Summer 2024
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Non-Fiction Book Reviews
24 Hours Under the Ocean
Lan Cook, illus. Laurent Kling, pub. Usborne
24 Hours Under the Ocean is an appealing, informative read. We spend a day in a high-tech sub with research scientists descending into the darkest depths of the Pacific Ocean. Our trip starts with a safety briefing and then we investigate an unexplored seamount using a computer-generated map. Our mission is to survey it, taking lots of videos and samples. We learn about the submarine, how it operates and see some of the equipment. After important checks are completed, we launch and dive.
I like the comic book style of this title which makes the content accessible. The pictorial aspect of the book is impressive - annotated diagrams are used throughout and are an excellent way of learning. My favourites are the diagram of the Ocean Depth Zones and the diagram of the Deep Submergence Vehicle. We see how experiments are performed and explore alien landscapes thousands of miles below the surface. I was fascinated by the pictures of creatures. The colours and shapes of the bioluminescent creatures in the midnight zone are awe-inspiring. I especially loved the Giant siphonophore which can grow up to 40m (130 feet) long and lives at a depth of around 700-10000m (2,300-3,300ft).
The Language of the Deep spread explains how creatures communicate with each other in “the vast darkness of the deep.” There are many more strange creatures throughout the book including the Bigfin squid, Eelpout fish, Elvis worms, the Japanese spider crab and the Headless chicken monster. I enjoyed seeing how a whale fall on the ocean floor supports a community of creatures. I recommend visiting the Usborne Quicklinks for links to websites where you can dive under the ocean in a submarine, meet strange deep-sea creatures and try some creature quizzes.
A fantastic insight into another world.
Brenda Marshall
A Book of People Like Me
HarperCollins Children’s Books, illus. Joelle Avelino, pub. Harper Collins Children’s Books
This new non-fiction style picturebook is a really lovely story told through the eyes of a young, and inquisitive boy named Kenny. Little Kenny is on a journey of self-discovery. There is nothing he loves more than being outside riding his bike, also Kenny is also very attached to his sweet dog, Ketchup. There is something about young Kenny that makes him wonder, is there really anyone else like him in the world?
I have no doubt this book will provide young readers with plenty of interesting and thought-provoking facts about the world in which we live in today. The use of bright, colourful illustrations throughout this book ensures that it is presented in an approach that is open and accessible to everyone. The little things that make people come together day to day are celebrated in this inspiring story about a boy and his dog.
This is a wonderfully illustrated book and could be a brilliant resource that will help children to explore concepts such as identity, belonging and friendship in an easy-to-understand way. In terms of reading age, this is a perfect book for children aged 4 and up, which makes it an ideal choice for early years and above.
Katy Ralph
A Family of Trees: My First Book of Forests
Peggy Thomas, illus. Cookie Moon, pub. Phaidon
A Family of Trees aims to be “an artful introduction to trees, forests and the science of tree communication” for 2-4 year olds. To make the topic relatable to children of such a young age the author compares forests to families: there are parent trees, baby trees, all come in different shapes and sizes, communicate, share food, make friends, care for each other and the planet. For slightly older readers, these basic facts are expanded, offering more tree science detail under the simple captions: for example, how trees support each against breakage, how forests clean the world’s drinking water and create oxygen.
The cleverly thought-out accordion-style format of the book means that the back panels offer further information about nine different forest ‘families’ across the globe, from cloud forests in Uganda to rainforests in Brazil and frozen forests in Finland. Simple explanations show how each forest variety adapts to its region and highlight some of the flora and fauna which rely on that habitat, with examples, such as pink dolphins and pygmy fruit bats, carefully chosen to intrigue and inform young readers. Despite the postcard-sized format, the illustrations are clear and packed full of tiny details. Children will enjoy spotting the variety of creatures which make their home in the forests around the world.
With its clearly presented curricular information, global context and important environmental message, A Family of Trees is an innovative and invaluable for KS1. Small but imaginatively-formed and packing in a huge amount of information, it would make an eye-catching addition to classroom nature tables displayed carousel-style, or unfolded as a forest-scape which is over 2 metres long for a shelf-display. Fortunately, the fold-out card pages are sturdy enough to withstand repeated handling and interaction as this brilliant book will definitely command attention from little ones!
Eileen Armstrong
An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens
Charlotte Guillain, illus. Helen Shoesmith, pub. Welbeck
A fabulous book from Welbeck created in association with Kew Gardens. This is An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens, one that is open to all who open the book.
