A NEW book is how one Tranent resident is looking to teach children about deforestation and climate change.

Laura Findlay, of Fa’side Avenue, works in childcare as a deputy manager at Wee Gems Nursery in Corstorphine and has noticed over the past year while working during lockdown that children use a lot of paper every day.

She tried explaining to them that “paper is made from trees and is precious” but, due to them being of such a young age – about four and five years old – they found it a difficult concept to grasp.

The experience left her feeling “a bit defeated” and, after researching for resources to help her teach the topic, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

It led her to write a book about the issue in a bid to make a difference to the younger generation, beginning the writing process last June.

Called Oonga’s Forest and aimed at children aged between four and nine years old, it tells the story of Oonga the Orangutan in the rainforest on the island of Borneo.

Oonga has a favourite tree she loves to eat, sleep and play in. It is the tallest tree in the forest and she can see her entire home from the top.

But then one day, Oonga hears some strange noises and goes to investigate, seeing that the rainforest she calls home will change forever.

After writing the book and finding a publisher, Laura, 25, approached her friend Wendy Tait, from Cambuslang, at the start of this year and pitched the book to her.

Wendy then agreed to do the illustrations for the book, with these taking about four months to complete.

Laura, a former Ross High School pupil, said: “Before it was published I was just at the point where I wanted to have it out. I was nervous but also excited – what if a spelling mistake had been missed?

“The reaction has been really good so far and I’ve had some fantastic feedback.

“A lot of people have ordered them and they are all arriving. They are posting pictures of their kids reading them in bed or while having their dinner because they want to read it right there and then.

“With Wendy on board, it became very much a 50/50 project. It’s been a long year but I’m delighted with how everything is going.

“I really hope that this book will be enjoyed by children, parents, grandparents and teachers and together we can make positive impacts for the future generations and our planet.”

The book is available to purchase in Waterstones, Blackwell’s and Amazon.