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Find out moreHow many times as parents are we asked How? Why? When? And Where? Questions? Help your kids to get to know more about the world around you with our Fascinating Facts category - The perfect way of cramming their heads full of facts without them even noticing.
Fascinating Facts for 5+ readers
Fascinating Facts for 7+ readers
Winner of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2019, Best Book with Facts | | A fascinating information book, The Colours of History takes readers to different places at different times to show how humans have used colour in art, politics and trade. They’ll learn how indigo, made from plants that grow in Asia, began to be traded round the world in the 15th century, how hundreds of years later it was used to colour a type of cloth in Nîmes, which eventually became known as ‘denim’. It explains how pink has been regarded as a ‘boy colour’ and a ‘girl colour’, and why, in the US in the early 20th century, margarine was pink. And it describes how the discovery of a new mineral in a Russian gold mine transformed Van Gogh’s paintings. It’s an unusual and vivid way to demonstrate how interconnected the world has always been, and mankind’s endless ingenuity too.
Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder: Adventures in Science round the kitchen table will help families appreciate the wonders of science together. This is not a book just for children, it's a book for the grown-ups too who want to enthuse and inspire young people through science but may not themselves know the answers. Why does the ...? What is ...? How does ...? Why is ...? What are all the parts of a flower? I don't know!... But soon you will. Every child can be a scientist with the help of Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder. This is the perfect book to help create a scientifically inclined young mind as much as it is for an already scientifically inclined young mind. A message from the author: "When scientists are asked what inspired their career choices, they tend to fall into two groups: people who claim they always had a drive to understand the natural world (and have stories about how they did experiments in their parents' garages); and those who credit 'a good teacher'. I fall into the latter camp - I took no interest in science until I was about 14, when I finally had science teachers who made me see the joy and wonder in the subject. With my book Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder, I wanted to do more than provide the kind of step-by-step instructions you can find in countless other books: I wanted to equip parents with the skills they need to help their children engage more deeply with scientific ways of thinking. I appreciate that some people are turned off science by their experiences at school, while others may be put off by its apparent complexity or lack of relevance to their daily lives. With Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder, I'm hopeful that I can help such people to re-engage with science so they can help their own children get the most out of what the subject has to offer. I firmly believe that science can enrich our lives as much as literature, art, or music can, when we approach it in a way that is appropriate to our own needs and wants."
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 Take a new look at some of the most common insects and mini-beasts around us in this fun to use information book about the habitats of beetles, bees, spiders, butterflies and more. Lift the flaps to find the out more about these insects’ homes and how they live. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for March 2018 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King Coo by Adam Stower Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins We Are Not Frogs! (Little Gems) by Michael Morpurgo The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear by Margrete Lamond Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird What Do People Do All Day? (50th anniversary edition) by Richard Scarry Bird House by Libby Walden Bug Hotel by Libby Walden Alone Together by Clayton Junior The Lost Penguin by Claire Freedman
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 This chunky book imitates a bird house in shape and makes a great format for an attractive lift- the- flap information book about the different habitats of birds. These include duck houses which float on lakes and ponds for ducks, dovecotes set up high on walls to keep the pigeons and doves who use them safe from predators, and owl boxes so owls can sleep safely. There is also information about feeding birds and providing them with water. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for March 2018 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King Coo by Adam Stower Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins We Are Not Frogs! (Little Gems) by Michael Morpurgo The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear by Margrete Lamond Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird What Do People Do All Day? (50th anniversary edition) by Richard Scarry Bird House by Libby Walden Bug Hotel by Libby Walden Alone Together by Clayton Junior The Lost Penguin by Claire Freedman
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2017 Beautifully produced to make the most of its clever design, this is a book whose charm lies in its visual simplicity which leaves space for readers to dream their own dreams in. The cover has a beautiful vivid yellow moon slice cut into it which tempting leads the reader into a following the moon as it waxes to a whole, shiny full moon that is so bright that no one can sleep. And then gradually wanes until it becomes just a tiny sliver before all goes black. Following the moon’s progress is satisfying and a final spread with some information in it makes the book useful too. ~ Julia Eccleshare ***There is special activity pack with ideas to celebrate Science Week to download here! British Science Week is 10–19 March - find out more at www.britishscienceweek.org ----------------------------------------------- Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for March 2017 Jellicle Cats by T.S. Eliot and Arthur Robins William Bee's Wonderful World of Trucks by William Bee The Story of the Dancing Frog by Quentin Blake George's Marvellous Experiments inspired by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake My Name is Victoria by Lucy Worsley Many Moons by Remi Courgeon Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer by Alexanda McCall Smith Black Cats and Butlers by Janine Beacham Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
March 2017 Book of the Month Unless they are regular visitors to the countryside it can be hard for children to connect the milk in the two litre cartons on the supermarket shelves or in their fridge with a cow in the field; this book will address that. Over colourful, busy pages it takes children round a working farm, and in the process answers 100 questions, from who lives in the barn, to how do seeds grow, to how does flour become wheat. The answers are often hidden behind flaps making this a fun, interactive reading experience as well as an informative one. ~ Andrea Reece
February 2017 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month Children will find this book useful, effective and helpful, as well as fun, entertaining and stimulating. Busy, colourful spreads themed by subject or setting are full of little scenes, each one accompanied by lists of words to help children to be more precise or to increase their vocabulary. On the animals page, for example parrots ‘copy, mimic, imitate’; a bear’s fur is ‘soft, fuzzy, bushy, shaggy’; here children will also learn words such as camouflaged, carnivore and herbivore, as well as bedraggled and dishevelled. There are pages dedicated to telling a story, encouraging children to put all these new words to use. Well designed and really attractive to look at this is a book to inspire a love of language. ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | The life cycle of a tree is beautifully described in this outstanding book. A narrative poem alongside exquisite illustrations describes all the different stages, from the moment a sycamore seed falls onto the earth, to its growth from seedling to sapling to mature tree distributing its own seeds. It shows too the changing seasons, and through words and pictures children will discover how the tree supports insects, birds and animals, who all make a life ‘in their leaf-laden, bark-bound arboreal home’. It’s full of information yet retains a sense of wonder: ‘how can something so small turn into a tree which is such an incredibly BIG thing to be’. This is a book for readers of all ages, one to keep and return to again and again.
August 2016 Book of the Month This book is definitely not for those of a nervous disposition! It features hundreds of different creatures from big cats and bears to the tiniest creatures. They all have one thing in common: they are deadly, and will sting, bite, poison or trample you should you get too close. Each bright, information-packed page features five different animals graded, Top Trumps like, according to degrees of scariness, a ‘Killer Fact’ distinguishing the most scary. It’s very readable, perfect for browsing, non-fiction at its jaw-dropping best. A word of warning – the photo of the Guinea worm on page 96 will put even those with the strongest stomachs off their tea! ~ Andrea Reece
Discover some amazing and unusual facts about monkeys in this imaginative book full of humorous scenarios that children can relate to. Using everyday activities as a comparison, children find out more about the lives of monkeys in the wild. Highly illustrated throughout with lively and colourful artwork that will appeal to young audiences.