We are invited to explore the Botanic Gardens. Our VIP Access Pass enables us to access all areas and go behind the scenes. On our tour we visit a variety of fascinating areas. One of my favourites is the Temperate Zone with its beautiful gatefold of the glasshouse that opens to reveal unusual plants such as a fern tree, a Himalayan yew and a kangaroo paw. The captions tell us more about each plant and we learn about photosynthesis. We also see horticulture students caring for the plants. In the Waterlily House we see giant waterlilies from the Amazon rainforest that and grow to be three metres across. There are workers in the pond raking out dead leaves so plants can thrive.
The Carnivorous Plant House fascinated me with its range of insect eating plants. I also enjoyed The Herbarium - “the heart of the botanic garden.” Here we meet scientists who identify plant species and help to protect endangered species. In the Science Laboratory we learn about research on which plants will help beat disease and climate change. I enjoyed visiting The Seed Bank with its fire-, flood- and bomb-proof vault where over two billion seeds from across the world are stored, including seeds from plants that are extinct but could be reintroduced to wild habitats. We wander through outside areas such as The Kitchen Garden, the Conservation Meadow, the Arboretum and play and learn in the Children’s Garden. Finally, we visit the café and exit via gift shop.
The book is beautifully designed with charming illustrations. A fascinating journey of exploration and discovery that will inform and inspire.
Brenda Marshall
Astrophysics for Supervillains
Dr Matthew Bothwell, illus. Nathan Reed, pub. DK
Every supervillain needs a good understanding of the universe they are planning to conquer. If you are hoping to take one over any time soon, or simply want to cause chaos, then this book will become your most valuable guide.
For any readers who are keen to know whether it is possible to crash the Moon into the Earth or whether you can stretch someone into spaghetti, this is the book for you. For those who simply want to find out more about the planets in our Solar System and whether cold winters are worse in the UK or on Mars, then this is also the book for you!
This terrific book is well-presented, fun and informative. It is separated into well thought-out chapters, with sections on planets, the death of stars and black holes (and how to use them) before finishing with the most important chapter for any budding supervillain: how to destroy Earth. Children interested in space will adore this book; with insights into all aspects of the universe delivered in a comical way. The more challenging scientific language and concepts are explained well so that readers of all levels can gain a good understanding of the content within the book, no matter how complex it is! The pages are engaging with different fonts used to direct the reader’s eyes to key parts as well as super illustrations by Nathan Reed. Each page looks different, whether it has fun facts or quick questions to get the reader thinking – you will not lose interest easily whilst reading!
Pick up this book and your journey to taking over the universe will begin!
Tom Joy
Bang: the Wild Wonders of Earth’s Phenomena
Jennifer N. R. Smith, pub. Thames & Hudson
Prepare to be awed by the wild wonders of the world’s natural phenomena in this phenomenal book!
Bang is an astonishing achievement: an oversized, hyper detailed, fascinating exploration of the amazing things our planet can do. The award-winning science illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith skilfully uses each double page spread to maximum effect, each focussing on a different phenomenon - from explosive fire-spitting volcanoes and twisty tornadoes to sparkling crystal caves and swirling polar light shows. She explains why natural spectacles happen and how they shape the earth itself, drawing the reader in with intriguing questions and relatable comparisons; explaining the earth’s structure as if it were a slice of pie, for example. Diagrams are all clearly labelled, scientific terminology clearly explained. Information is given in bite-sized chunks and the examples are carefully chosen to engage, intrigue and be easily remembered (like those snow monkeys that love to soak in a natural hot tub!) Everything about this book is exceptional. The bright orange marbled endpapers cleverly resemble molten lava, HUV printing lends a luminous quality to the pages, a neon colour palette of greens, pinks and oranges make the illustrations pop and tiny dots (almost Aboriginal art style) give depth and texture to each minutely-detailed drawing. The result is stunning: engaging, informative and eminently browsable.
Bang is a brilliant learning resource for upper KS2 and lower KS3 and should be in every classroom project box and school library. Genuinely awe-inspiring, it would make an excellent gift for budding earth scientists and encourages readers of all ages to look for the wonder in the world around them. Bang is also the follow-up to the highly acclaimed Glow. Definitely watch out for future titles in this superb series of highly-readable non-fiction exploring amazing natural phenomena - and collect them all!
