Moira Butterfield - Look What I Found

National Trust: Look What I Found by the River

About Author

Moira Butterfield is the creator of the 'Look What I Found...' non-fiction series for young children about the natural world around us.

Moira lived in lots of different locations as a child, and still thinks our world is an endlessly exciting place to explore. She went on to study literature and become an author of children's non-fiction and fiction and has written about many different subjects, from ancient treasures to future worlds via pirates, kings, jungles and sea monsters.

Moira lives in Bath, Somerset, with her family. She loves to cycle, sew and sing. You can find Moira on Instagram @moirabutterfieldauthor.

Interview

Look What I Found by the River (Nosy Crow)

August 2024

In the National Trust's 'Look What I Found' series, published by Nosy Crow, children will discover the range of natural treasures they might find on a walk through a wood, by the seaside, on a farm or, in the latest book, by the river.

ReadingZone spoke with author Moira Butterfield to find out how the books can be used to help young children explore the world around them, find 'treasures' on their walks, and develop a real love of the natural world - as well as introducing them to non-fiction and learning more about their world through books and reading.

Moira Butterfield introduces her 'Look What I Found....' series

"The world is an amazing place and I write lively non-fiction to help children find the incredible things around them.
I want to give them a spark that lights up their interest forever."

1. We're looking forward to finding out about your non-fiction books for younger children, but can you tell us what brought you into writing, and what you enjoy about creating non-fiction books for younger children?

I first started writing when I was eight. I made a short book about our family cats - some words and photos stuck in an exercise book. I sent it into Blue Peter and got a badge! So I guess I had the explaining and entertaining bug from early on. The world is an amazing place and I write lively non-fiction to help children find the incredible things around them. I want to give them a spark that lights up their interest forever.

2. What can we expect to find in your Look What I Found series, and your latest book, Look What I Found by the River?

The children in the books go exploring in familiar settings. In the new book they go on a riverside walk and collect natural objects as they go - in a safe and environmentally-friendly way - from seedheads on stalks (great as pretend drumsticks) to a cushion of moss the size of an egg (perfect for patting) and a stick to drop from a bridge in a water race. There's also a selection of things carefully chosen for kids to spot - such as different shaped plants plus birds, minibeasts, fish and the signs that bigger animals have been on the riverbank, too.

3. You've also written the Welcome to Our World / Welcome to Our Playground books, can you tell us what children will learn about in these books?

I wanted children to get a sense of how much children around the world are similar to them as well as having their own cultures. Both books celebrate the differences and similarities between us, and there are some easy language words to try, too.

In the first book, Welcome to our World, we find out things such as what children around the world call their nans, what they do on their birthdays and what they do when their baby teeth fall out (there are some amazing toothy traditions!). I'm incredibly proud that Welcome to Our World has been translated into many languages, and I'm hoping all the games and playtime facts packed into Welcome to Our Playtime will be popular, too. From games of all sorts to fun language words (such as Goal! in Japanese and Catch! in Greek), there's lots to try. The illustrations are by Harriet Lynas and they're super-cute and approachable.

4. What did you set out to do with the Look What I Found... series? What will children learn about in each of these books?

Enjoying being outside is so important for us all. The Look What I Found series is designed to make even the most familiar outside walk new and eye-opening. That way a walk becomes a mini adventure. Collecting bits and bobs is also a big part of it. That's something I do all the time and I know lots of children do, too. There are four books covering a beach trip, a woodland walk, a farm walk and a riverside walk…and next year the children will be walking through a city park.

5. How are the books set out, and why do you take this approach?

I've broken each walk down into six familiar scenarios. The children in the book find an object to collect in each section and there are lots of things to spot on the pages and learn about, as well as some lively rhyming text to enjoy and make the reading experience fun.

In Look What I Found By the River, we find out about plants, birds, moss, minibeasts, fish and water insects, and bigger animals that make the riverbank their home. Then we take a look at our collected treasures!

6. How do you choose what to include, so that children aren't overwhelmed with too much information?

This is such an important part of writing non-fiction! I choose what I think most children will encounter and be interested in - which is usually what I am interested in, I guess. Then it's vital to write just enough - never too much. It's also really important to make the book varied and a bit surprising for everyone reading it. That way it's memorable as well as entertaining.

7. How much research do you need before you start to write each of these books?

Lots! I go on walks, for a start (preferably with young members of my family)! I take photos as I go. Then I make my plans and go from there. In the river book, I was particularly keen to include mosses. I love running my fingers over them on walks, feeling their velvety surface and looking at their tiny varied shapes. I found six different varieties of moss that we can all spot. We can all be moss detectives!

8. The illustrations by Jesus Verona help to bring the settings to life - do you liaise with the illustrator? What do you feel his illustrations bring to the books?

Jesus has brought the books to life fabulously. His colours are glowing, and he has made these books into collectable treasures themselves! I see his roughs as we go along, and sometimes send extra reference to help, such as photos I've taken.

8. How do you envisage the books being used with children? How can what they learn in the books be taken further, either at home or in schools , to help develop a greater awareness of nature?

Read the book together, choose a few things to focus on finding, and then go on a walk. That way you can do your local walks over and over, and make them new every time - with new focuses. We often go on the same nearby walks, don't we? This way they become fresh. I'd encourage children to make a small nature object collection back 'at base' and also do their own accounts / pictures of their walk experiences. Also tag me in to your pics so that I can see! I'm on Instagram as @moirabutterfieldauthor.

9. How did your own love of nature develop and what else can we do to encourage children to love the outdoors?

When I was a child we were always out exploring and collecting, and I'm very thankful I had that chance. Now I live near the countryside and I'm out walking a lot. Doing the same walk over and over can be boring, though, without a bit of creativity. We should try to make the outdoors into an entertaining and surprising place that's fun to explore. It's so full of hidden secrets. You can really be a true explorer out there!

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