Adventures of a Grain of Dust, The by Hallam Hawksworth (1863 – )

This charming book for children is full of interesting facts about all sorts of plants, insects, birds and animals and how they all help to enrich the soil for farmers – each in its own special way. Join our narrator, The Grain of Dust on a fascinating journey around the planet to meet them.

“I don’t want you to think that I’m boasting, but I do believe I’m one of the greatest travellers that ever was; and if anybody, living or dead, has ever gone through with more than I have I’d like to hear about it. Not that I’ve personally been in all the places or taken part in all the things I tell in this book—I don’t mean to say that—but I do ask you to remember how long it is possible for a grain of dust to last, and how many other far-travelled and much-adventured dust grains it must meet and mix with in the course of its life. …Finally, if what we call flesh and blood can think and talk, why not a grain of dust? In fact, what is flesh and blood but dust come back to life? Says the poet—and the poets know:

‘The very dust that blows along the street Once whispered to its love that life is sweet.’

You see it’s as likely a thing as could happen—this whole story.”

Summary by J. M. Smallheer with quotes from the Preface of the book