Eileen Armstrong
The Big Book of Useless Knowledge: 250 of the Coolest, Weirdest, and Most Unbelievable Facts You Won’t be Taught in School
Sophie Allan, Dr. Victoria Atkinson, Dr. Brittney Borowiec, Laura Buller, Anna Goldfield, Dr. Yara Haridy, Dr. Lucia Perez Diaz, illus. Liz Kay, Hannah Li, Alexander Mostov, pub. Neon Squid
Useless knowledge delights young people, freeing them to find out about themselves, the world, the universe, as they please. There are no expectations, there is no need to retain useless knowledge, the dreaded learning-ready-to-be-tested bit isn’t there. They won’t even need it for school. As the book clearly states in its sub-title – this knowledge won’t be taught in school. It’s the ultimate knowing-for-knowledge-sake, shared because it’s interesting and fascinating in itself.
The Big Book of Useless Knowledge has been written and illustrated by a selection of individuals, hence giving both authors and illustrators full credit in this review without an et al. All the authors are noted communicators, many are specialists in numerous scientific fields broadly within the Earth Sciences and of course Space Science. The illustrators’ artwork is playful, imaginative and informative, including double and single page spreads and spot illustrations giving the book a cohesive and aesthetic appeal.
The chapters begin by examining the natural world and the human body, before including facts about places, prehistory, history, culture and finally introducing science, the earth and space. A broad range of facts with a broad appeal. There is a sub-title to each chapter, giving a taster of what to expect. By reading this book you won’t have to shave a zebra to find out whether it is black or white; know where to go to see a moonbow; realise there a surprising amount of information in poo; find out how old you are; the colour of the inside of the earth without digging a hole and whether tortoises have been in space. Look it up in the book if you want the answers!
There are plenty of brilliant, encyclopaedic, fact books on the market. The Big Book of Useless Knowledge is a great addition, expanding upon each fact, explaining it further in an accessible and entertaining style.
(Shh! Don’t tell the publisher, but I actually learnt some of these facts in school: I already knew you couldn’t fold paper more than seven times. But as a teacher I’m desperate to get a few of these facts into my lessons, starting in September, to see the students’ reactions.)
Simon Barrett
The Body Confidence Book: Respect, Accept and Empower Yourself
Phillippa Diedrichs, illus. Naomi Wilkinson, pub. Frances Lincoln Children's Books
This small but mighty book is an ideal size for the intended audience. It is colourful, bright and filled to the brim with insights, ideas and positive messaging around navigating being a teenager in a digital world. Each chapter tackles a big issue and asks questions that some may be too shy to ask a friend or family member. Is my body normal? Should we compare with others? How can you help your community?
This is a vital book for secondary schools to have on shelves for those teens keen to work out the world around them, to help them find their place in friendship groups and navigate social media. The illustrations are brilliant and relevant to the subject and audience. With the message "Respect, accept and empower yourself" on the cover, this book is ideal for teens, and pre-teens. Research psychologist Professor Phillippa Diedrichs empowers us to respect our bodies and disrupt the harmful societal pressures we experience every day. By age 15 60% of us lack body confidence. It’s now seen as normal to grow up feeling unhappy with our bodies. But it doesn’t have to be this way. From filtered faces and dangerous body expectations on social media, to the pressures put on us by friends and family, our bodies have been through enough. The time is now to rally against these outdated ideals and create communities that celebrate the diversity of our bodies.
Through science and storytelling, Professor Diedrichs breaks down key topics such as toxic social media content, the value of diverse role models, health and body image and expressing yourself through your looks. Providing information, positivity and encouragement to encourage readers to accept and respect themselves, this book will give readers the power to challenge appearance stereotypes and feel at home in their own bodies. The Body Confidence Book is not only empowering and inspiring, it is practical. At the end of every chapter, there are simple tasks to help you put into practice the topics covered, including body appreciation mirror exercises and curating your social media feed.
Illustrated in a bold and inclusive style by Naomi Wilkinson, this is the book you need to help you be body confident and help make the world around you more accepting of everyone, regardless of who they are or how they look. Because every body is beautiful and every body deserves to be respected.
Erin Hamilton
The Brainiac’s Book of Robots and AI
Paul Virr, illus. Harriet Russell, pub. Thames & Hudson
The Brainiac’s Book of Robots and AI is another in the Thames & Hudson Brainiac series introducing STEM topics, looking at various aspects of science and technology in an accessible, fun and creative way.