February 2018 Book of the Month | A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month February 2018 | A stunning book that is also an invaluable introduction to how to look at the world around us. Nicola Davies invites readers to look at the flowers, the birds, the insects, the fishes and more in habitats of all kinds around the world. She shows the value of individual groups and also the importance of the how all aspects of nature are interconnected. Emily Sutton’s beautiful illustrations bring the natural world sharply into focus making it both delightful and accessible. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for February 2018 Kevin by Rob Biddulph My Name is Victoria by Lucy Worsley Lots: The Diversity of Life by Nicola Davies A Busy Day for Birds by Lucy Cousins Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal The Iron Man by Ted Hughes Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram No More Kissing by Emma Chichester Clark
There’s so much for very young children to discover when they peep inside the sea in the pages of this excellent board book. Each page features a different ocean scene, from the seashore to the darkest depths. Lifting the sturdy flaps reveals all sorts of secrets, an anemone uncurling its wriggly tentacles, or an enormous whale and its baby. One delicately patterned flap hides a leafy sea dragon, ‘its body looks just like seaweed’. It’s a visual treat, while extra die cuts on each page make this a really satisfying tactile experience too, and it’s packed to the gills with information. ~ Andrea Reece
For an information book, Lands of Long Ago takes a highly unusual approach, filling its pages with errors. Young readers are challenged to find 20 deliberate mistakes on each page; some of them are pretty obvious – a cement mixer standing next to an Egyptian pyramid for example, but others are much trickier: did the ancient Egyptians eat carrots? The mistakes are highlighted on subsequent pages, together with interesting and useful paragraphs of explanation. No, the Egyptians didn’t have cement mixers, but the text explains how the pyramids were constructed, and while they grew figs, melons, pomegranates and grapes, carrots were not grown as a crop for thousands of years. Fun and informative, this is the kind of book that turns browsing into periods of real study. ~ Andrea Reece
Children are invited to explore eight different habitats in this appealing and very attractive information book, clever split page design allows them to examine the creatures that live there both above and below ground or sea and it also deftly illustrates the way animals share their habitats with each other. There are spreads on the ocean, rainforest, savannah and river amongst others, one colourful page depicting a lively scene packed with fauna and flora while on the opposite page short paragraphs of text accompany details from the scenes giving readers with useful and sometimes quirky information. This look-and-find format is also very effective and Hanako Clulow’s illustrations are full of child appeal. ~ Andrea Reece
This is an excellent first information book: full of facts that will intrigue the very young and spark their imagination. Each page features a different wild animal, native to the savannah, as a sturdy pop-up that will surprise and delight with each reading. We meet and learn about lions, giraffes, hippos, meerkats and elephants as well as about their shared habitat. The animals are captured in lines of rhyming text, with extra lines providing additional factual information. The illustrations are bold and eye-catching, and it all adds up to an excellent package.
Each page in this beautifully illustrated and important book takes readers into a different habitat, from across the globe. A page of lyrical text describes each setting while another verse gives an animal itself a voice to speak about its home bringing these faraway places immediately to life. Animals and plants gleam in Jonny Lambert’s vibrant collage style artwork, skilful design ensuring that each page teems with life. Die cut windows on each page cleverly demonstrate the way animals can pop up in different habitats, leopards inhabiting the savannah as well as lush rainforests. Eye-catching in the very best sense of the word, this is an inspiring information book. ~ Andrea Reece
Take the very young on a trip into the high mountains in this excellent first information book. Each page features a stunning pop-up depicting one of the animals native to the mountains, from wolf to bear, from Bald Eagle to a Rainbow Trout, particularly beautiful and dramatic in rich reds and greens. The animals are introduced via lines of verse while elsewhere on the page short lines of text convey interesting and intriguing facts. The pop-ups are not only beautiful but sturdy enough to stand repeated readings, and this is a book to inspire the very young.
As the issue of plastic pollution on land and in the oceans becomes ever more urgent, children need to understand what is going on, why and what steps they can do to change things. This book explains in clear text and abundant photographs what plastic is, how it is used, and why it’s a problem for the world. In addition to presenting the facts, it challenges young people to think about what they can do to help as well as including the latest information on plastic replacements – packaging made from seaweed for example. A useful, effective and stimulating information book.
Alison Limentani's extraordinary picture book introduces children to a fascinating world of wildlife, weight, numbers, and comparisons in the most original way. Find out how much a ladybird weighs and did you know that five starlings weigh the same as one squirrel or that three rabbits weigh the same as one fox cub? Kids and parents, too will be amazed and amused by every surprising and intriguing page. A Piece of Passion from Leilani Sparrow at Boxer Books When you meet Alison Limentani for the first time, she exudes enthusiasm - about animals, art, creating picture books and teaching children. How Much Does a Ladybird Weigh? evolved from the simple fact that one blue whale weighs the same as 40 elephants. Wow! What a fact. Alison has created a stylish, simple counting book using numbers, weight and wildlife. It’s highly original and full of fascinating child-friendly facts. Did you know that two fox cubs weigh the same as one swan? And can you guess how many ladybirds that is equal to? We are very proud to publish How Much Does a Ladybird Weigh? at Boxer Books and look forward to the next title in the series How Long is a Whale? - coming next year!
Tamar is admitted to Lime Grove, a psychiatric hospital for teenagers, where she's asked endless questions. But there's one question Tamar can't - won't - answer: What happened to her friend Iris?
Via simple but elegant illustrations, and a gentle sometimes playful rhyming text, this picture book passes on all sorts of information about water and its importance, while never losing the sense of the beauty of this essential element. Words and illustrations take us back in time to the beginning of life on Earth, up hills and deep below the surface to explain that “clouds, rain, river, sea, water cycles endlessly”. Carefully placed splashes of colour underscore pages of different blues, the tinkling rhythm of the text bringing a sense of calm. It all concludes with five fascinating facts about the “world wide wet” and this is a book to savour on lots of different levels.
Facts and flaps are an irresistible combination in this illuminating information book. Divided into sections Where, Who, Why, What, How, When and Which, it answers key or quirky questions from history, from ‘where did pirates bury their treasure?’ (answer: they probably didn’t), to ‘why do we study the past?’ (answer: to understand more about the world today and our place in it). Each page is really attractively illustrated and designed, and the format encourages browsing. While it darts about through centuries and cultures, a useful illustrated timeline at the end puts everything in chronological order. Fun and full of information, this is just the thing for inquisitive children. ~ Andrea Reece
What are Stars? is an excellent book for children who love to ask questions. Over a series of six attractive and inviting double pages, featuring little children just like its readers, and with the help of numerous flaps, it explains simply but very clearly just what stars are. From basic information – that stars are bright dots in the night sky – through close ups and just the right level of detail, it teaches children a huge amount, and gives them a really good understanding of what stars are. The flaps are just the right size for small hands and good and sturdy too, and make the gathering of information even more fun. A really effective first book. ~ Andrea Reece
Opinions on what dinosaurs looked like have changed a lot recently, and instead of imagining them as big lizards with muddy-brown or green scales, palaeontologists now think that they may have been brightly coloured, and that lots of them had feathers. A host of dinosaurs parade across the pages of this handsome information book, beautifully illustrated by Matt Sewell. Each picture is accompanied by paragraphs of text, full of interesting and often surprising information on these extraordinary creatures. Lovely to look at, and packed with facts, this will have huge appeal for dinosaur fans young and old. ~ Andrea Reece
This handsome, large format information book provides a fascinating introduction to the world of bugs (meaning the entire class of insects). Readers will gain a good understanding of insects in part one, from what they are to how they live; the book then looks at the different type of bugs in closer detail, picking out creatures such as the bullet ant or giant mesquite bug to explain more about their senses, defence, life cycles. Illustrations show the insects larger than life in eye-catching colour, but each is noted with its actual size too. Scientific terms are used throughout, all clearly listed and explained in a glossary. Attractive to look at, this is well thought-out and inspiring. ~ Andrea Reece
Bright, attractive and cleverly designed, this first atlas invites children to travel the world in a book, introducing them to the seven continents and their natural features as well as to the people living there. Using a mix of photos and colourful graphics, it presents a great deal of information in a very inviting and accessible way. Alongside maps, clearly marking out the world’s different countries, there are boxes with fast facts – the countries in numbers: population, biggest city, largest religion etc – and quirkier information covering food, sport, pastimes and culture. It’s great for dipping into and for homework help, and tells you a huge amount about our planet and its wildlife and peoples. ~ Andrea Reece
Packed with interesting and useful information on a range of important subjects areas, from geography (a section called Around the World), to music, natural history, space and architecture, and filled with bright, appealing illustrations, this book will keep curious youngsters entertained for hours. In each subject section there are facts on early discoveries through to up-to-date information on its current state or new developments and all presented in tempting bite-sized paragraphs of text. If you want to find out more on anything you’ve discovered, the book provides internet links to useful websites. ~ Andrea Reece
There’s no excuse for anyone who, having read this book from cover to cover and followed its instructions carefully, does not emerge a superhero. Contained within its pages is a complete superhero training course. Not only do you learn how to invent your superhero name, and how to choose a sidekick, but you can also have a go at some special superhero activities, such as making a mini jet-pack (you’ll need string, a straw, sticky tape and a balloon), or an electro-magnet. The superhero fun and games are very entertaining, as are the science bits, and it’s all delivered in a friendly, knowing and thoroughly engaging way. An unusual information activity book that cleverly mixes science learning with the allure of superhero-dom. ~ Andrea Reece A Piece of Passion from Elizabeth Jenner, Head of Children’s, Laurence King Publishing: 'Through Jason Ford’s brilliantly evocative drawings and creative activities in The Super Book for Superheroes and The Superhero Comic Kit, his superheroes have captured the imaginations of children everywhere. I am so excited to finally be able to share the next one in the series, The Superhero Handbook, with you. Now not only can you learn how to draw superheroes and create super comics, but you can learn everything you need to know to BE a superhero too! The book contains all you need to set yourself up as a superhero, from finding your secret identity to employing a sidekick, plus 20 innovative activities to help you do everything from making yourself invisible to learning to defy gravity. And each activity comes with a ‘Superhero Secret’ showing you the top secret science behind each one. It’ll make for a truly super summer!'
