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Non-Fiction Book Reviews
America’s Founding Myths…And What REALLY Happened
Christy Mihaly, illus. Marta Sevilla, pub. Barefoot Books
Not many people in the UK or other countries will realise that America is celebrating its 250th anniversary, one of the best ways to do that is to look at the stories of its founding. But are they simply that – stories, myths even, or are they truths? All those questions you might have had about stories you hear about how America came to be the country we know today are address and answered. You might start with the cleverly structured contents page, a flow chart of questions you might want answers to, pointing you to the correct pages, or maybe you’ll open up and try for potluck!
What you will find is that for every double-page spread there is a flap. The flap is the part you need to read first, the flap is the Myth, the rest is the truth, or the truths as they are understood. There is more too, when you are ready you can turn to the back of the flap and discover how each myth began, where the stories came from. The structure, the concept, the contents of this book are fascinating and will be certain to engage curious young minds, taking them on an in-depth journey of discovery and learning.
Did Columbus actually discover America? No but he was an Italian and when, in the 1880s, many Italians migrated to America it was decided to welcome them with a celebration of the achievements of Columbus. There are many more myths, truths and explorations of the story-behind-the story making this an accessible and endlessly fascinating book.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Natalie Younger, illus. Ella Kasperowicz, pub. Neon Squid
An Epic History of Failure is the third book in the Wacky History series. It is organised into themed sections such as “Trouble at Sea,” “Major Food Flops,” and “Bad for Business,” with each section containing several short accounts of historical mishaps.
The book is entertaining, educational, and often very amusing. Some of the stories highlight accidents that changed the world forever—such as when Frank Epperson accidentally left his drink outside overnight, leading to the invention of the ice lolly—while others recount tales of disaster and misfortune. Did you know that NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter burned up and broke into pieces because scientists had mixed metric and imperial measurements in the software? Or that famous basketball player, Michael Jordan, decided to take up baseball but was so bad at it that he only lasted for one season before he returned to his original sport? Some of the decisions made in this book will certainly have you wondering what on earth were people thinking about while others will have you thinking ‘oh no!’
With its bright, colourful illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz and bite-sized chunks of text from Natalie Younger, this is an ideal book for enticing reluctant readers. It is particularly well suited to children aged 7–10 and there’s also a short glossary and useful index.
Barbara Band
An Epic History of Failure
Beauty of Letters. The Most Awesome, Brilliant and Comprehensive Alphabet Book
Tom Schamp, pub. Prestel
Before you have even reached the introduction and full content of this oversized and engaging book you have done some learning, or at least begun to. The end papers at the front of the book reveal the NATO phonetic alphabet. The end pages which close the book offer the same but in full colour. Now there is no excuse not to know you Alpha, Bravo, Charlie…!
Tom Schamp was, the introduction tells us, inspired to create this work of beauty, after spending years painting letters for books and advertising campaigns. He explains that whilst our alphabet is now made up of 26 letters that was not always the case and curious minds might want to explore that further after they have enjoyed this book. Familiarity with our own alphabet is certainly a huge advantage when attempting to study other languages! Hundreds, thousands of years ago writing consisted of pictures in the place of letters and that has inspired this book, the creativity within its pages is astounding with very double-page spread taking one letter and playing with it in amazing ways. Readers are given a few hints about what to look for, including two little caterpillars and reminded that if there are words they don’t know the meaning of a dictionary is the tool they will need.
This book is more than simply an alphabet book, it is an amazing journey of discovery, a treasure trove and treasure hunt, an object of pure delight. There is humour and a very generous dose of imagination in this book, there is a tribute to the wonder of language and letters and there is a journey for everyone to engage with.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
The Cave Explorer
Kate Winter, pub. Puffin Books
From Kate Winter, creator of The Fossil Hunter, comes another incredible, beautifully illustrated, narrative non-fiction book. The Cave Explorer, will as it says on the cover, ‘take you back thousands of years’ as it tells the story of Marcel Ravidat and his dog, who discovered the Lascaux cave paintings in Montignac, France.
The book itself is a wonderful tapestry of glossaries, annotated images, timelines, and facts which have all been perfectly woven together amongst the story of Marcel Ravidat a young boy who makes the surprise discovery. Winter’s exquisite artwork beautifully captures the mystery and intrigue of the cave paintings and truly sparks wonder at their existence and what they represent. As the discovery of the caves happened in 1940, at the time of Second World War, and during the German occupation of France, the book also briefly explores the impacts of this for Marcel, his friends and the caves themselves. Alongside this, Winter has included a wealth of detail about the incredible researchers and archaeologists who have studied and hypothesised about prehistoric art and leaves us with the just enough knowledge of other historic sites about to ensure we want to know more.
I must be honest and say that as someone who is a regular visitor to the area in France surrounding the Lascaux caves, I was excited the moment I knew I would be reviewing this book. However, I can honestly also say (as a teacher and a parent) that it is a rare thing when you find a book which so beautifully lights up history in the way that this book does. In The Cave Explorer Kate Winter has created a masterpiece, blending art, history and narrative into a truly stunning book which should in my opinion be an essential addition to any classroom or school library.