Robots and AI is currently a hot subject generating a lot of discussion in schools and educational settings, and it is likely that young people today will be growing up in a world where AI is a factor in much of what they do. This book starts by looking at the history of robots, defining what they are before exploring how robots work - can they think and act for themselves? - as well as how to build one. It then explores robots in the world of work, considering the jobs they currently do (especially those that are dirty, dull and dangerous) before moving on to look at future possibilities such as nanobots battling bugs inside the human body and robotic limbs.
Robots and humans are compared in terms of skills and the contentious area of robot creativity is discussed including artificial art, humanoid robots and robotic cars. This is a visually attractive book with infographics and quirky illustrations, the information and concepts being explained are easy to understand and the narrator, ROB3RTA, is a cartoon robot that features throughout the book, presenting additional facts and explanations. There is a useful glossary, a timeline of robotic inventions and an index. There are also hands-on activities to explore such as creating a robotic hands and writing the first bill of rights for robots as well as a quiz.
Barbara Band
The Brainiac's Book of the Body and Brain
Rosie Cooper, illus. Harriet Russell, pub. Thames & Hudson
The Brainiac's Book of Body and Brain is an absolutely brilliant book; what a fun and exciting way to learn about the functions of the human body! Part of the Brainiac series – the other books are Climate and Weather, and Robots and AI (see review above) – it is aimed at 8-12 year olds and will have them going back time and time again plus sharing some delightful information about the body to whoever will listen.
Starting with the brain, how it sends messages and builds learning routes, readers discover how emotions can take over and how to improve memory. We learn about super senses, synaesthesia, where two or more senses are linked together, as well as secret senses such as chronoception, the sense of time passing. The section on excretion is totally gross with a Bristol Stool Scale enabling you to “rate your poo”; farts, snot and dead skin cells are not forgotten. This section is definitely not for the squeamish – did you know, by the time you are 10 years old you will have produced 500kg of poo! There is information about historical moments in medicine, current technology in use and bugs found in the body. Finally, leftover body parts (such as the coccyx and appendix), weird evolution and mutated genes are explored.
With amusing illustrations, a narration from resident skeleton, Skully Boneapart, and quizzes, experiments and tasks this book is a delight.
Barbara Band
The Children’s Book of Wildlife Watching: Tips for Spotting Nature Outdoors.
Dan Rouse, illus. Abby Cook, pub. DK
This book invites its readers to observe the surrounding wildlife and to interact with animals living in green spaces, be that a meadow, a garden or even a balcony. The content is divided into short chapters where brief but very clear and informative notes accompany drawings and photographs of animals and plants. Information on a variety of birds and insects helps to identify them.
There is constant interaction with the readers through questions and tips sections, experiments and activities. These include creating a mammal tracker using a tray, some sand and seeds in a corner of the garden or building a bird nest or suitable homes for amphibians, and even recording and studying minibeasts. These are all excellent activities to be enjoyed at any age, but encouraging young readers to take an active role in conservation and building their understanding of the natural world is key to the success of future projects aimed to protect nature.
Dan Rouse’s aim is to share her love of wildlife and to encourage such a friendly and proactive approach to gardening and nature watching. This is achieved successfully in this book, through the advice given in accessible language and the various projects.
Laura Brill
Dive, Dive into the Night Sea
Thea Lu, pub. Walker Studio
The yellow light of a diver’s torch illuminates the wonders of the world hiding in the deep sea. There it reveals the shapes of many creatures that live in and around the coral reef. Parrot fish, manta rays, starfish, octopus and even a vertically sleeping pod of sperm whales meet the eyes of the diver, and the reader. When the brave diver dares to turn off the light, bioluminescent plankton and fluorescent corals reveal themselves in a swirl of blue. Eventually the lone diver emerges to the surface, greeted by the full moon.
The sparse and poetic words accompany the striking illustrations and are complemented by notes on some of the sea life featuring in the book, which are hidden under the flaps of the pages.
Lu, recent winner of the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition 2024 with her debut book Here and There, uses few colours and rich texture in this book to create a beautiful world in this illustrated book. Having admired other work by Lu where a wide colour palette is present, this is a choice that successfully contributes to the atmosphere of a story which young readers will love to explore.
