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Non-Fiction Book Reviews
Gaia: Goddess of Earth
Imogen and Isabel Greenberg, pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Mythology has an enduring allure, and readers’ fascination with the myriad of tales and their various versions is never-ending. Stories based on the adventures of gods and heroes from Greek and Roman traditions have always been popular, and in recent past certainly have been reinvigorated, initially by Rick Riordan’s best sellers, and then by many other wonderful titles to suit many ages. Alongside that, information books have multiplied too.
Gaia: Goddess of Earth and Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War, by sisters Imogen and Isabel Greenberg are a happy and enjoyable crossover. These books are written in the style of graphic novels and suitable to younger readers. They introduce two important figures from Greek mythology and themes from that tradition.
In Gaia, the myth of creation is told using bold illustrations and strong colours. The story is preceded by a gallery of characters, relevantly grouped, to ease the path ahead. Starting with Gaia herself, the book covers the battle between the Titans and the Olympians and includes a mention to the war of Troy. I loved the use of characters at the margins of the pages that act as commentators to the various adventures.
The volume dedicated to Athena follows the same structure, focuses on this goddess and includes a couple of myths, like that of Arachne’s metamorphosis. Most of the book, however, explores the role of Athena in the Trojan war and in the adventures of the Greek warrior Odysseus on his way back to his homeland, Ithaka.
Both books provide an eye-catching introduction to the complexities of the rich mythological tradition to those less familiar with it, or a fun, simplified retelling to those already acquainted. We look forward to more in what looks like a promising series.
Laura Brill
Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War
Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu
Ain Heath Drew, illus. Erin K. Robinson, pub. Barefoot Books
This fun to read illustrated non-fiction picture book is a fascinating and entertaining guide to the world of working animals, full of intriguing facts that will blow your mind!
Is your doctor a donkey? Is your postman a platypus? Probably not but wouldn’t that be the epitome of cool! Alth
This is a story about the wealth of history the African people, who have involuntarily and voluntarily spread to other parts of the world, since the 1500s hold. They are known as the African Diaspora. Both publisher and author have a commitment to open the hearts and minds of children to this narrative. Erin K. Robinson the illustrator has also done a wonderful job of bringing these events to life with a feisty use of colour and pictorial information. When all is said and done, the African continent is home to 54 countries and over 3,000 nations of people.
Ayo, a little boy, has a dream about his ancestors, the framework of which is based on his mother’s bedtime alphabet reading book. This handily gives structure to a gigantic story, making it simpler for the reader to cross reference the places described with their location on the world map. Ayo’s journey is confined to the countries around the Atlantic Ocean, where many West African people were involuntarily taken or chose to move to.
We visit the Haitian Revolution and the resulting liberation of enslaved Africans who took back their freedom by force. Palenque de San Brasilio, ‘Africa outside Africa,’ the first free town in the Americas; Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma where an independent black self-supporting community was established in about 1906; Oakland, California where the Black Panther Party established a free breakfast programme that fed thousands and the work of William Still to help hundreds of people escape to freedom in the 1800s.
Festivals, cultures, food and religions add to the alphabetical mixture. The Dogan from Mali, an indigenous tribe, one of the most ancient in Africa, Junkanoo in the Bahamas, FuFu, Hip-Hop, Calypso, Kente fabric from Ghana, and much more. 5-10 year olds will love this book. A reference for history, geography or simply a bedtime story, this book reliably meets expectations.
ough it may seem absurd to suggest such a thing, there are many animals that do have jobs they perform on a daily basis. In this epic and whirlwind journey around the globe you will meet some incredible animals and learn all about the incredible jobs they do. From bomb-sniffing bees to detector dolphins and caddy llamas to New York City bodega cats, these animals are doing extraordinary things on land and at sea, in city and town to ensure the safety and security of other animals and people.
