and draw along... This book belongs in schools and at least in the home of every aware parent.

Ronel Pieterse, mother of Tina - Forest Edge Lodge, knysna

I love it! This is not a ‘don’t book’; it’s a ‘DO book’ in which the young reader is invited to actively take part in the story.

Erica Goldstone, English teacher, Strand

Giving the responsibility back to the parents.

When I first read about Kids of Nature I was intrigued – why would it be relevant to me as a parent of two young girls (aged 9 and 12), and would it recognise that companies like mine are serious about sustainability, building profitability the right way and conserving the present for the future? A brief chat with Petra was all I needed. Here was a lady who was passionate, who had a clear vision, but most importantly a person who understood that it takes responsible people, responsible parents and responsible companies working together to build a sustainable future. Petra told me she wanted to harness the potential of paper and the Internet combined to enthral children, but also to remind all parents that it is our responsibility and privilege to shape our children’s views of the world and of the future.

As parents we are too often caught by other priorities, and we tend to forget that we can only enjoy our young children close to us for a short time before they leave the nest to broaden their horizons. As parents we have the incredible privilege to create memories for our children that will last a lifetime. So why give away that privilege for a stranger to enjoy while we chase careers, fame or fortune? Reading In the Land of Magic inspired me. It is a story based on Enya and James’ real adventures – adventures we do not have often enough with our own children; now I can’t wait to plan a weekend away with my family, discovering the magic of nature!

When my children start their own families, I would like them to think back to the many special moments we spent together in nature, assuming that they will still have nature to enjoy. Because if we don’t act now, there will not be much left to enjoy. Other than through this book, what better way is there to discover the magic of nature than to share with our children the wonderfully rich natural heritage that sets South Africa apart – the beaches, rivers, mountains, grasslands, bushveld and forests – to let them play freely and benefit from all the goodness our natural world has to offer us?

It is up to us, as parents, to be committed to where we work, live and play with our children, so that we will build the future generations as custodians of the Earth.

André Oberholzer, proud father of Ninnaku and Nakita - Group Head Corporate Affairs, Sappi

Book Specs

• Publication date : November 2009
• ISBN : 978-0-620-45425-4
• Format : 210 x 210 mm
• Extent : 144 pages
• Photographs : over 150 in full colour
• Text : +/- 25.000 words
• Binding : soft cover with flaps
• Language : English
• Imprint : Kids of Nature | Moonshine Media
• Classification : children, gift

Price @ R182 VAT incl. + postage @ R25/book within South Africa.

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Points of Sale

Gordon's Bay Fisheries

Winelands 4 x4 Outdoor Centre

Bay Kem Pharmacies

Wordsworth

Hangklip-Kleinmond Tourism Bureau

Stanford Galleries

Book Cottage

Hemingway Book Shop

Kalk Bay books

The Bookmark

Country Craft Market Somerset West

The Book League

Wordsworth Stellenbosch

Joostenberg

Wordsworth Stellenbosch

Wordsworth Stellenbosch