Laura Brill
Every Body: Celebrate, Respect and Accept ALL Bodies
Molly Forbes, illus. Mollie Cronin, pub. Penguin Random House Children’s Books
Everyone's bodies are different and unique and it is extremely important that children learn this at a young age. We all have a body. They don't always function the same way as other peoples. And they certainly don't all look the same. But one thing is certain ¬- everybody and every body, deserves respect. Sometimes social media can make us feel like we're not good enough if we don't have a 'perfect' body. But the truth is, everyone feels bad about their bodies sometimes – even celebrities with millions of followers. Author and campaigner Molly Forbes is here to show you that you - and ONLY you - get to decide how you feel about your body. If we want to change the conversation around body image, we need to advocate for every single body - including those that look or function differently from our own. It's time to stop criticising the way we look and celebrate all our glorious differences!
This is such an interesting book to read. It’s the kind of book that you are able to dip in and out of and every time you do you learn something new and interesting, not just about the human body but about perceptions, anatomy, social life, society, social media. This book covers many aspects related to the body such as the science of the body, diet and exercise, disabilities, mental health and so much more. Every Body: Celebrate, Respect and Accept ALL Bodies has also been designed so that it is fun to read, the page layout is engaging with an orange and white format throughout the book.
With quotes from famous people, some of whom young readers will be able to relate to, who could already be role models, for example, Sam Smith and detailed illustrations there is a lot here to support the growing understanding of readers and this book really is a must for every school or place where young people gather.
Helen Byles
The Every Body Book of Consent: An LGBTQIA Inclusive Guide to Respecting Boundaries, Bodies and Beyond
Rachel E Simon, illus. Noah Grigni, pub. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
The Every Body Book of Consent, a follow-up to The Every Body Book, is a valuable resource aimed at children aged 8-12 years. Although it covers sexual consent, it is designed to teach young readers about the wider concepts of consent including verbal and non-verbal communication, self-reflection, respect, and setting boundaries and saying no.
The key themes covered include understanding consent and appreciating that this is essential in all interactions; effective communication as a key component, and the importance of respecting personal boundaries whether these relate to physical space, belongings or emotions. It also looks at gender expectations and power in relationships. By educating children about consent and boundaries, this book empowers them to make informed decisions and feel confident in asserting their rights.
With the help of colourful illustrations and an engaging style, as well as appropriate and straightforward language, it provides an inclusive and accessible introduction to these important topics. The book is a highly recommended resource that introduces children to the essential concepts of consent and serves as a valuable tool for parents, carers and professional working with children to initiate and encourage conversations around the areas of consent and respect. For those wanting additional resources, there is also a list of useful websites for children and adults to consult for more information.
Barbara Band
Finding Home: Amazing Places Animals Live
Mike Unwin, illus. Jenni Desmond, pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
For all its many qualities, and there are many, I feel this book is destined to be a bit niche: not liked by all but loved by many. Quite intensely itself, too much so for some. It’s an animal book. There are 20, each given a generously-sized double-page spread to explore some of the distinguishing and often rare aspects of the way in which they go about making and inhabiting a home.
There are few stars of the animal world here, it’s more an ensemble piece of the character actors: cathedral termite, three-toed sloth, rhinoceros hornbill. This will serve to delight those who love their animals, but also retain the interest of those bored by the half-heartedly researched hack parade of lions, tigers and bears too often seen. And the research has been done properly this time. The text is dense with engaging detail delivered enthusiastically. We’re deep into the David Attenborough Age of evocative, insightful narration and this mostly emulates it well. There is the odd point where the writing is needlessly over-aware of its youngest readers, but very almost always it’s spot-on.
Of course, a lot of the heavy lifting has to be done by the illustrations. These succeed. There is some abstraction to the illustrations, some technique worn conspicuously, to emerge the character of their subjects. This isn’t photo-realist computer-aided realism. The orang-utans are human, the puffins are sweet, the hermit crab baroque. The fish-bearing bald eagle returning to the nest reminds me of a briefcase-toting executive coming up the garden path of their new-build. ‘Evocative’ is my favourite word with art, I want to feel I’m in the picture. I can use it here.
Overall, this book makes me happy. It’s a lovely splash of the natural world that will work well throughout primary years, so I’d say a library necessity and very much welcomed by the young reader beginning to go beyond the superficial with animals.
Dmytro Bojaniwskyj
Let’s Go!
Julie Flett, pub. Greystone Kids
At this time of year we can spend weeks watching chicks take their first hesitant steps out of the nest, grow in competence and confidence, then be independent young birds. Reading this book is like doing that. We live our young protagonist’s looking-on and yearning-to-be, to the point of confidently being and inviting others in. It’s the journey of becoming that’s so important to young lives: seeing, aspiring, trying, failing, succeeding.