Tracey Corner
Cities Going Wild: To Save the Planet
Catherine Barr, illus. Christiane Engel, pub. Otter-Barry Books
An interesting book on an important subject. Cities Going Wild explores how cities around the world are encouraging plants and wildlife. We visit the USA, China, Australia, Singapore, Norway, the UK and Senegal and learn about Sky Forests, Bird-Friendly Cities, Spongy Spaces, Rain Gardens, Insect Superhighways, Living Walls, Urban Jungle Food and other ways in which cities are changing.
I particularly like the pages that invite readers to spot birds, insects and other creatures.
One of my favourite sections features the Tiny Edible Gardens in Dakar, Senegal, where small city spaces are used to grow food for their communities. People are learning new gardening skills and over 10,000 people grow some of their own food. I also enjoyed the Ribbons of Blue in Birmingham which are home to the world’s longest community orchard that stretches for over 50 miles. I am fascinated by the lizards that lounge on specially made gravel roofs above the city train station in Zurich as well as pangolin pathways in Singapore. I did not know that concrete is being replaced with big open spaces in Los Angeles so precious rain can soak in and collect in underground lakes. There are also encouraging facts such as the return of the endangered Smooth-Coated Otter to Singapore’s meandering city rivers, and the Peregrine Falcons that are moving into Battersea Power Station.
The pages are attractive with a good balance between information and illustration. There are plenty of facts that are perfectly pitched for a Key Stage Two readership. Engel’s detailed colourful artwork replays close scrutiny. The book is well structured with a clear contents page, an introduction and a good glossary. An impressive feature of the book is that it provides suggestions children can adopt so that they can assist in making their cities greener and saving the planet. My favourite is “guerrilla gardeners” where we encouraged to sprinkle wildflower seeds on patches of city soil. In addition to promoting plants and wildlife there are substantial benefits for humans too making them happier and healthier.
Informative and inspiring, this is a must for every primary school, especially as” By 2050, 2 out of 3 people on Earth will probably be living in a city.” To quote from the Introduction “You will see how nature brings joy, health, wildlife and, critically resilience to climate change in our increasingly urban world.” Bravo!
Brenda Marshall
Factology: American Revolution
pub. Button Books
America’s history might not be as long as that of some countries around the world but it is, in some parts, complex and also filled with rebellions. It is these rebellions which shaped the country, which changed it and which can tell us a lot about the people, the places and the aftermath. Button Books’ latest Factology is filled to bursting with details and illustrations.
I know that the American Revolution is never something I have learned about, American history wasn’t my choice at school and whilst I am aware of the events I would not, until now, be able to explain anything about them. This book not only brings the events of two hundred and fifty years ago to stark life but it also contextualizes them and helps young people, teenagers, understand more about how the America we are all familiar with today was formed. The Revolution, as with any that you may study, began with a group of rebels who had a cause to fight for. They didn’t change anything overnight; in fact, it took them an astounding 30 years to make a difference.
This is not only their story it is the story of the events that precipitated the Revolution, events during the Revolution and its aftermath. With timelines demonstrating when and where events happened, original source materials reproduced and plenty of facts the three chapters in this 96 page book deal with the Road to Revolution, the war itself and finally the people who shaped and continue to shape America. Thought-provoking coverage of a huge change in one part of the world, echoes of which are still felt today.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Granny is a Hippie
Claire Philip, illus. Vivi John, pub. Little Gestalten
The word, the description of a person as a ‘hippie’ may not mean much to young children but to their parents and especially grandparents it will and this is what will help to keep it alive!
Storytelling blends with fascinating facts as we follow one little boy through a day he is spending with granny. When he wakes up, slightly disoriented, not remembering where he is, and granny greets him with the words ‘peace and love’ he remembers and we are given our first set of information about the hippie movement which began in the 1960s. The little boy loves staying with granny who lives in a commune, a big happy family where they can challenge the rules, just as he does when he asks for desert before dinner! It is little moments in the story, in the fact recounting, that make this book incredibly accessible and will truly engage young readers with curious minds. There is more to come, as the day progresses there are brightly coloured clothes to be chosen, vegetables and fruit to be harvested from the garden and lots of dancing.
Through the eyes of one child, staying with his granny, sharing the day they spend together, we all see where the roots of the hippie movement came from, learn how it all developed and most importantly of all why we should continue to uphold the values they held so dear. Filled with vibrant and stylish artwork this book is a treasure and a learning journey.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things
Roma Agrawal, illus. Robert Sae-Heng, pub. Laurence King
The title’s got your attention. Now open it and discover what you can really do with everyday food and objects.
