LONDON - April 13, 2021 - Award-winning author and filmmaker Wayne Gerard Trotman has released a unique and impressive work with his stunning anthology of children's stories that tackle real-world ethical and conservation concerns. Parents can approach complex global topics with their children through fun and engaging stories in the 270-page collection.
"Using age-appropriate poetry, I show how avoidable human activities continue to harm wildlife and the environment," says Trotman. "However, I also explain how children and adults can help bring about positive change."
Along with their powerful messages, the stories come to life with remarkable images from Nhat Hao Nguyen. "Hao translated my very extensive and detailed instructions into stunning illustrations that add an extra layer of playfulness and engagement to my poems. In total, I commissioned 158 beautiful and captivating images, and it was a joy working with this talented artist," says Trotman.
The anthology features a collection of seven stories, each containing a valuable lesson for children. It begins with a charming and lyrical poem about the importance of honey bees. Five stories deal with endangered animals: Sumatran tigers, African forest elephants, blue whales, African mountain gorillas and leatherback sea turtles. The collection also includes a moral fairy tale about temptation and bullying and offers insightful solutions to ethical questions.
"These short poems, while written for children, explore complex and somewhat difficult issues," says Trotman. "Having the stories together in one beautiful volume makes it even easier to open these topics for discussion in a fun and relaxed way." Trotman hopes his rhyming stories can have an enduring legacy as children and their parents learn how their actions can affect life on the planet.
Included in the anthology:
The Last Honey Bee
A Tiger's Tale
An Elephant's Advice
Mattie Boombalatty
Song of the Blue Whale
A Letter from a Gorilla
A Turtle's Adventures
The anthology features an introduction by one of the UK's most famous poets, Benjamin Zephaniah, whose work often highlights the need for corrective actions to ensure an ecologically sound future. "I am thrilled to include an introduction by Benjamin, who is a powerful campaigner for conservation. I hope his involvement will help introduce the important messages in these stories to a wider audience," says Trotman.
Wayne Gerard Trotman's Rhyming Stories is available now at Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks and from most reputable bookstores and online distributors.