There are so many things that readers will learn in this brilliant book that I want to share just a few with you, to give you a flavour of how good it is. You can look at the role that therapy animals play in helping people feel calmer in airports, including LiLou the superstar therapy pig of San Fransisco. Or learn how llamas can aid golfers on their journey around the course and no, they don’t eat the golf balls or ever leave a mess behind! And then there are the bees which can be trained in order to detect illnesses in people. There is a whole lot more but hopefully this gives you a sense of the wow factor this book delivers.
There is no doubt that the witty, fact-filled text written by Simon Philips pairs perfectly with Adam Ming's captivating contemporary art to create an ideal gift for anyone, of any age who loves animals, loves the weird and wonderful and learning something new about our amazing animal friends.
Elizabeth Negus
Colours of the World: The Wildlife of Our Beautiful Planet
Moira Butterfield, illus. Jonathan Woodward, pub. Little Tiger
Colours of the World is an attractive large book full of intriguing facts about the natural world. It introduces readers to different habitats around the world. We learn how animals and humans have adapted to live around the globe. The book is divided into three sections - Our Blue Planet; Our Green Planet; Our Red Planet.
As an example, Our Blue Planet covers the 71% of earth that is covered in water. We learn about water, oceans, rivers and seas. Forests and trees are the focus in Our Green Planet and Our Red Planet looks at deserts and volcanoes. In each section we are told about a range of habitats and the creatures who live there. A detailed Contents page lists the topics covered. At the back of the book there are pages on how we can help to stop pollution and slow down global warming. The book closes with a useful, comprehensive index.
Information is presented in accessible chunks that are clearly explained. There are some stunning illustrations – my favourites are the axolotl, the roly-poly Baikal seals, the sleeping bears and the macaque monkeys! The pages are well designed with a variety of techniques that help engage interest such as headings, sub-headings, maps, diagrams and postcards.
Colours of the World informs and creates a sense of awe about the natural world. This is a book that can be read alone, or shared. It is ideal for dipping into. Highly recommended for anyone aged 5 and over.
Brenda Marshall
Dungeons & Dragons Museum
pub. Studio Press
Colours of the World is an attractive large book full of intriguing facts about the natural world. It introduces readers to different habitats around the world. We learn how animals and humans have adapted to live around the globe. The book is divided into three sections - Our Blue Planet; Our Green Planet; Our Red Planet.
As an example, Our Blue Planet covers the 71% of earth that is covered in water. We learn about water, oceans, rivers and seas. Forests and trees are the focus in Our Green Planet and Our Red Planet looks at deserts and volcanoes. In each section we are told about a range of habitats and the creatures who live there. A detailed Contents page lists the topics covered. At the back of the book there are pages on how we can help to stop pollution and slow down global warming. The book closes with a useful, comprehensive index.
Information is presented in accessible chunks that are clearly explained. There are some stunning illustrations – my favourites are the axolotl, the roly-poly Baikal seals, the sleeping bears and the macaque monkeys! The pages are well designed with a variety of techniques that help engage interest such as headings, sub-headings, maps, diagrams and postcards.
Colours of the World informs and creates a sense of awe about the natural world. This is a book that can be read alone, or shared. It is ideal for dipping into. Highly recommended for anyone aged 5 and over.
Simon Barrett
Faedom: Enter the World of Fairies
Agnes Monod-Gayraud & Lorna White, illus. Nadzeya Makeyeva, pub. Big Picture Press
Are you intrigued by the world of the fairies, enough to want to step in and explore it? There are centuries of myth, legend, folklore and wonder to explore in this mythical realm. You might need a guide so as not to get lost in the worlds of wonder these fair folk weave around them, there are certainly others who have ventured in and not returned. Faedom is the guide I recommend. Not only is it packed with everything you ever wanted to know but there is so much more, so much that I imagine you have never even considered. And that is just the facts, then there is the illustration, breathtaking in its wonder.