How to Build a Chocolate Bridge has that spark of fun and imagination which makes young readers curious. Children like chocolate and making a bridge with it seems cool, plus you can eat the chocolate afterwards! Making a skyscraper out of uncooked dried pasta and marshmallows is for many maybe a more standard team-building activity, however, building a skyscraper is ambitious. But making a rocket from a meringue is another of the eight extraordinary experiments in this book, encouraging us to think differently about our material world.
These are great experiments – and because it is using everyday things – everyone can have a go (with some adult help). Making a trumpet out of concrete (or paper) works because it is the shape inside the trumpet that is important not the material, and surprisingly Anna Ploszajski has played trumpets out of jelly: now that’s an experiment I want to do. It is the explanation that makes this book different, so you are able to understand how the materials react and why an experiment works, so it is possible to make plastic out of milk as the curds of milk react with the rice vinegar to form long chains of polymers.
Moreover, the book is full of fun facts about different materials, all useful for different tasks and requiring different properties. It stretches back in history to Cai Lun (circa 62 -121 CE) creator of paper to the twentieth century, and Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014) and inventor of Kelvar, a strong fire-proof fabric as well as those materials made by mistakes, such as Play-doh, originally intended as a cleaning product, and to quote Plato, ‘necessity is the mother of invention,’ liquid paper to cover up Bette Nesmith Graham’s typos. The author Roma Agrawal also considers the materials of tomorrow. Can you imagine banana yarn?
If you thought a study of materials was boring, then think again and read How to Build a Chocolate Bridge.
Simon Barrett
What Makes a Bird? An Illustrated Guide to the Bird World
Nadeem Pereray, illus. Montse Galbany, pub. Flying Eye
The cover of the book is appealing with bright colours and embossed areas. The endpapers have impact as they show a fascinating range of feathers and eggs. I am glad they are labelled as this can encourage further research. The book has excellent design throughout and the vibrant illustrations are stunning. A wide range of birds from across the world is covered. There is a clear contents page that outlines what is to follow – What Makes A Bird?, Where Do Birds Live?, What Do Birds Do? and Becoming A Birder.
As the introduction says the book is “a journey through the majestic, skilful, and surprising behaviours of the bird world.” We travel back around 150 million years ago and meet some of the earliest birds ever recorded. Flight is examined, including flightless birds, birdsong and a factfile on feathers. The book explores the anatomy of birds, beaks, bills and feathers. There are case studies on different species and we see how birds use their unique features to suit their habitats. I particularly enjoyed the sections on bird vision and eyesight. I did not know that Kestrels can spot urine trails from small mammals which glow under UV light. Or that parrots are some of the only birds that sleep deeply like humans and they might dream!
Throughout the volume there is an excellent balance between information and illustration. There are plenty of facts that are attractively presented and easily absorbed. The information is well-chosen and fascinating – I loved the crows in Akita, Japan, who have been seen dropping walnuts onto roads so the cars drive over them and crack the shells exposing the nuts for the birds. And the male Great Hornbill that uses dung and food to seal a female inside a tree. It leaves a tiny eye hole for its food deliveries while the female lays its eggs. I did not know that the eggs of the Cuban bee hummingbird, (the smallest bird in the world at 6.2 cms), are the size of coffee beans.
I am impressed by the final pages of the book which provide guidance on how to become a birder, a double-page spread on identifying a bird, instructions on how to make a bird logbook, and suggestions for everyday actions that can help protect our feathered friends in today’s world. The Glossary is clear and the Bird Species Index is excellent. A most successful book, ideal for schools and independent readers of 7 and over.
Brenda Marshall
Whose Poo?
Alexandra Milton, pub. Boxer Books
A most engaging book that introduces readers to animal droppings. The book is a good size which means the illustrations are big enough to convey interesting details. Animals covered are long-tailed monkeys, (Emperor Tamarins), parrotfish, storks, wombats, impalas and elephants. There is no lavatorial humour here. The approach is interactive with questions leading the narrative - “Who left this poo? Was it you?” I like the use of different font sizes where factual information is presented in a short paragraph in a smaller font.
I did not know that wombats produce cube-shaped poo that mark out their territory and that the shape prevents it from rolling away. I discovered that parrotfish scrape at coral that is covered in algae. They grind it in their tummies, digest the algae and release the coral as white sand. Every year each parrotfish produces 450kg of sand – the weight of four baby elephants. And I learned that storks poo on their legs. The poo mixes with wee and the liquid acts as sunblock.
The structure of the book enables the reader to look closely and think about the different poos before the owner is revealed. With the turn of a page, the animal is revealed, along with two or three sentences that describe the size and shape of the droppings. The book encourages an interest in observation and nature. The tone is light and informative. The illustrations are detailed and almost seem textured against the white background. I particularly liked the elephant poo. The dung is the size and weight of a coconut. Each elephant produces about one hundred coconuts each day. Baby elephants eat the digested plants in the poo as fresh plants are not good for them. Alexandra Milton’s depiction of the elephant skin is almost a collage and repays close attention. A stunning book that is highly recommended for children 3-7 years.
Brenda Marshall