This is a scrapbook with a difference. Yes, readers are asked to record the usual information about themselves, from their height to what kind of house they live in to their dream holiday, but it also tests how ambidextrous they are, and how embarrassing Mum is. At the same time it’s packed with all sorts of unusual and interesting facts on all sorts of things from swimming pools to board games. It’s great fun and kids are likely to return to this book long after the write-in pages have been completed. ~ Andrea Reece
With flaps to lift on every page and friendly little robots providing the explanations and information, this book will help anyone understand how computers work. It shows readers how much a part of our everyday life computers are, and takes them behind the scenes and inside the computer so that they can understand the many different actions that occur when you touch the keys or screen. It takes a look too at the history of computers and how they’ve changed over the years, and even looks into the future. The information is presented clearly and in such a fun and interactive way that children will hardly notice how much they’re learning. ~ Andrea Reece Lovereading4kids Back to School Favourites: The Great Grammar Book Listen and Learn First Chinese Words The Terrific Times Tables Book Come to School Too, Blue Kangaroo! First Book About the Orchestra The Usborne Chess Book Look Inside How Computers Work My First Word Book About School I Yam a Donkey
Readers meet some very strange creatures in this strikingly illustrated information book. There’s a Hairy Frog, which shares a defence tactic with Wolverine; the Pacific Barreleye, which with its see-through head may be the spookiest of the deep-sea ‘spookfish’; and the Pangolin, protected by armour-like scales. Their physical appearances are vividly described in Marilyn Singer’s text which explains too how their peculiar features or behaviour keep these animals safe. Full page colour illustrations by Paul Daviz present the creatures in all their weird and wonderful glory. Children will be amazed at how practical and fantastic the natural world can be, and inspired to protect the animals featured, many of whom are threatened by the creature described on page 46, the human.
This is a perfect book for anyone who likes gazing up into the skies above our head and wondering … A foldout, concertina poster format allows readers to soar billions of kilometres above earth and explore our solar system; floating 380,000 kilometres up is the moon, a bit lower are astronauts and cosmonauts working hard on the International Space Station. Beneath the Karman Line, the imaginary line that marks the start of space, the skies are just as busy with man-made machines and birds flying on their journeys. It’s endlessly fascinating, Yuval Zommer’s bold, bright illustrations are full of action, storks and spaceships, meteoroids and window cleaners equally beautifully represented while Charlotte Guillain’s enthusiasm for her subjects is infectious. Eye-opening, mind-expanding!
With large flaps on every page, short accompanying explanatory sentences and attractive illustrations, this is a great book to introduce children to nature and the natural world. Focussing on the forest and its animal and plant life, the book is divided into six sections: plants, animals, pondlife, insects, habitats and baby animals. Lifting the flap entitled ‘den’ takes us underground, a line of text explaining that ‘a fox’s home is also called an earth and they live above and below ground’; a series of pictures under the flap called ‘frogspawn’ shows each stage of a tadpole’s transformation into a frog. Indeed, each page is full of interesting information and provides a starting point too for further conversations about nature. ~ Andrea Reece
Innovative and inclusive, The Barefoot Book of Children empowers young readers to learn about the different lives of children around the globe. Whilst being gently encouraged to ponder their own place in the world - the sights and sounds, the place they live - this beautifully illustrated book takes them on a journey to other children throughout the world inviting comparisons and further thoughts about differences. This is a wonderful celebration of all the things that make us unique and different, yet expresses how each individual is just the same in their hopes, fears and dreams and the fact that they all have a story to share. This is a very important book to share with children and perfect for raising a gentle discussion about diversity. ~ Shelley Fallows A Piece of Passion from the Publisher: You’re a part of the world, and a world all your own. That’s the one fact that The Barefoot Book of Children co-author Kate DePalma wants to pass on to her young daughter ? and the idea that sparked Children. Co-authors DePalma and Tessa Strickland penned the book’s simple, poetic text over the course of a few spring days in Oxford. To ensure that the text and illustrations would be as sensitive as possible, the co-authors then consulted with an entire team of specialists, including a child development expert and the diversity specialists at Inclusive Minds. They were also delighted to commission David Dean, the illustrator of the bestselling Barefoot Books World Atlas, knowing that he’d do the meticulous research the project required. The result - DePalma and Strickland’s beautiful book will pass on incredible wisdom to children everywhere - children who, one day, may build a better, kinder world. To order direct through Barefoot Books please click here.
Starting with the Arctic tern, which makes the longest migration of any creature, an astonishing 91,600km (57,000 mi) this journal-sized book is full of information on extraordinary feats of the animal world. It describes more amazing migrations, via land, sea and air, and also looks at the way animals have adapted in remarkable ways to survive in inhospitable landscapes. The animals and creatures command the pages in Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s vibrant illustrations, from the awe-inspiring humpback whale to the beautiful monarch butterfly. As non-fiction for children continues to set new standards in imaginative, information-rich design and eye-catching illustration, this is a book that inspires, entertains and enthrals. ~ Andrea Reece
This animal guide book takes an unusual approach: it is presented in the form of a scrapbook completed by the author Louis Thomas as he travelled the world studying wildlife, and he and his friend Joe appear on lots of the pages interacting with animals (a note warns children not to try this at home!). Their enthusiasm for the various creatures shines through, and the book has a very warm and engaging tone. The watercolour and ink illustrations are very appealing too and often show Louis and Joe in some unusual situations! A quirky information book that is lots of fun to read, as well as being full of interesting facts. ~ Andrea Reece
One of our Books of the Year 2016 | May 2016 Book of the Month Attractive, friendly illustrations and an interactive approach make this a fun introduction to dinosaurs. In the company of a group of ‘dinosaur detectives’ readers can explore the world of dinosaurs and pick up a great deal of information: colourful pages explain how dinosaur fossils are formed, illustrate the different periods, and demonstrated the size of dinosaurs using a sketch of a bus to provide perspective. Even the most dedicated students of palaeontology will discover things they didn’t know while this is accessible and intriguing enough to capture the interest of all readers. In tune with the detective theme it comes with its own magnifying glass too. ~ Andrea Reece
Dreamers, leaders, fighters for our rights... meet 40 amazing activists for peace! Learn how these heroes from history changed the world in this inspiring book packed with hundreds of incredible facts. Who will you choose as your hero?
Children fascinated by TV cookery programmes will learn just what’s involved in being a chef from this book, as well as lots about nutrition, hygiene and even kitchen equipment. The introduction explains that being a chef is not just about making delicious food, though obviously that’s important, but is also about managing a team of cooks, buying the best ingredients and making sure that your restaurant is a success – leadership skills and an understanding of maths and science are all part of that. No wonder then that the book is so varied, full of all sorts of interesting information presented over appealing, colourful pages. Children are invited to observe what’s in their own kitchens, as well as given write-in challenges to complete. There are a couple of simple but tasty recipes to follow too. Fun and informative. ~ Andrea Reece Every country has its own different kinds of food. Download a map of the world featuring some of the most popular dishes across the globe. How many have you tried? One of a number of titles in the Academy series. To go to our special Academy series category click here.
