I’m always interested in mixing our love of nature with reading and when I heard about the new Peter Grenville children’s book, The Big Plug, I thought we should have a read of it. Published last month through Matador Books, The Big Plug is a paperback chapter book aimed at children aged 5 years and over.
In The Big Plug, we see the world through the eyes of some wise old Cherry Trees as they watch the Two Legs destroy the world around them. My 7 year old son was hooked from the start as we read this book together. He loves the idea that animals and plants could talk to each other and giggled at the suggestion that daffodils and tulips always argue.
The book talks about the dreaded garden waste bin collections, and bonfire night from the trees point of view. My son knew it was a bad idea to saw off live branches from a tree to put on the fire. As much as he’s obsessed with sticks, he knows he only ever plays with ones he finds on the ground.
As time passes, global warming is taking hold and The Two Legs have a lot to answer for. Plants were dying and smog covered the land. The plants and animals needed to take action and it was the spiders who had come up with a plan, The Big Plug. Could it really work? Could the spiders plug the power from the sun, and burn off the smog and give nature back its different seasons?
I won’t tell you how the story ends, but we’ve really enjoyed reading The Big Plug here. The language works well for children of my son’s age and he really grasped the idea behind the story. It’s the sort of book to raise discussion, which I’m always very keen on. I’ve included my Amazon Affiliate link below in case you’d like to read it with your own kids too.
disclosure: we were sent the item mentioned in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve teamed up with Matador Books to offer 3 lucky readers the chance to win The Big Plug for themselves. JUst complete the Gleam form below for your chance to win. Good luck!
Terms and conditions:
(Please note that all entries will be checked against comments for validation).
Only the first step of this form is mandatory, all other steps are optional. Only one entry per person is allowed.
This giveaway is for UK residents only.
Once a winner is randomly picked, I will check if the winner has done what was requested and I will contact them, if they do not reply within one week, the prize will be allocated to another person.
The giveaway will close on 12th July 2017 at midnight.
Don’t forget to visit my Giveaways page for more great prizes on offer!
My favourite tree is a cherry blossom, I just love the colours.
I love a Pussy Willow as I love the ‘furry caterpillar-like’ buds it produces!
The Chestnut tree as I love chestnut and remind me of my childhood.
I love willow trees as they are so pretty x
weeping willow
Am I allowed to say that I don’t have a favourite tree???
Emma louise elliott xxx
i love the sycamore tree,we used to have one in our garden when i was a little girl
We have a lovely apple tree in our garden which is my fave because of the tasty fruit it produces.
blossom tree are beautiful x
Willow tree they are beautiful
Oak tree
Reminds me of all our outdoor adventures when we were young – it was always fun climbing
Many happy memories
The Baobab tree. It’s known as “The Tree of Life” and it’s no wonder why. This tree is remarkable and has a great many life-sustaining qualities. It’s also referred to as ‘The Upside Down” tree.
i love the bloossoms and colours on cherry blossom trees. so pretty
The Oak tree is my favourite.When I was little I used to collect acorns for my grandad’s pigs.
love the colours of blossom trees, i equally love willow trees but no reason why!
I love oak tree, like the smell
I have copper beech in the garden its beautiful in the Autumn
I love palm trees they make me happy as I know they are were the sun is
I love weeping willows, I remember playing one as a child and it was magical
My favourite tree is a cherry blossom as its a sign of spring is on its way
Weeping willows are just so beautiful x
My favourite tree is the Cox’s Orange Pippin, mainly for the tasty apples that come from it!
Oak tree because it’s solid
I love cherry blossoms because they just look so pretty when in bloom
I love the magnificent Oak trees which can live to a great age and have massive roots
Hawthorn, because they always flower around my birthday
The Giant English Oak is my favourite as it’s such an iconic tree in our country and always stands tall and strong.
Laburnum, love the spring colours.
I like the Japanese trees because they are just so different from any other
I love the apple tree we have in the garden , perfect for shade , love the pretty apple blossoms and the kids play in it and eat the yummy apples
I love Apple trees as I enjoy making apple pie!!
The Rowan tree, it’s looks beautiful when it flowers
Horse chestnuts – i love conkers
Blossom tree they are pretty.x
The Acer, I love the changing colours of the leaves
Apple tree cos that’s where cider comes from!!
Palm trees because I know I’m on holiday
Horse chestnuts for conker fights
I love acer trees – I love the colours!
I love cherry blossom trees they are so pretty in bloom
I like the yew tree because it is a brilliant tree for making long bows and I like archery
I love Oak Trees, We have a beautiful Oak at the end of our garden.
The mighty oak, it reminds me of strolling through our local park when I was little
Birch tree because during spring time you can tap it for birch tree juice
I like the Chestnut Tree because you can get conkers from them! (Angela Kelly)
cherry blossom, they are just stunning when in bloom
I love oak trees, because we had one in our garden when I was a child.
Weeping willow 🙂
The willow because it’s romantic 🙂
Horse chestnut tree – it lets you play conkers!
Silver birch – it remind me of games we used to play near it at school
japanese cherry blossom trees
Palm tree – they remind me of nice hot tropical beaches
Maple tree as that is what my class is called!
i like oak trees. i think they are pretty
Elm trees. I love how they puff out.
I love cherry blossom trees..so pretty
Oak tree, one of the symbols of England
Willow trees – they are beautiful
Oak Trees – so English
The cherry blossom, no special reason, I know they blow all over with the wind
Cherry blossom trees are they so beautiful and my daughter absolutely loves them when the blossom arrives.
I have a cherry tree and an orange blossom both beautiful when they flower I think I like the Orange blossom best it smells gorgeous
i love Rowan trees as they are gorgeous
Cherry blossom, as beautiful.
blossom tree
Apple trees, we have planted two in my garden and I’m so looking forward to trying the apples.
cherry blossoms are beautiful
For me it has to be weeping willows as i think they are beautiful
I love Oak trees, they have so much history!
I love oak trees because they remind me that Autumn is coming and that’s my favourite season, when the leaves all change colour and theres a slight nip in the air plus it’s when my birthday is
I love beech tree as I used to pick the nuts when I was little I was fascinated by them
lemon trees – produce lovely lemons for great tasting drinks
Palm trees with coconuts
Japanese Acer so beautiful when the light shines off it’s leaves making the leaves go deep red
I do love magnolias because of the flowers
Horse chestnut – I love collecting conkers with my nephew and next time round, my twins will be old enough to join in 😀
I love blossom trees, when they start flowering in Spring it can really be a beautiful sight
I adore the weeping willow, I just love the unusual shape, it really sets itself apart from the rest 🙂
Blossom Tress, they are so pretty 🙂
Mine isn’t necessarily a favourite tree but I love to see a single lone tree at the top of a hill that’s grown at an angle due to the winds but still stands strong x
willow trees xxxx
I love horse chestnut trees as I have fond childhood memories of playing conkers and climbing the massive tree at my mums
Willow Tree’s as they remind me of my childhood with my grandfather
We love Christmas tree <3 when it flourishes its beautiful and with Christmas lights on <3
Love oaks strong, beautiful and majestic
The beautiful oak so majestic
Apple trees, I really love this fruit all year around!
Love so many trees – especially my Gran’s weeping willow
The weeping Willow – sopretty and full of emotional
willow trees are they look lovely
I love Willow trees, especially on a breezy day and they sway in the wind.
Apple trees – because I love apples!