A Kembla Heights father with a love for birds and the environment is releasing his first children's book this May, titled Madness in the Mountains.
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Jarrod Jones originally penned the story around three years ago for his then newborn son Demetre, with the Australian bush tale eventually picked up by a publisher.
"It's basically about working with nature, living in amongst it and not trying to take over, it's [the environmental message is] quite subtle but I am a bit of an avid bird watcher and fan," Mr Jones said.
"The message for kids, in a funny way, is we don't fight nature we work with it and then we'll receive the benefits.
"I have two kids of my own, quite young, and I want them to grow up embracing the outdoors and nature."
The message for kids, in a funny way, is we don't fight nature we work with it and then we'll receive the benefits.
- Jarrod Jones
The book is illustrated by Lacey Bellete with the plot following a family who leaves the city for the bush, though their new neighbours (a mischevious flock of cockatoos) take some getting used to. It's aimed at children aged six to 10.
To coincide with his literary debut, Mr Jones has launched his own YouTube channel, All Aussie Madness, with a series of quirky and educational adventures in the bushland setting. He plays the lead character "Jarro" with his sidekick "Brian" being a cockatoo always close by.
Mr Jones aims to release a new episode on a regular basis to help education kids about the bush, camping and the environment.
Madness in the Mountains is published through Playtime Books and will be released on May 15 in some Illawarra book stores and online.