June 2018 Non-Fiction Book of the Month | Dinosaurs are endlessly fascinating for children and this new book, one of a series, uses the latest research and scientific discoveries to bring young readers right up to date on the tyrant lizard king. For example, it explains how the study of ‘muscle scars’ on T.rex bones dramatically changed our understanding of how the animal stood and moved; it includes photos of fossilised scaly skin from an adult T.rex discovered only in 2017, and examines the evidence for T.rex having feathers or bristles too; and it shows how comparing scans of T.rex skulls and brain cases with those of modern animals tell us lots about its sense of smell (good) and vision (possibly very good). A Science in Action section explains the different processes involved in excavations. Full colour throughout and with a useful glossary, this will inspire young palaeontologists. ~ Andrea Reece A Piece of Passion from Publisher Ruth Owen: I love science and I love dinosaurs – so it was a fantastic opportunity to work with author and palaeontologist, Dougal Dixon, to create and publish our new series. It was also fascinating to work with the artists, from around the world, who created the life-like 3D artworks of the animals featured in the series. Every year new fossil discoveries are made, or advancements in technology allow us to gather more evidence from bones that were dug from the ground decades ago. This means the books are just jam-packed with the latest information on these incredible animals. From seeing T. rex skin for the first time, to an investigation that recreated T. rex’s sinister, blood-curdling sounds, I was learning new things every day. I didn’t want the project to end and I hope that readers have as much fun reading the books as we did making them! The Prehistoric Beast Uncovered series includes; Tyrannosaurus Rex - King of the Dinosaurs Megaladon - The Largest Shark That Ever Lived Triceratops - The Dinosaur Built to Do Battle Titanosaur - The Giant Earth Shaking Dinosaur
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2018 | A stunning and original book and a useful one too. Subtitled ‘A Celebration of Nature’s Greatest Show-offs’ in glorious pictures it introduces over 600 different plants grouped together under all kinds of headings. There are some nice indoor plants under the heading ‘Air-fresheners’, a dramatic spread of ‘The Magical’ and some beautiful spreads of ‘The Ornamentals’. It’s a book that will whet any child’s interest in plants and excite them about the very many possibilities that they offer. There’s a useful index for helping readers revisit some of the amazing plants that have caught their eye. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for May 2018 Square by Mac Barnett A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge A Perfect Day by Lane Smith Gaspard the Fox by Zeb Soanes & James Mayhew Wonder Goal! by Michael Foreman The Sand Dog by Sarah Lean The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell Plantopedia by Adrienne Barman
Imagine: you're flying high over the Himalayan mountains, on a journey filled with danger. The temperature is far below freezing, the air is thin, and golden eagles swoop out of the sky to attack you. This is just one of the 20 incredible migration stories in this book. Animals of all shapes and sizes make epic journeys across our planet, through harsh weather, avoiding hungry predators, in their efforts to survive. Travel around the globe with some of the world's most incredible animals and discover their unique migration stories. Follow the emperor penguin through snow, ice and bitter temperatures; watch as the great white shark swims 10,000 km in search of seals; track huge herds of elephants, on their yearly hunt for water and be amazed at the millions of red crabs, migrating across Christmas Island. With stunning colour illustrations, uncover the astonishing migrations of 20 creatures, in this truly inspiring narrative. Written by Mike Unwin, a UK Travel Writer of the Year, and illustrated by Jenni Desmond, winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, prepare yourself for a journey like no other. Follow the amazing migrations of these 20 creatures: Arctic tern, barn swallow, bar-headed goose, ruby-throated hummingbird, osprey, wandering albatross, whooping crane, emperor penguin, African elephant, blue wildebeest, caribou, straw-coloured fruit bat, humpback whale, green turtle, Southern pilchard, salmon, great white shark, monarch butterfly, globe skimmer dragonfly, Christmas Island red crab
Join a group of school children on this voyage of discovery and discover the answers to lots of questions as well as fascinating facts about lighthouses and how they work. How Does a Lighthouse Work? provides a fascinating journey through the science and history of lighthouses around the world. Through history a lighthouse has been an important, in fact essential tool for sailors to navigate safely and this remains so today in order to protect all sailors from the dangerous coastlines and rocky outcrops out to sea that are found all over the world. Modern technology may have changed the way that lighthouses work but still their USP remains the same: to deliver a light as far as possible to forewarn sailors of potential dangers. This a terrific book to share with inquisitive children and the combination of stunning illustrations and interesting text makes this a well worthwile read both at home and to use in the classroom.
We all want our children to be happy and resilient, but may not realise that they can be taught skills to make them happier people. Written by a psychologist with the charity Action for Happiness, this book explains ten keys to happier living and sets out practical, fun activities for children to do that will make a real and lasting difference to their lives. The text is friendly and reassuring, broken down into easily accessible paragraphs or charts while bright graphics with animated characters make it attractive to look at too. Each of the ten chapters has tips for children to use in their everyday lives, including a section on developing mindfulness. Happiness really matters, and the more children and adults who read this book, the better. ~ Andrea Reece
Who doesn’t like playing with balloons and bubbles? Now you can have all the fun and learn about science at the same time. There are 35 different activities in this book, each using a balloon or bubbles and, mostly, everyday household objects as equipment, from dried yeast to bubble wrap. There’s a strong ‘wow factor’ to the experiments, whether that’s making a long snake of colourful bubbles, or pushing a bamboo skewer through a balloon without causing it to pop, and they’re clearly explained with the help of illustrations and photographs. Each activity features paragraphs called ‘let’s investigate’ and ‘inside the science’ which explain the processes involved. Fascinating, informative stuff, and there’s even a chapter on cooking with bubbles – after all, what’s cooking if not science? ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the English Picture Book Award 2016 This is an exciting and dramatic story simply told in words and pictures about how life began and developed on Planet Earth, written especially for younger children. How the first living cell was created, how the cells multiplied, created simple living things which dragged themselves out of the water into swampy forests that eventually became dinosaurs and then us. With delightful illustrations including lots of detail and humour, all carefully researched and checked, this book shows the development of life on Earth in a truly accessible and simple way.
This book certainly gets my vote! Any young people who think politics is boring or nothing to do with them will likely have their minds changed by this excellent book. Over bright pages, liberally illustrated with attractive and informative cartoons, it breaks politics down, explaining government and political systems, elections and voting, political change and ideologies, and finishes by posing some big questions, on subjects including war, human rights, feminism, the environment. Various experts have contributed, including John Pienaar, Rachel Reeves MP and Nick Clegg MP, and this is extremely well thought out and well presented. Watch out for the suggestion that school is just a bit feudal, and encourage everyone to look at the section called ‘How to argue’. ~ Andrea Reece
It’s impossible not to be inspired by this picture book and the great women featured in it: their stories are told across bright spreads, which are enticing to look at, and packed with information all presented in a way that will make readers excited about the remarkable achievements described. It’s a varied line up of subjects, including a scientist, a writer, an athlete, an explorer and fashion designer alongside civil rights campaigner and even secret agent! Each page explains what these pioneering women did, and shows that everyone has the potential to change the world – just follow your heart and don’t listen when people say you can’t do something!
