In the still of the night, when the moon is high, You can hear the owl’s cry. Too-whit-too-woo; too-whit-too-woo, I wonder who he’s calling? His two big eyes are open wide, As he nodes his head from side to side, He looks so wise and oh! so clever, I’m sure he’ll live for ever and ever. I wonder why he …

A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane that enables the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family may soon be available. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane, being developed by Birmingham City University students Steve Adigbo, Waheed Rafiq and Richard Howlett, uses smartphone technology to recognise familiar faces from up to 10 metre away. The cane also features Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality to …

I’m Wuzzle, the Wasp. You’re sure to know me! I love to buzz round When you’re having tea. My suit is so smart- All striped black and yellow, And I am, altogether, A very fine fellow! ∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esme Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke

Wilma Wallaby hopped along And burst into a cheery song, In the hot Australian sun She loved to hop and skip and run. An injured bird heard Wilma sing And said, “Please stop, I’ve hurt my wing.” Wilma stopped and, bending down, She picked the bird up off the ground, And popped him in her pouch so he Was safe …

Little Willie Winkle Floated on to land, Where he loved to snuggle In the yellow sand. Cocky Mr. Cockle Chuckled nastily: Pushed the Winkle over, Back into the sea. Shrimp came to the rescue, Helped the Winkle back, But the Cockle hit him With a mighty whack. Winkle lost his temper, And he got his wish, Crowning wicked Cockle With …

Wally is a gentle walrus, He flops about all day. Wally likes to make a fuss, Of all his babes at play. He likes to eat a tasty fish, He even chews the shell. He thinks it is a lovely dish, And says it goes down well. He really isn’t full of grace, He would be if he could. But …

Dodo’s the name of a dragon who lived Outside a castle of stone. But he was never invited inside, So he was always alone. One day he snorted and flames sprouted forth High in the blue summer sky, Writing a message in smoke rings it read: “Oh, how very unhappy am I.” Now this was noticed some distance away By …

Two little dickie birds, Sitting on a wall; One named Peter, The other named Paul. Fly away, Peter! Fly away, Paul! Come back, Peter! Come back, Paul! ∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esme Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke

A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird? ∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esme Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke

Of all the gay birds that ever I did see, The owl is the fairest by far to me, Foe all day long she sits on a tree, And when the night comes away flies she. ∼ Porter G., Hilda Offen, Pradera, Esme Eve, Alan Jesset, Richard Hooke