Here, skateboarding is the means by which the story is told. Seeing skateboarders from behind an excluding window, to being the confident skateboarder inviting others to join in. It’s a great metaphor: all energy, speed, motion, dynamic – the forward thrust of growing up. It’s anecdotal too, personal to the author so genuine in the telling, the story never feels constructed but shared. I like the first-person ownership the child has over the narrative, the process of growing up. The presence of the mother in the story is nicely developed too, from being more present to begin with, to more distant, to a facilitator, to absent, to looking on.
The story is very accessible. Easy to grasp at Key Stage 1 and younger, but not at any time condescending, just beautifully simply told, in words and pictures both. Each step of the story is a double-page spread in carefully considered art, building in intensity from more passive and muted early pages to more colourful and tumbling later ones. It’s wise art, flecked with imaginative touches and great choices, but always perfect to the needs of the story, never distractingly showy. It’s great at presenting a lived-in life.
At its most basic level, this is a 5-minute story about a child wanting to be a skateboarder who becomes a skateboarder. It does that very well, but its value is much wider than that because it does so much to meditate on the process of growing up, on the existential need to grow up. To become the thing you’ve wanted to be. Definitely a book for everyone to read once. Certainly a book some will return to because they are enchanted by its story-telling, Absolutely an understanding tale of what it is to be at the start of something important. There’s a little auto-biographical essay in the back a couple of steps up in reading ability from the rest of the book that nonetheless is a lovely insight into the creative process for those interested in the expressive arts.
Dmytro Bojaniwskyj
Lifesize Ocean Animals
Sophy Henn, pub. Farshore
WOW! As soon as this large book emerged from the packaging I was hooked by the stunning cover picture of an inflated pufferfish. Next we gaze at the LIFESIZE eye of the blue whale, the largest creature to have ever existed on earth. The underwater adventure continues and we meet a variety of ocean life. We encounter a LIFESIZE anglerfish that can swallow whole creatures that are twice their size. Information is provided in large font and is age-appropriate. The tone is conversational. Sometimes there are questions - “What would you eat if you could do that?” that encourage an interactive approach and help children to relate to the awe-inspiring creatures. We come face-to-face with a leatherback sea turtle. I did not know they could hold their breath for over one hour!
A dramatic moment comes when we encounter the LIFESIZE teeth of the megalodon – the largest shark that has ever existed. It is now extinct but its bite was so strong that it could have crushed a car! I like the double-page spread of a UK rockpool when we are invited to “poke around” to see what other creatures we can see. The book’s pièce de résistance is the foldout that takes us 450m down into the depths of the Pacific Ocean and reveals the gigantic spider crab, the largest in the world. Its body may stop growing at about 30cms wide, but its legs keep on growing and can end up being three-and-a-half times the length of its body. The aquatic line-up is useful as it compares the size of creatures against each other using the size of the Lifestyle book as a unit. Readers encouraged to measure themselves in this way to gain a sense of proportion.
An exceptional book for age 3+ that teaches about the marvels of the ocean world and inspires further research. I for one am off to find out why the megalodon became extinct.
Brenda Marshall
Queens Of the Jungle: Meet the Female Animals Who Rule the Animal Kingdom
Carly Anne York, illus. Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong, pub. Neon Squid
Queens of the Jungle is a highly illustrated book that demonstrates the unique roles many females hold within their species. Featuring sixty animals, each with a double page spread, readers will learn about grandmother elephants who pass on knowledge about where to find food and water. Then there are female orangutans who create some of the sturdiest nests in the animal kingdom. Bonobos matriarchs who control the troop and have first access to food which they do in fact share, unlike their close relatives, chimpanzees, where it is the adult males who dominate and eat first.
Often male animals don’t stick around after young have been born so it is up to the mothers to teach them how to hunt and survive and, with many species, it is the males that put on an attractive display to attract the females. Many of the animals are familiar but there are some surprising additions such as the blanket octopus where the female is 200cm long and has a cape of iridescent skin compared to the brown male who is only 2.5cm.
With an index and glossary, this is a perfect book for dipping in and out of and will engage children aged 8–10 who love learning about animals. It is packed full of fascinating facts presented in accessible bite-sized amounts of text.
Barbara Band
Raising the Roof: A Dazzling History of Classical Music and its Colourful Characters
Jack Pepper, illus. Michele Bruttomesso, pub. Templar Books
Musician and broadcaster Jack Pepper takes his reader on a tour of classical music from its origin to its present developments before imagining its future too, and this is all in his book Raising the Roof.