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2017 Described as ‘the Bansky of the bird world’, Matt Sewell has created a fabulous hide-and-seek guide designed to inspire children to start bird watching both on the page and outside. Jungle, desert, woodland and city oasis - each beautiful double page spread shows an amazing wildlife habitat for birds and, in each, there is a native bird of that place hiding! Enjoy bird spotting and also Matt Sewell’s glorious and vibrant illustrations. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for May 2017 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King of the Sky by Nicoloa Davies A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis King Coo by Adam Stower The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman The Big Bird Spot by Matt Sewell
Stylishly illustrated this is a piece of non-fiction, the inspiring story of a special friendship, and a bit of a mystery story too. It introduces young readers to Ella Fitzgerald and describes the beginning of her career when she and her band were not allowed to perform in some clubs because of the colour of their skin. But Ella had one big fan determined to do something about that – who was it? The story reveals it was Marilyn Monroe, and describes the close friendship between the two women and how Marilyn helped Ella get the attention her music deserved. It’s a great story perfectly told through Helen Hancocks’s bold, vibrant illustrations and in clear engaging text and it brings a particular piece of history vividly to life. ~ Andrea Reece
The story of space is told with all the drama and excitement it merits but clearly and simply for the youngest readers. Over forty colourful pages readers travel through billions of years of history from moments before the Big Bang to the formation of the Sun and our planets, the development of life on Earth and to mankind’s gradual exploration of space. Painted illustrations depict space and the planets nearest Earth in bright, bold colours, and two little astronauts are on hand to add helpful comments about the scenes that surround them. This is mind-expanding stuff and this intriguing introduction to our universe should inspire a long-term fascination in young children. ~ Andrea Reece
Covering ten important general areas of scientific study including space, wheels, light, medicine, energy and life, this handsome information book shows how ideas have developed over the centuries, new discoveries adding to what has gone before to lead us to where we are today. It’s a fascinating concept, and a great deal of information is conveyed via the clear, concise passages of text and stylish cartoon illustrations. The book is perfect for browsing and will appeal to readers of a wide age range. ~ Andrea Reece
April 2017 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month This beautiful information book explores all aspects of our planet, this ‘tiny sphere that orbits an ordinary, middle-aged star in a quiet backwater of the Milky Way’. It examines the inner workings of the Earth; looks at life, from the smallest beings to the mightiest, past to present; opens up the huge variety of ecosystems; and ponders the impact humans have had and are having. The tone is one of conversation as author Jonathan Litton explains often complex topics in relaxed and accessible language. Thomas Hegbrook’s soft, ethereal images do more than illustrate the text. An inspiring book to send readers exploring even further. ~ Andrea Reece
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this book is indeed packed with things for kids to do with science and the great news is that all 101 of them are fun and generally easy to do, and that they can be created from craft materials or items that all of us will have readily to hand. The instructions are straightforward and written in a conspiratorial style that positively encourages children to ‘create mayhem’ while on each page a paragraph called ‘The Sciencey Bit’ explains the scientific process behind each experiment. Diagrams and colour photos make it more accessible and attractive to look at too. With activities that can be carried out indoors and outdoors, this will be great for the Easter and summer holidays. ~ Andrea Reece ***There is special activity pack with ideas to celebrate Science Week to download here! British Science Week is 10–19 March - find out more at www.britishscienceweek.org
This is a typically informative and cleverly designed book from Wide Eyed Editions, one of our leading new publishers of non-fiction. Over 16 spreads, it asks 100 questions about the human body, from what are my bones made of, to why do I have a spleen, to what does my brain look like. The answers are often hidden behind flaps – there are 70 of these - for example you can open up the heart to examine what’s on the inside, and peep inside the eye. The flaps make this a fun, interactive reading experience as well as an informative one. ~ Andrea Reece
Ernest Hemingway might have said there are only three real sports – motor racing, bull-fighting and mountaineering – but even he might have been forced to reconsider had he been presented with The Sports Timeline Wallbook. This unique history book covers more than 100 different sports played by humans through the centuries and around the globe, including our own great national pastimes football, rugby and cricket all of which are shown to have origins that will surprise readers. In What On Earth? style all the different sports are illustrated in a timeline that begins two hundred years BC and ends in the current day, providing readers with a unique view of sport throughout human history. A 2 metre long poster will provide hours of entertainment and there’s longer reading too in fun newspaper style reports as well as a quiz. Fascinating and revealing stuff for readers of all ages. ~ Andrea Reece Everything you want to know about all sports from the original Olympics to the present day is crammed into the attractively busy pages of this vast wall chart. Fun to browse but also hugely informative, this chart deserves a place on all walls. Terrifically original publishing. The wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. In addition to the Wallbook, The Sports Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 35 newspaper stories and a quiz.
Take a tour round the inside of the human body in this unusual and quite excellent information book. It examines our component parts, from cells to blood, bones, liver, lungs and the brain, explaining how they function – and thereby how we function – though colourful, intricate cross-section diagrams, each one full of busy little people demonstrating the myriad different actions involved. In this way complex processes are broken down into comprehensible steps. Short passages of text illuminate things further. You can’t help but be drawn in by the look of the pages and this is an absolutely fascinating and thoroughly effective introduction to the workings of the human body. ~ Andrea Reece
In a lively, highly readable book Nicola Davies examines ways that man and animals interact, highlighting species whose intelligence and adaptability causes real problems for their human neighbours. Take the Kea for example: these super-smart birds cause no end of mischief in New Zealand, sometimes just for the fun of it; or macaque monkeys who damage crops, cables and peoples’ houses in India and seem easily able to outwit the humans trying to limit their activity. As well as showing them just how clever animals are, these fascinating stories will set children thinking about the effect mankind has on the natural world. The final chapter gives examples of humans and animals working together, which should start children thinking about better ways we can share the planet in the future. ~ Andrea Reece
Think 21st century humans have explained pretty much everything there is to explain? Think again! As this book demonstrates, there’s still a huge amount of stuff we simply don’t understand. It takes 100 mind-boggling puzzles – mysterious ancient monuments, haunted castles and paranormal mysteries, scientific conundrums - and examines them rigorously, clear passages of text and attractive photographs and illustrations providing lots of information on each one. Each topic is given its own unexplained rating, from “Not quite as strange as it seems” to “Mind-bogglingly mysterious!!!” It’s the kind of book that kids will find really easy to dip into, and very hard to put down. ~ Andrea Reece
YouTuber Charlie McDonnell is a science fan & brings his passion and flair to inspire young readers to love science. From space and the beginnings of the universe to how science is used at home & all around us, bright lively illustrations, unusual facts with easy to follow explanations show that science is anything but boring. There's the odd zany experiment too!
Visually alive, original and information rich, this handsome book will fascinate budding young palaeontologists. It speaks directly to the reader, placing them in the heart of the action, ‘As you travel through the Triassic landscape you notice it’s dry and sandy …’, providing close up encounters with dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Readers travel on from the Triassic age through the Jurassic ages and finally into the Cretaceous period, and it’s an information-packed journey. The text explains clearly why dinosaurs ruled the earth for so long. The illustrations are eye-catching, the dinosaurs vivid, almost fluorescent, in red, green, yellow, pink and blues (after all, no-one knows what colour they were). Stunning to look at and fascinating reading. ~ Andrea Reece
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Nick Arnold’s book presents children with 88 different scientific challenges spread across brightly coloured, busy pages and grouped according to nine different themes, including air experiments, energy and sound experiments, body experiments and force experiments. Each page explains what is needed, and poses questions for children to answer after completing the experiment, testing their understanding. There are ‘what’s next’ challenges too encouraging readers to develop the experiments further. The intriguing half an experiment is a science surprise that will fascinate everyone, whatever their age! An appealing and effective hands-on information book.~ Andrea Reece
The world we live in is truly amazing, and across its continents, oceans and skies are all kinds of fabulous places and astounding sights. Almost 100 of them are described in the bright, information-filled pages of this book. Natural wonders featured include the Namib Desert, Mount Thor and the Sundarbans mangrove forest as well as Black Holes, ball lightening and hurricanes. They’re all brought to life through photographs, key facts and figures, attractively presented, and all graded for awesomeness. So too are the human creations listed, which include the Colosseum, the Millau Viaduct and Voyager 1. Perfect for dipping into and full of information they’ll rush to share, this will fascinate kids, and should inspire them too. ~ Andrea Reece
Stories, gods, heroes and villains from the world’s great mythologies are all featured in this compact and appealing information book. It is therefore filled with great stories, some familiar, others less so, but it also compares the different myths, examining the recurring themes so that young readers are prompted to think about what myths are for, and why mankind needs them. It’s fascinating stuff and the lively, colourful design and layout make the book very accessible for young readers. This is a book that not only provides huge amounts of information but that will also inspire an ongoing interest in the subject. ~ Andrea Reece
Gather your ingredients and get busy in the kitchen creating tasty, healthy meals with your kids. The delicious, healthy meals and nutrition facts are enough to satisfy any hungry young appetite, so reach for your reds, pick up your purples and don't forget to Eat Your Greens, Reds, Yellows and Purples.
One of four new titles which uses maths to help solve problems in a range of exciting activities and helps show how useful maths is in everyday life. There are answers at the back and a glossary explains clearly what the various terms and words mean and relate to, making it a helpful and importantly great fun learning tool. Do try it on lovers and haters of maths because it will make haters into lovers or at least move them in the right direction of starting to hate it less.