Discover the difference between fairy fact and fiction – some of it may surprise you! Learn more about where these fairies come from and what it is that has invested them with so many wonderful powers and personalities. Get up close and personal with the fairies of myth, some of whom are older than we realise, discover how many truths hide behind some of these stories, learn not to dismiss any of them at your peril too. Then peruse the different literary and cultural references, some of which may, once again, prove surprising. Fairies like to play with human ideas, they may have mixed up a few truths and myths, stories and facts to hide their trails…
As well as all the facts and wonderful illustrations you will find story, poem, fact, figures (yes there are numbers and stats associated with the fair folk), folklore all of which is intended to engage and entertain readers of all ages. And, for those who are interested in our natural world, in the roots of all this story, myth, legend and fact, there is some fascinating detail about the natural world, its lunar cycles, astrology, healing crystals and herbology. This is a book which cannot fail to fascinate any reader who is even remotely curious.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
I Wonder: A Book of Questions With No Answers
Philip Bunting, pub. Walker Books
I Wonder – with a tagline ‘A Book of Questions With No Answers’ – introduces young children to a range of questions for which we truly (as yet) have no answers. The book has minimal text so readers are not bombarded with facts but are encouraged to explore the topics considered further. Indeed, in addition to the main question ‘I wonder what happened before the Big Bang?’ the answer poses further reflections such as ‘What caused it to go pop in the first place?’ and ‘Are there other universes out there now?’ Many of the questions are philosophical in nature – for instance, ‘What makes us want to be good?’ and ‘I wonder what love is?’ – but the book also touches on science and religion, for example, ‘I wonder if there is a god?’ And ‘I wonder how life on earth began?’
The book is fully illustrated with vivid, colourful and eye-catching cartoon-style drawings that fill the pages and, if you are reading this with children, be prepared for a huge number of questions for which you may – or may not – have the answers. This is a book to read together, to encourage exploration and discussion of some quite heavy topics. It is aimed at 5 – 8 years olds but the questions could also be used with older children to inspire debate and reflection.
Written to promote scientific curiosity in children, it encourages young people to take pleasure in the countryside. From there to enjoy studying natural history or a related subject by joining a club or interest group. ‘Bird brain’, is a phrase frequently banded about without much appreciation of just how clever some birds can be. Fascinating facts include - a crow’s brain is smaller than a walnut, but it is packed with 1,500,000,000 neurons which is as many as some monkeys, five times as many as pigeons. They can identify individual people and distinguish friend from foe. Known individuals are safe but that same known individual plus a ladder is not. Surprised, read on?
The story starts with Oki hatching and being cared for by her extended crow family. Some are more helpful than others, as crows have character traits too. After a while a team of scientists arrive to weigh and measure the ‘kids,’ as they are called. They draw samples of blood, fit them with identifying bands and tags. All quick and painless. But a cacophony of cawing, sends the intruders away in no doubt that they are not welcome. Bird banding and its usefulness to scientific research is one of the many aspects touched upon. Along with the process of ‘budding.’ Before you know it Oki has her own nest and family. Fascinating facts include crow funerals and being distant relatives of the dinosaurs. Just look at their feet.
An inspiring book for potential biologists or young readers who want a lovely story about crows, beautifully illustrated and equally at home in a school or home.
Barbara Band
The Kids’ Book Of Craft Love: Write. Make. Play. Share.
Astrid van der Hulst, illus. Irene Smit, pub. Workman Publishing
This exciting new craft book is the latest edition in Flow Magazines Creativity series that is designed to inspire children's imagination and creativity. It is a unique book which is separated into four chapters, Write, Make, Play, and Share, and each subdivision provides a wide-ranging collection of fun projects for children who revel in crafting.
Inside you will find over 75 enjoyable and interesting activities, which are certain to inspire children of all ages to turn the two-dimensional pages into three-dimensional creations as they tear out the pages and create projects out of them. A few examples of what is inside are: foldable gift boxes, puppets, origami, bracelet making, colouring, sticker mandalas, embroidery postcards and a great deal more.
