Welcome to the very magical world of Natasha s Wood picture book series.
ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR Fay grew up in the small town of Darwin, Australia. The out-back hometown was hot, humid and alive with exotic colorful birds and insects. Nestled against a backdrop of rainbow-colored cliffs, the town s beaches were skirted by overgrown tropical bushes, strange looking flowers and majestic old trees. The sea brought in treasures flotsam and jetsam from distant places. The tidal pools were overflowing with wonders to be discovered. The magic of the bushland and the beaches stirred young Fay s imagination and a love of story was born. Reading, drawing and writing stories felt like I had landed on a comfortable old couch with an old friend. Libraries, old books especially fairytales from distant lands enticed me. My old imaginary friends, the characters that I had discovered in my imagination and in those exotic, colorful, over-grown gardens of Northern Australia have now finally found their way to the pages of my picture books and novels named Natasha s Wood. My mischievous Water Dragons, Frilled Necked lizards owls and imaginary Croton-winged neon fairies, and my love of wandering Emus, old horses and the bush have never left my heart.
Natasha s Wood The early reader picture book series Ages Birth to Pre-school Created over fairy-time, designed with dragon-love and written for those that crave faraway lands, the early reader picture books are good at any time. Especially written for a cozy, bed-time story something to snuggle down and dream away with each picture book brings our characters together. These characters become the best of friends. Like the origins of old fairytales, our writer has reached back and intertwined past magical characters with new exciting creatures of today. There ll be the familiar magical characters dragons and unicorns and the excitement of discovering new creatures, unseen until now. But each character each enchanted-friend knows that the most sort after magic of all is LOVE. Friendship really is the most enduring magic of all! As each new fantastical creature arrives in the land of Natasha s Wood, where all magic was first created dragons, a funny Emu, fairies, a unicorn, a kangaroo and a very large owl gather around a very old, enchanted tree and a bond of friendship is created forever and ever
In Natasha s Wood, where does our magical story begin? With the birth of a baby, of course. A newly-sprouted baby seedling, bursts out from under the earth and grows up to become the most precious, most-loved enchanted tree. The twig-ofa-plant quickly thrives in the very heart-land of the bushland forest named Natasha s Wood. and the tiny fairies named her Twiglet. I ll catch children s wishes in leaves as big as dishes The tiny seedling grew and grew
First early reader picture books have been printed and released in Canada! Now it s time for the Natasha s Wood, Australian, Special, Limited Edition illustrated by children living in Australia.
Natasha s Wood and Twiglet s First Birthday This is the story about the birth of a baby a tiny seedling in a secret flower garden. The tiny twig will eventually grow up to become a very old, kind and loving, enchanted tree. Named Twiglet by the tiny fairies, baby dragons, a tiny emu and a baby unicorn Twiglet makes a happy wish on her very first Birth-day. One day I ll grow big just you wait and see And I ll catch children s wishes in leaves as big as dishes This tiny twig continues to grow and grow - and makes new friends. In this magical secret garden, Twiglet will never be alone.
In partnership with the Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra, Fay Maddison, the author and creator of the Natasha s Wood book series, has gifted the story text to the Friends of the Arboretum. ALL PROCEEDS OF THE PRINTED PICTURE BOOK NATASHA S WOOD AND TWIGLET S FIRST BIRTHDAY ILLUSTRATED BY CHILDREN LIVING IN AUSTRALIA WILL GIFT BACK TO THE YOUTH PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM. Please read the following storyline excerpts with your children/ youth. Your children/ youth may use their wonderful imaginations to draw their original art to that storyline and submit their art to the Friends of the Arboretum. The children s original art will be posted up on the National Arboretum Facebook page and website and the National Arboretum s Art Selection Committee volunteers will choose the young artist s work that will be placed in the Natasha s Wood and Twiglet s First Birthday Australian special Limited Edition, printed book for 2018 sales. NOW, Please turn the page and have fun reading with your children and young artists!
Please submit your CHILDREN S/ YOUTH original art BASED ON the following storyline text excerpts. (unedited version). Natasha s Wood and Twiglet s First Birthday On a very sunny day in a secret bushland garden full of wild and wonderful flowers, a small seed pops up from under the ground. This tiny seed uncurls its first leaves and takes the shape of a small twig. Even though the twig is not very big, the twig s heart is full of hope. Named Twiglet by her fairy, dragon, kangaroo, emu, owl and unicorn friends, Twiglet pledges to catch children s wishes in leaves as big as dishes. Twiglet will grow up to be a tall, majestic, and very enchanted tree. As Twiglet grows taller she becomes the meeting place, a safe place, a home away from home for many tiny fairies, baby dragons, a kangaroo, an emu and an owl and other magical creatures that call Natasha s Wood their bushland home. In the magical bushland of Natasha s Wood, Twiglet and her friends will show us all just how powerful friendship, hope and love can be. Yes, even the smallest fairy can offer hope to others! Even an emu can be your friend. Now that s powerful magic made from love! I ll catch children wishes in leaves as big as dishes. Written By: Fay Maddison