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'Walk to School Week' takes place this year from the 15th to the 19th of May, part of the UK's 'National Walking Month'. Children embark on a fun-filled adventure, stepping into a healthier, more vibrant world, as they stroll together towards knowledge and friendship, with each joyful step creating a brighter future! To mark the occasion we have pulled together from our bookshelves a selection of some of our favourite vintage Observer's Books, the perfect companion on such daily mini-adventures!
The Observer's Books series emerged in 1937 as a collection of pocket-sized guides designed to inform and captivate readers with their concise yet comprehensive content. Originally published by Frederick Warne, who had proved adept at small-format book production with the works of Beatrix Potter, the little books covered an array of subjects, from nature and wildlife to hobbies and historical topics. The beloved Observer's books became cherished companions for curious minds, blending informative text with exquisite illustrations, and fostering a lifelong love for learning and exploration. Over the years, the series grew in popularity, enchanting generations with its timeless appeal and becoming an iconic symbol of knowledge and discovery.
Any sensible schoolchild setting off to walk to school would want to check on the weather first. Thankfully this little Observer's Book on the Weather provides plenty of useful information on what to look for, along with explanations on how the atmosphere works. Furnished with 16 colour and 36 black and white photographs and 64 line drawings by Ray Martin, this book is definitely more than just a fair weather friend.
With 10 black & white and 63 colour illustrations, this Observer's Book will help any school kid identify the herbs they might spot in gardens or even growing wild on their route to school. Providing a comprehensive A-Z of herbs, this pocket-sized guide will have your child offering sage advise like a seasoned herbologist in no thyme...
If walking to school with friends, this Observer's Book on pets could be an invaluable tool for showing off. With full-length chapters on the major pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, terrapins and goldfish, your child could soon be hailed as the next Dr Doolittle for his or her knowledge of all things pet-related.
Staying with the pet theme, this charming Observer's Book on dogs is a great way to find out more about man's best friend! All the dogs herein have been chosen for their interesting characteristics. Each description is a clear and concise word picture of the selected dog, supplying its history, origin and habits, accompanied by photographs, to help identify even the more obscure breeds you might come across on the walk to or from school. Guaranteed to become dog-eared through enthusiastic usage.
Step out of the comfort zone of domestication and take a walk on the wild side with this next suggestion, the Observer's Book of wild animals. Perfect both for school walks in the countryside and for spotting more feral scavengers in urban environs, this great little book is crammed full of wonderful illustrations and photos.
The Observer's Book of Old English Churches provides a comprehensive overview of historic churches across England, with detailed descriptions, architectural insights and historical contexts of numerous churches spanning different periods and architectural styles. There are more churches than there are pubs in Britain (just!), so hopefully there will be at least one on your child's school walk to compare notes about.
For those children fortunate to enjoy coastal walks to school, this vintage Observer's book is the perfect guide. Divided into two parts, the first part covers the different habitats found on the British coast, such as sandy beaches, rocky shores, and salt marshes, whilst the second part provides detailed descriptions of over 500 species of animals and plants that can be found on the British coast, including birds, fish, insects, and seaweed.
An essential vintage Observer's Book, particularly for keen car enthusiasts and petrol heads. This guide was compiled by the Olyslager Organisation, an important 20th century automotive publishing and design company highly-respected for their technical publications, so their involvement with this little book ensures it will be accurate and well-researched. That the book is from 1978 certainly adds to the challenge for the car-spotter in your family! However, just think of the satisfaction he or she will feel if they do spot a 1970s Lotus Esprit Turbo, on land or underwater...
Another vehicular Observer's Book, this focused more on commercial vehicles, including trucks, vans, buses and other vehicles used for transporting goods or people. The book covers both the history and development of such vehicles, from humblest origins up until the 1980s, and is still relevant to this day. Truck on!
Given Elon Musk's Martian aspirations, it would seem rash not to allow for a potential space-walk to school in the near[ish] future. This vintage Observer's Book could be just what your child needs to keep their feet firmly on the ground as they boldly go where no schoolchild has gone before...
Vintage Observer's Books make wonderful companions for schoolchildren on their walks to school. Packed with a wealth of knowledge and entertainment, perfect for fostering curiosity and learning on the go, their portable nature and engaging content make them a valuable addition to any young child's morning routine, transforming a simple walk into an opportunity for discovery and excitement.
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