Even though this project craft book is primarily intended for children aged 9 and over, it does have the potential to appeal to both teens and adults alike equally. The only additional things you really need are a couple of pegs, scissors, colouring materials, and tape, making it a great choice for those on a budget. I feel that this is a great gift idea for crafty children of all ages, although younger children may need help with some parts such as cutting and accurate folding.
Katy Ralph
My First Book of Evolution
Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón and Eduard Altarriba, pub. Button Books
This is the sixth book collaboration from award-winning duo, Ferrón and Altarriba, and is another fantastic investigation of a complex subject explained in an easy-to-understand way. The comprehensive contents page makes topics easy to find and the book covers a huge range to explore starting with What Is Life and followed by a dive into species, natural selection, adaptation, heredity, mutations, genetics, evolution, speciation, artificial selection and more.
It talks about who Darwin was, his journeys and discoveries and concludes with an explanation of LUCA (the last universal common ancestor) alongside questions about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. For a young person interested in evolution, this book is certain to keep them absorbed for hours. It is also an excellent introduction to the subject for those who want to discover more.
Altarriba’s background in graphic design is easy to see in the well-designed pages with their mix of fonts and layouts that make the book visually interesting and help to divide what could be a complex subject into easy to understand blocks. The pages are also packed with drawings, diagrams and maps and readers are taken step by step through various scientific theories and concepts. Aimed at 9 – 11 year olds this book also fits in perfectly with the Primary Key Stage 2 curriculum.
Barbara Band
On Track: The Remarkable Story of how Trains have Changed Our World
Tom Adams, illus. Tom Jay, pub. Quarto Publishing
This book covers the story of how trains have changed our world, from the first steam railways to the trains of the future. It’s packed with amazing detail plus facts about the history and development of railways. There is some in-depth content with each page covering one aspect about railways. The whole book is informative, interesting and beautifully illustrated. You could read through it in order from beginning to end or dip in and out of different chapters. Overall, it’s very well produced and researched. Whether the reader is interested in trains on not, there is something here for everyone. It starts with a contents page listing all eleven chapters. There is a useful timeline beginning in 1804 with Richard Trevithick through to 2018 and the first hydrogen train in Germany.
Iconic trains and journeys are explored, from the Orient Express to the Pacific Railroad. Rail pioneers are featured, including George Stephenson and Mary Elizabeth Walton. The golden age of steam covers classic locomotives like Stephenson’s Rocket and the Mallard. There is mention of Suspension Railways, Sky Trains, underground trains and wartime trains. The future is also covered with driverless trains. Reference to Thomas the Tank engine will appeal to younger readers, whilst others will be interested in the Chattanooga choo-choo, Hogwarts Express and the Flying Scotsman. You can almost hear the clickety-clack of wheels on the tracks as you browse this wonderful tribute to all things trains. How trains work and stay safe, even spectacular station buildings are shown. It is impressive that the changing role of women is covered as well as people of all races and cultures. No railway book would be complete without featuring important events and places, including the Stockton to Darlington Railway, the Liverpool to Manchester Railway, the Rainhill Trials, the Rocket and George and Robert Stephenson. Did you know that the first inter-city passenger railway was the Liverpool to Manchester and George Stephenson is known as “Father of the Railways”?
This is an amazing book covering every aspect in the development of railways in an interesting, fun and informative way. It will appeal to children and many adults will also discover some new and interesting facts about trains and railways, including the navvies, cuttings, embankments, tunnels and viaducts.
Gary Kenworthy
The Sahara: Earth’s Incredible Places
Christina Webb, illus. Muti, pub. Flying Eye Books
This robustly-produced book, complete with artist illustrations is a wide-ranging guide to the Sahara past and present, covering its formation, wildlife, peoples and their legends. It explains the singing sands and how types of sand dunes are formed. The reader is introduced to some of the world’s fastest creatures including the Sahara’s silver ant that can move 108 times its body length in a second and the North African ostrich that can reach a speed of 72km/hour.