The overall message presented, through the example of the composers selected in this collection and the writer’s own experience, is that music if for everyone. Pepper’s choices are inclusive and diverse, championing the work of women such as Hildegard of Bingen, an 11th century polymath, 17th century Barbara Strozzi, and British contemporary composer Shirley J Thompson. Thompson, apparently, was not particularly encouraged towards music as a child. In fact, the book is keen to give examples of composers who succeeded against the odds – for example Verdi was turned down as a music scholar in his youth; Schoenberg’s and Stravinsky’s performances elicited such strong reaction from the audience that some of their early concerts turned into fights.
Other names not normally featured in this kind of collection are here too. One, for example, is Joseph Bologne, who, born in a plantation in Guadeloupe in the 18th century, became a celebrated musician and a representative figure in the fight against racism. Another is Ethel Smyth, a composer and a prominent member of the suffragette movement. Nobuo Uematsu’s games console soundtracks are celebrated too. The book starts with a clear explanation of the elements of classical music and ends with a look at its future and a list of charities and organisations supporting music and musicians. Each page includes a mention of particular pieces that represent a composer’s work or a particular trend.
Well written and attractively presented this is a valuable addition to any library and a great read for young readers, not just those already musically-minded, but those who may find in this book a source of inspiration.
Laura Brill
Respect the Insect: Meet the Bugs that Clean, Tend and Feed the World
Jules Howard, illus. Gosia Herba, pub. Quarto
Jules Howard has filled Respect the Insect with facts and information about the many different kinds of important insects and bugs that help to clean, tend to and feed the world but who are also fast disappearing. Aimed at readers aged 7-10 years, every page is interesting, the design making good use of font, bold text and bright vibrant illustrations.
Beginning with What Is An Insect?, setting the scene before looking at life cycles and insect champions, such as the Australian tiger beetles that can run 2 metres per second, the contents are grouped into five chapters. Chapter 1 looks at the “cleaner-uppers”, insects who eat dead animals and plants, keeping the world clean. Chapter 2 delves into the role of insects in growing food, those vital “menu makers” such as honeybees and the chocolate midge. Chapter 3 explores the eco-relationships between animals, plants and fungi whilst chapter 4 investigates “tiny teachers,” insects that have helped scientists make new discoveries and also provide medicines via their poisons and venoms. Finally, chapter 5 is all about “inspiring icons” such as the gall wasp that has provided ink enabling humans to write or silkworms that have been at the forefront of fashion for years.
With plenty of “yuck” moments and a strong environmental message this book is sure to delight. As for my favourite insect? I think it has to be the wax moth caterpillar, one of the first animals on the planet that actually eats plastic without suffering any detrimental effects.
Barbara Band
Scientists Are Saving the World!: So Who is Working on Time Travel?
Saskia Gwinn, illus. Ana Albero, pub. Magic Cat Publishing
According to the title of Saskia Gwinn’s latest book Scientists Are Saving the World. This is an introduction to a range of science disciplines and real life scientists, written in a comic book style, for young children.
The book begins with a mother and child looking at a TV screen with a programme called “Scientists are saving the world.” The child asks their mother an interesting and insightful question: “if all the scientists are saving the world who is working on time travel?” The mother proceeds to explain that lots of scientists are doing amazing things such as looking for rainbows, eavesdropping on elephants and digging up dinosaurs. Each scientific concept is simply explained and looks at the work being done as well as featuring a diverse range of scientists; for example, how marine biologists Hans Hass and Eugenie Clark swam with sharks to discover they were very clever and needed our help to survive. Readers will also discover lots of interesting facts - I had no idea that clouds could be weighed and that one cloud is equal to the weight of about 100 elephants!
At the end of the book is a glossary of the scientists mentioned, many of them unknown names despite undertaking important work. A great introduction to a range of sciences from astronauts to meteorologists and acoustic biologists to robotic engineers, the book concludes with the concept that all these scientists started out by asking questions, wondering and watching when they were younger, that they were once little scientists.
Barbara Band
There’s A Mountain in This Book
Rachel Elliot, illus. Genevieve Lacroix, pub. Thames & Hudson
This beautiful hardback book invites young readers to step into the hiking boots of a mountaineer and explore four mountain regions around the world. Areas visited are the Alps of Europe, the rainforests and moorlands of Kilimanjaro in Africa, the Rocky Mountains of North America and the Himalayas and Mount Everest of Asia. Young explorers will learn how mountains are created and discover some of the animal and plant life in each area.