When the Whales Walked tackles a big, complex subject – the evolution of life on Earth – and succeeds in explaining it clearly, vividly and in way that will catch the imagination of young readers. It examines thirteen case studies, each describing the evolution of a different group of animals, from the earliest fish right up to modern Homo Sapiens. It explains the history of each group with the help of illustrations and diagrams, challenging children to spot the patterns in the ways that different animals have evolved. There’s a timeline of life on Earth, diagrams to explain the evolutionary tree and a cladogram, all there to help make the subject crystal clear. A book that thoroughly respects the intelligence and inquisitiveness of its readers and rewards their attention.
September 2018 Non-Fiction Book of the Month | This sumptuous book, packed with gorgeous full and double-page illustrations by Thomas Hegbrook, will appeal to a very broad audience. Its subject – of course – is the Moon, our nearest and most familiar neighbour in space, and a source of fascination to mankind for thousands of years. Chapters cover both what we know of the moon, and what we’ve imagined; there are detailed and fascinating explanations of the moon’s physical relationship to Earth, and lots too on the Apollo missions and space exploration. Also included are different cultures’ moon myths, and examples of the beautiful poetry it has inspired. And there are quirky, unexpected facts – it seems the moon really can affect our behaviour for example. A book to intrigue and inform.
Ocean Emporium is a fine example of the new wave of non-fiction books which are not just full of thoughtfully presented information but as beautiful to look at as the best picture books. Susie Brooks and Dawn Cooper take readers through the world’s oceans, opening our eyes to the extraordinary variety of creatures that inhabit them, and illustrating some of the dramas that take place there – a confrontation between a pack of orcas and a great white shark is particularly memorable. It’s not just the big predators that catch our attention – the sea urchins, pipefish, nudi branchs (sea slugs) will fascinate children too. Each creature is labelled with its common and scientific name, and there is a useful glossary and index. This is a book to pore over, one that will open children’s eyes to the beauty of the natural world, and inspire them to find out more.
The most innovative approach to non-fiction since Horrible Histories, the What On Earth Wallbooks present information in a way guaranteed to inspire children’s curiosity and to stimulate real enthusiasm for learning. Each one contains a full-colour poster – 2 metres long – that illustrates the complete historical timeline of its subject. The Nature Timeline shows children the history of life on Earth, from the first signs of life 4 billion years ago to the start of the 21st century. By cross-sectioning time, the Wallchart gives children a comprehensive view of what is happening across the Earth as the centuries pass, in the oceans, and on the land. A separate timeline across the top illustrates the changes to Earth’s landmasses as the continents gradually form. Illustrations are accompanied by equally informative captions and there’s longer reading too in the form of spoof newspaper articles and letters to the editor. Billions of years of history at a glance! ~ Andrea Reece These wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Nature Timeline shows the complete story of natural history in 1,000 species on a 2.4 metre-long timeline beginning with the formation of the Earth to the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary science. Perfect for younger readers but also relevant to all ages, this comprehensive, accessible and versatile wallbook is the first ever attempt to illustrate the entire history of nature and natural science on a single piece of paper. In addition to the Wallbook, The Nature Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 30 newspaper stories and a quiz.
All the most horrible facts about the Groovy Greeks ready for readers to uncover, including why girls ran about naked pretending to be bears, who had the world's first flushing toilet and why dedicated doctors tasted their patients' ear wax.
Winner of the English Association 4-11 Picture Book Awards 2016 - Non-Fiction 7-11 category | Longlisted for the inaugural Klaus Flugge Prize, an important new illustration prize for children's books | One of our Books of the Year 2015 New from the company that brought you Creaturepedia and the Atlas of Adventures, this is another beautiful reference book that will cause readers to open their eyes wide in wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Step through those golden gates on the cover to enter five of Earth’s richest natural habitats: the Chihuahuan Desert, the Amazon Rainforest, the Black Forest, the Himalayan Mountains and the Great Barrier Reef. Each one is depicted in a vivid double page spread, crammed with examples of the animals and plants that make the regions special, while subsequent pages include close ups and written descriptions. Readers are addressed directly, instructed to watch for particular animals and to listen out for their sounds. It’s natural history but not as we know it: Williams plays with scale uses the startlingly bright colours of plants and animals to dazzle the eye. A wonder of a book indeed. ~ Andrea Reece
Winner of the UKLA 2018 Book Award 7-11 | This is no ordinary animal book, you won’t find the usual suspects in its page, no tigers, pandas, bears here. Instead be prepared to be amazed by animals you’ve never heard of, from the Cuban solenodon (one of the few mammals with a poisonous bite) to the stinky but useful zorilla, aka Africa’s pongiest predator. Martin ‘Horrible Histories illustrator’ Brown celebrates a host of animals that deserve to be better know, in a book that offers a refreshingly different approach to natural history. Each page is packed with fascinating information, cleverly laid out with frequent jokes and cartoon asides adding to the fun. At the same time, there’s a serious message about the threat to these creatures from humans, and habitat loss.
A fun, accessible guide to computers and coding for older children and curious adults. This fun and quirky book provides a fascinating introduction to the world of computer coding, organized into handy bite-sized chunks. Packed with playful illustrations and inspiring information on the amazing world of coding and computing, this book is the perfect introduction to this most essential of subjects.
In a nutshell: historical adventures full of facts and fun Not since Horrible Histories has the past been brought to life for young readers so accurately and with so much humour. Written in partnership with the National Trust in the form of the diary of a young boy, page to a knight at Widemoat Castle, the story recounts an exciting episode in his life culminating in an attack on the castle by the rebellious Welsh. Young John Drawbridge and Widemoat are fictional but everything else in the book is real and it’s full of interesting historical detail, giving a complete view of life in a medieval castle. You can always rely on Philip Ardagh to add humour and this rollicking story has some very good jokes as well as appealing characters. ~ Andrea Reece The Editor at Nosy Crow says: “This is the perfect book for Philip: it takes advantage of his incredible mix of talents as an author - hilarious writing, brilliant characters and voice, and lots of fascinating factual detail. Jamie’s brilliant artwork is the perfect complement - it’s lively, funny, full of rich detail and expression, and hugely child-friendly. A winning combination!”
This excellent book is an inspiring and all-encompassing guide to the world of music for young people. By inviting them to imagine they are attending a music course over an academic year the authors make it particularly involving for young people and the different ‘lessons’ cover everything from the different kinds of music and musical instruments there are, to the elements of musical language, and how to make music yourself. The tone is engaging and conversational throughout and the book is extremely well-designed, colourful illustrations by Daniel Frost adding to the overall appeal. Readers can listen online to recordings my top musicians too thanks to a QR code. Bravo! ~ Andrea Reece Companion title to the School of Art.
April 2017 Book of the Month Who better to take young readers on a guided tour of the British Library than Mick Manning and Brita Granström? Words and pictures work perfectly together to give children a vivid sense of the greatest library in the world, and some of the amazing books to be found there. It begins with a look at the St Cuthbert Gospel, a photo of the book part of a collage also featuring a representation of the saint in his coffin and sketches depicting the book’s extraordinary history. There are equally lively pages on the Lindisfarne Gospel, Beowulf, Mrs Beeton’s cookbook and many more. The approach is as varied as the books featured, while the facts contained will inform and fascinate readers of all ages. It concludes with notes on the authors of the featured books and a helpful glossary. A unique and fascinating way of examining the history of the book through one of our greatest institutions. ~ Andrea Reece
This extremely user-friendly and accessible guide book will teach children the basics of Python, enabling them to create their own games and simple animations. Now that computers and coding are compulsory school topics in the UK it will prove very useful. Step by step instructions take children through the basics and it’s cleverly and clearly laid out on colour pages filled with diagrams and tip boxes. Key ideas about coding in general are also included. Ring binding means that it opens flat on the desk or can be propped up open next to the computer screen. A really well thought-out and effective information book. ~ Andrea Reece You might also be interested in Coding for Beginners using Scratch and Lift-the-Flaps Computers and Coding- a fun and essential introduction to what can be sometimes still seen as an intimidating subject. ***There is special activity pack with ideas to celebrate Science Week to download here! British Science Week is 10–19 March - find out more at www.britishscienceweek.org
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Detailed, ingenious and graphically beautiful this information book opens, as the best do, with an invitation to young readers to stop and wonder as they’re asked to think about what is going on beneath their feet. No ordinary book but a fold-out poster in book form, opening out the pages reveals a huge vertical panorama that takes us down through the different layers and right into the very core of the Earth. Friendly but information-rich text explains the features of the different layers, from the pipes and wires that support our civilisation to old bones, underground rivers, coal mines. The reverse side of the poster takes up back up through the magma, then seams of minerals, limestone, fossils and finally back into the light, this time countryside rather than city street. This beautiful book will expand readers’ knowledge and understanding and inspire them to think more about our planet.