The book covers the discoveries of the earliest remains of humans in 2017, challenging the belief that East Africa is the birthplace of humanity. I particularly enjoyed the section on dinosaurs including the Spinosaurus, the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever found. There are plenty of interesting facts including information about the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant and one of the world’s first universities, in Timbuktu.
Pages are attractively presented with a good balance of text and illustration. The Contents pages are detailed and there is a helpful glossary and index. The book includes an important section about saving the Sahara and reminds us “Though we’re not all navigating the desert, we are each responsible for keeping the Earth’s ecosystems balanced.” To quote the back cover: “the Sahara is “a land of epic extremes where only the tough survive...”
The book is an excellent introduction to an important place. Highly recommended for readers aged 9+.
Brenda Marshall
There’s No Such Thing As A Silly Question: 213 Weird Questions, Expertly Answered!
Mike Rampton, illus. Guilherme Karsten, pub. Nosy Crow
This book is nice to hold. It feels substantial, the cover has a nice texture, the colours are strong. It feels important, which I like, because of the title. It corroborates the value of a curious mind. I like that thinking and asking are given this respect.
There are 213 questions answered, of the sort that 4 to 7-year-olds might ask. Very few of them are truly silly (how many toilets are there in the world), what they actually are is difficult to answer (what happens inside a black hole), or challenging the taken-for-granted (should children be allowed to vote), and so frequently dismissed as silly and left with a response. These are the questions that bound awkwardly from the imagination, that carry the flame of wanting to know, the ignoring of which disengages too many children from learning. I love the intent of this book – and its execution.
Art first. Quite mainstream, but vibrant and well-composed. Plenty of character, never boring to look at. Bounces off the page, makes you want to read the words.
Text now. Direct, chatty, dense, never patronising, but a smooth read. Tests the vocabulary and uses words that will surely lead to more questions, but treats its reader as a grown-up, simply one who knows fewer things and is inquisitive. Some readers will need help with the words, but once they understand them they won’t struggle, as there’s nothing convoluted here. There’s a well-considered glossary, so it’s words like ‘abstract’ and ‘temporarily’ that’ll need the explaining.
Overall, a fine and enjoyable book to broaden the mind, and a stand-out in the category of ‘a big bunch of random things you didn’t know and might not have thought about’ of which there are many these days. Worth checking out and much recommended.
Dmytro Bojaniwskyj
Wonderful Words That Tell A Tale: An etymological exploration of over 100 everyday words
Tom Read Wilson, illus. Ian Morris, pub. Words & Pictures
What's it like to discover and learn new words? like ‘petrichor’ which signifies the fresh smell of soil after it is soaked with water; or ‘chiaroscuro’ which is the word for a monochrome picture; or ‘hygge’ which defines the cosy comfort of togetherness. Words shape our lives with the expressions we use them for. I have always been a logophile, a person who loves words and language and the possibilities it brings forth in our day to day communication whether it be for aesthetics, or poetry, or daily conversations.
This new year I have received something I love, a book full of words: Wonderful Words That Tell A Tale with a text richly illustrated by Ian Morris, the two come together to create a book which is an interactive read for children aged 6-13. It is full of words from different spheres of life like food, travel, history, music, geography, space, science and anything you may imagine that a kid would love to know about. Each page is designed in such a manner to encourage and allow readers to learn a word in depth. For instance, the word ‘Easter’ signifying the goddess of spring in pagan culture and also an important Christian festival is described through a poem, word origin, etymological description, and a fun fact! So much more than the meaning is there in a single word! The watercolour art makes it look even more beautiful and appealing.
The book contains over one hundred such words from different fields incorporating the beauty of life when meaning is present. The verification provides another opportunity to kids, to learn the usage of words poetically and in sentences. It is a wonderful primer for children who are eager, who need to learn, understand and express themselves in newer utterances. This amazing collection of words can be gifted to children, read in schools as a vocabulary builder or be kept as a keepsake to return to whenever in need.
Ishika Tiwari