There’s A Mountain in This Book feels like an expedition taking you around the world to learn about lowlands, uplands, glaciers, woodlands, ecosystems and environments. A clever concept and clever title. Eighteen chapters cover mountain zones, foothills, forests, caves, canyons, lakes, snowy peaks, summits and the weather. There is even an illustrated climbing calendar, featuring a different mountain for each month of the year.
Other useful features include a glossary of mountain words, from altitude and avalanche to upland and volcano. There is a wealth of colourful illustrations, including plants, insects, animals and mountain diagrams. Maps show the locations of the mountains. Opening flaps reveals more pictures and information. To do lists are included and questions are answered. Many pages include height lines and there is an interesting spotters guide to clouds.
There is sure to be enough inside the covers of this fabulous book to interest young readers. They can explore alone or with an adult and return again and again.
Gary Kenworthy
What We Wear When We Take Care
Sarah Finan, pub. Walker Books
We change our clothing according to occasions and seasons and also to keep us safe from ever-altering environmental changes. This fully illustrated book for children aged 2-5 aims to teach them some of the safety aspects around our reasons for choosing appropriate clothing. Written and illustrated by Sarah Finan, What We Wear When We Take Care, is a mini collection of scenes from real life in which different people wear what is necessary for the particular job, adventure, invention, exploration or just for a ride to school on the bus.
The simple sentences are used bold, easy-to-understand and presented in a concise form for children. They can learn new sound words like ‘crash’, ‘boom’, ‘bang’,’whizz’ and many more as they read each of the mini verses. They'll be able to discover why scientists wear goggles during chemistry experiments or why veterinarians wear gloves while handling animals, as well as why safety equipment should be worn while doing certain tasks. Important information delivered in a friendly and approachable manner.
The aim of the book is to teach kids what is worn while practicing safety. The bright blue and yellow illustrations with flashing words and its depictions of people at work invites the attention of the curious child.
Ishika Tiwari
Who Makes an Ocean?
Sally Nicholls, illus. Carolina Rabei, pub. Anderson Press
A charming book on a complex topic. Dad and his children are visiting the Ocean World Museum. As they go round the exhibits Dad explains to his children about oceans and tells the story of the world around them.
Sally Nicholls conveys information in an easy-to-understand way. The text is extremely clear and is age appropriate. The final pages are more complex and would be of interest to older children, especially the sections on Ocean Ecosystems and Human Impact on our Oceans and how we can help protect them. Beautiful colour illustrations by Carolina Rabei support the text and convey the sensitivity of the relationship between the father and his children. I loved the picture of the fiery planet of lava and volcanoes, the pictures of the microbes and the double page of long, sinuous fish like eels some of which, we learn, developed legs and crawled onto the shore. My favourite spread shows what it was like when death came to the dinosaurs. But life remained. It also reminds us that life returned.
The book reads well aloud with its use of rhetorical questions, effective use of pauses and some alliteration - “Silvery shoals swim through the wrecks of pirate ships.” An excellent starting point for discussion about the oceans and environmental issues in both homes and school. Highly recommended for children aged 4+.
Brenda Marshall
You're A Poet: Ways to Start Writing a Poem
Sean Taylor, illus. Sam Usher, pub. Walker Books
July here in India brings a soft, warm breeze with the onset of the rainy season. This July I have the chance to read this lovely, illustrated poetry collection by the Nestlé award winner Sean Taylor. You're A Poet: Ways to Start Writing a Poem has a warm, breezy softness to it which suits the season here and hopefully where you are too. The coloured illustrations remind me of the Winnie the Pooh series because the essence of Piglet is definitely in here.
The intermingling of forms through poetry and prose in a developmental tale of Piglet as he learns what poetry is, makes this an engaging book. Piglets’ parents are teaching him how he can create his own verse by taking inspiration from nature-
“The track went winding through the woods and onto the meadow with the sandpit.
Sometimes when they went there the sandpit looked damp and grey.
But today it was dry and it was golden.
So Piglet jumped in and something special happened.
Words splashed out of the sand…”
Piglet voices words and so inks on the paper his first Puddle Poem. The series goes on with Piglet creating more such poems. The book leads the narrative effortlessly and young children are definitely going to enjoy the poems, stories, and drawings featuring the central character. By the end of the collection Piglet reveals poem-making secrets as well. So go grab a copy for your budding poet and in the author’s words-
“Write one word.
Then write another.
Write to remember.
And write to discover.”
Ishika Tiwari
