Do Not Open this Book

This is a story about various creatures, including a bird, a hedgehog, a squirrel, a bee, a snail, a frog, a mouse and an owl - the many different kinds of animal you would see in a garden or a park.

Most of them are looking for food: they are all so busy digging, foraging and chewing that they take no notice of each other.

Sometimes they get in each other’s way. Some of them steal food from others. It’s all very selfish and they get angry, grumpy and bad-tempered.

Then one day the owl notices the bee sitting on a beautiful flower, collecting pollen and drinking nectar. This gives the owl a great idea.

So, what does the owl decide to do?

Galen Downes is a former teacher and lecturer. He was born in Umtata, Transkei, South Africa. He is a graduate of Natal University (BA) and London University (MA). He has produced training videos for candidates preparing for job interviews. As a former freelancer on Swansea Sound Radio, he reported on rugby and produced a weekly local business programme.

Galen lives in Caswell, Swansea, where he is currently writing a practical language development training programme for nursery teachers and volunteers. This is part of a charitable preschool playgroup project in an African township near Cape Town. He makes regular donations to their toy library.