March 2017 Non Fiction Book of the Month | In a nutshell: an inspiring introduction to 50 pioneering women scientists | Hopefully everyone has heard of Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and Ada Lovelace, pioneers in science. But what about Grace Hopper, credited as the mother of computer programming, or Nobel Prize winners Rita Levi-Montalcini or Maria Goeppert-Mayer? Despite all the obstacles put in their way, women scientists have been getting to the head of their fields for thousands of years and this book celebrates 50 of them. There’s a double page on each brilliant woman, full of information about their lives, backgrounds and achievements, and handsomely designed and illustrated too. There are timelines, plus statistics and, a really inspiring touch, quotes from the scientists on nearly every page. A book to excite and energize girls and boys alike. ~ Andrea Reece ***There is special activity pack with ideas to celebrate Science Week to download here! British Science Week is 10–19 March - find out more at www.britishscienceweek.org
How amazing that less than 100 years after the invention of the motor car, humans have built and launched vehicles that can leave the solar system. We’ve landed space probes on two planets, and visited Earth’s own moon six times. We’re living in the space age alright and this excellent book explains the fascinating story of space exploration clearly and vividly. From chapters looking at our solar system and its place in the universe, it goes on to explain how mankind found ways to look out into space, then how we worked out how to get there, and back again. There are chapters on surviving in space, and pages contemplating the possibility of establishing a human colony on Mars. The text is full of information but conveys a real sense of the wonders of space travel. Similarly Stephen Biesty’s cross-section illustrations are detailed, beautiful to look at and absolutely inspiring. ~ Andrea Reece
Winner of the £10,000 Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize 2016, which champions the best science books for under-14s. Macaulay, who was announced as the winner at a ceremony in Cardif, was selected by a panel of child judges from a shortlist of six books. The shortlist was picked by a panel of adult judges, chaired by Professor Dame Julia Higgins. Higgins said: “This book isn’t just dry pages about what engineering is. It’s a very exciting story about a sloth that has to get somewhere and in order to get to where he’s going he has to build levers, he has to build bridges. Each of the pages is about how he designs a solution to a problem - just what an engineer must do.”
September 2016 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month Anything you can imagine, you can animate says this stimulating book, and it explains clearly and simply the ten key skills readers need to become expert animators, starting with flipbook loops and ending with special effects, lighting and camera skills. The instructions are carefully worded to be friendly and easy to follow, while the colour illustrations on every page help to explain the different processes, and keep it all feeling fun and uncomplicated. There are lots of extra handy tips in text flashes, a page of useful links and a glossary with definitions of technical and unfamiliar terms. This is an inspiring and really useful guide for young would-be animators. ~ Andrea Reece
The Universe is huge – it stretches further than we could ever imagine or explore, and contains everything in space, from super stars to galaxies to tiny pieces of dust. Packed with facts, diagrams, infographics and photos, this is the perfect introduction to space. Find out how the incredible work of astronauts like Tim Peake, astronomers and scientists have enabled us to discover so much about the universe. Perfect for any young reader who looks up at the night sky and wonders just what goes on out there.
With Cool Astronomy, you'll discover everything you need to know about the universe, from asteroids to the zenith point ...and almost everything in between! Learn amazing space-related tricks such as how to watch a solar eclipse safely and mapping stars from your own back garden, right down to expertly simplifying the supermassive numbers and distances involved in the space between space so you'll never forget them.
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - This book, with a Foreword by Tim Peake who in December 2015 became the first British astronaut to go to the International Space station, should go to the top of any must-have list for young children interested in space travel. It’s packed with fascinating information on everything from what to study to help you become an astronaut, to the special training astronauts undergo, rocket science and how shuttles get into space, and what it’s like to live on the International Space Station. Of course it explains how astronauts go to the loo, but the sections on what happens to human stomachs in space is just as icky and interesting! The information is very well presented, and despite the conversational tone there’s no talking down. After all, the children reading this book could become fully fledged astronauts in the 2030s. Inspiring stuff! ~ Andrea Reece Stop press... Tim Peake, European Space Agency astronaut and the first Brit to join the International Space Station this autumn, has written a Foreword to this fascinating book - "This exciting guide will tell you a bit more about what it’s like to live and work in space... and why getting there and back is such a tough job... Good luck on your journey and maybe I’ll see you in space, one day… this guide is a really great place to start". Read the complete Foreword here. Tim was the first British astronaut to embark on a mission to the International Space Station - he went in December 2015 for a 6 month stint - and in addition the handbook is published in association with the UK Space Agency so rest assured what kids learn from it will be spot on.
In this large format picture book 30 famous cities around the globe are brought to life through beautiful illustrations and a vast miscellany of intiguing facts. Every spread is devoted to a city and within that spread are facts which will astound and surprise. Did you know for example that San Francisco had a population of less than a million whilst Shanghai had a gargantuan 24 million? It's a book that will be equally at home as a book to share with youngsters at bedtime as it is to brighten up a coffee table in the living room.
It isn't often that a non-fiction picture book has been so admired here in the Lovereading office. The stunning, stylish lino-cut prints capture the beauty and the drama of a whole host ofwinged creatures but in the writing the reader will discover the background to these incredible birds - from the andean flamingo and the bald eagle to the toco toucan and the wandering albatross - did you know the latter spends the first 5-10 years of its life at sea soaring over the waves with barely a flap of its wings? This really is a book like no other, to share amongst the family and for grown-ups as a lavish coffee table book to be admired. Magnificent...
If you want to know what was happening on Earth any time in the last four billion years, then you couldn’t do better than opening out the Big History Timeline Each one of the What On Earth Wallbooks contains a 2 metre long poster – ideal for pinning to the wall or poring over on the floor – that presents information in a unique cross-section of time, and history as a continuing Earth-wide story. Packed with pictures, the wallchart is immediately enticing and full of information. A separate quiz tests children on what they can find out and demonstrates the Wallbook’s scope, questions include: which are the first creatures thought to have been able to see underwater? Tulips became a symbol of dignity in which Islamic region? What nationality was the assassin of Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria? A unique, accessible and inspiring information book. ~ Andrea Reece These What on Earth wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Big History Timeline depicts millions of years of evolution, the rise and fall of civilisations, one hundred of the top battles and, on the reverse, the story of planet, life and people from the Big Bang to today. In addition to the Wallbook, The Big History Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 35 newspaper stories and a quiz.
Longlisted for the 2017 Klaus Flugge Prize | December 2016 Fascintating Facts Book of the Month A visually stunning collection of facts and figures for all the family to enjoy. Do you know how many bones there are in the human body or how clouds form? Or about different types of knots or how Morse code works? Each illustration by James Brown is both beautiful and enlightening, and is accompanied by an engaging fact-filled explanation by celebrated author Richard Platt. Covering more than 30 diverse and fascinating topics, there is a world of information at your fingertips in this book which is a real delight to browse through.
This inspiring, illuminating, stylishly accessible anthology invites young readers to discover and celebrate phenomenal forebears and contemporary catalysts, while encouraging them to blaze their own inimitable trails. Taking its name from a Nina Simone song, and written as “a love letter to our ancestors, and to the next generation of black changemakers,” this exuberantly illustrated book presents a plethora of outstanding individuals who’ve realised amazing achievements in their respective fields. Among the fifty-two figures we meet are household names from contemporary culture (Michelle and Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé, for example), and hugely important historical heroes and heroines. While some will be familiar – Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Rosa Parks, for example – lesser-known pioneers are also presented, among them Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel in space. In their introduction, the author and illustrator issue an emboldening statement about the importance of representation – “all children deserve to see themselves represented positively in stories”. And, with such a dazzling diversity of talents portrayed here (from writers, musicians, dancers and visual artists, to sports people, scientists and politicians), this book has much to inspire a real range of young readers.
