Any Trout About?

Charlie and his dad enjoy feeding the trout in the stream on their regular trips into town. However, one Saturday they can’t spot any trout anywhere. The narrative traces their journey as they scour the stream asking the creatures they encounter for help along the way.

Any Trout About? is a gentle story with some beautifully descriptive passage, for example the mayflies are compared to ballet dancers shimmering in and out of the sunbeams. The delicate illustrations harmonise very well with the lyrical text. There are repeated rhyming lines ‘I’ve been in and out and there are no trout there simply are no trout about.’ This is a story which celebrates the natural world. During our virtual trip along the riverbank, we meet a dipper, a mayfly, a water vole and a swan.

This is the second book from independent publisher Muddy Little Boots whose aim is to produce books which encourage exploration and appreciation of open spaces and nature. The back of the book includes a reminder to ‘leave no trace’ and there are creative ideas for exploring the story further from collaborators Look Again an organisation which aims to build well-being through connecting with nature. Another bonus is a free audio reading accessed via a QR code on the inside cover.