This book sets out to prove that maths has more in common with art than many might think, and that it can be truly beautiful; it achieves its aim. A series of clearly explained and attractively designed activities demonstrate how numbers and shapes can make fascinating patterns. Readers will learn how to make delicate snowflakes, using clever folding and cutting; how to make a three-dimensional fractal; and even to do some mathematical magic. It’s fascinating and will provide children with hours of entertainment, even those who wouldn’t normally claim to enjoy maths. A useful glossary includes words and phrases such as congruent, polyomino and tessellation, and it finishes with ideas for more smart art projects. ~ Andrea Reece Download a fun Activity Pack with lots of maths puzzles here!
October 2017 Non-Fiction Book of the Month This well-designed, interactive workbook provides a really good introduction to coding for children. It breaks it down into fun, step by step exercises and each bright, visually attractive page sets children tasks to do, with sticker rewards when they get the answers right. The different exercises clearly and logically explain the different elements of coding, turning them into manageable chunks. Topics covered include understanding computer languages such as Scratch; writing simple commands for a computer to follow; designing computer art for games and programs; building web pages using HTML. As the author himself has said, coding is highly creative, and even without the press out robots on the end pages, this is a fun, appealing and stimulating approach to one of the key skills of the 21st century. ~ Andrea Reece Download the Coder Academy Activity Book which accompanies the book!
An amazing guide to the wonders of physics, handily broken down into accessible bite-sized chunks and particularly helpful for anyone new to or flummoxed by physics. Packed with quirky illustrations and fascinating factual titbits, this book is both an incredibly useful companion to school studies and an absorbing read in its own right. Books in The Cool Series; Cool Maths Cool Physics Cool Astronomy Cool Science Tricks Cool Nature Cool Mythology Cool Coding Cool Architecture Cool Philosophy Cool Art
The British History Timeline showcases milestones in the extraordinary history of the British Isles from the age of the Dinosaurs 100 million years ago to the hosting of the London Olympics in 2015. In a two metre long poster – ideal for pinning to the wall or poring over on the table or floor – the Wallbook places the oldest footprint on British soil, kings & queens, famous battles, the heroes of science, art and culture as well as iconic national buildings and monuments, all of which have shaped the history of our islands from before humans to the present day. This brilliant visual experience allows you to explore British History as you have never seen it before! Newspaper style articles provide longer reading and support what is described on the poster. It’s a triumph of an information book, comprehensive and inspiring, bound to set readers off on their own journeys of discovery. These wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. Perfect for younger readers but also relevant to all ages, this comprehensive, accessible and versatile wallbook is the first ever attempt to illustrate the entire history of nature and natural science on a single piece of paper. In addition to the Wallbook, The British History Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 30 newspaper stories and a quiz.
The story of human invention and engineering began at least 10,000 years ago in the stone age and has continued non-stop ever since with each discovery leading to new developments in our understanding. The Wallbook Timeline of Science and Engineering demonstrates this brilliantly, a two metre long poster – ideal for pinning to the wall or poring over on the table or floor – places scientists, physicians, astronomers and more in chronological order, their work illustrated in attractive pictures accompanied by informative captions. Men – and women – from different regions and races are united in this brilliant visual demonstration of the nature of human discovery. Newspaper style articles provide longer reading and support what is described on the poster. It’s a triumph of an information book, comprehensive and inspiring, bound to set readers off on their own journeys of discovery. ~ Andrea Reece The wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Science Timeline shows the extraordinary story of how humans have shaped and reshaped the world through ingenuity and invention from the Stone Ages to today on a timeline of more than 1,000 pictures and captions. In addition to the Wallbook, The Science Timeline includes a Chronicle which features more than 35 newspaper stories and a quiz.
There’s a lot more to science than lab coats, test tubes and text books as this stimulating interactive activity book demonstrates. All you need is a pen or pencil to try out the more than 30 different projects contained within its bright pages and children will learn about all sorts of things, from plant reproduction to scientific phenomena such as light and mirrors. There are lots of really fascinating brain-bending puzzles to attempt too – science doesn’t get much cooler! ~ Andrea Reece
The hot (cool) new cook book for 7 - 14 year old children who love food and want to understand more about where it comes from and how to create amazing real meals. Empowering (and with no rice crispy cakes in sight) the 50 easy-to-follow recipies in this guide will teach basic skills and be the springboard for a live-long love of real food.
Written and compiled by the team behind Whitaker’s Almanack, Chronologica provides a eye-opening tour through over 2500 years of world history, starting in 753BC with the founding of Rome, and finishing in 1989 with the Tiananmen Square riots, the fall of the Berlin wall and Tim Berners-Lee’s invention of the World Wide Web. It picks out key years, and explains two or three important events that took place within those twelve months, combining politics, geography, art, music, science and sport. The information is presented succinctly and clearly, often accompanied by colour illustrations, and it’s great for dipping into, while also providing fascinating snapshots of human thought and activity through the centuries. The What On Earth? Wallbook Timeline of History gives a more pictorial review of world history as it happened and is equally informative and inspiring. ~ Andrea Reece
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with Facts | September 2016 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month Astrophysicist and illustrator, both leaders in their field, here work together to give children a revealing and eye-opening tour of space. Beginning with the beginning of time itself, the Big Bang, and including topics such as dark energy, gravity and the life cycle of a star, there’s a huge amount of fascinating information in this book, presented clearly and succinctly. Dr Christopher Englert’s text is accessible, even when describing complex theories, and inspiring; Tom Clohosy Cole’s gleaming illustrations are beautiful to look at and support and expand the text. As an added bonus there’s a huge double sided poster too. ~ Andrea Reece
In a Nutshell: Warm-hearted handbook for happy, healthy friendships With comforting clarity, this thorough guide provides vital insight into all aspects of friendship, and also offers support and solutions for navigating one’s way through worries and difficulties. While there are many excellent books aimed at guiding young people through their teenage years, this book’s focus on friendship makes it uniquely invaluable. It places much emphasis on understanding emotions, personality types and behaviours, both one’s own, and those of others. I particularly loved how friendship is framed in the context of being a fundamental human characteristic – “humans are, by nature, social animals”, “we have created lots of ways of supporting each other, through various sorts of friendships.” The book comprehensively covers how to make good friends, toxic friendships, dealing with social media and bullying, developing empathy, and managing stress and anxiety. The personality quizzes are perfect for nurturing self-awareness, inviting readers to explore, for example, if they might be too anxious, how empathetic they are, whether they’re more introvert or extrovert. Both enlightening and practical, this is a must-read for 12+ year olds, and an essential addition to school libraries. ~ Joanne Owen Foreword by Cathy Cassidy I wish I’d had this book when I was growing up...a book to tell me that it was OK to be shy, that it was fine not to be ‘in with the in crowd’, that it was normal to have problems and fall-outs. There are amillion and one things that can derail a teenage friendship, especially now when the extra challengeof social media can feel relentless, yet this is a point in our lives when friends matter more than ever before. When things unravel, it can feel like the end of the world. How do you steer your way though and learn to build healthy, happy, lasting friendships? How do you even begin to understand why people do the things they do when you can’t always work out why you’ve acted a certain way? Trust me, it can take a very long time to learn it all by trail and error, and that’s where this awesome book comes in. Honest,open, practical and positive, it offers a clear, easyto-understand guide to why friendships matter, how they can go wrong and, more importantly, how they can go right. In the twelve years I spent as agony aunt for Shout mag, friendship issues were the number one problem young people were struggling with; now, as a novelist for teens and pre-teens, I probably get more ‘problem page’ type questions from my readers than I ever did when I was an official agony aunt. Friendship is at the heart of all my books, and fiction is a great way to understand ourselves and others – but sometimes we need something more. I’ve learned a lot already from this book, and I think every teenager should have a copy... because friendship matters. Cathy Cassidy
The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook will give readers (of all ages) special insight into all the 38 plays, as well as into the man and his time. A colourful 2 metre long wall chart illustrated with intriguing picture scenes lays out the plays in chronological order, providing a plot summary and introduction to the main characters, and highlighting key quotes. In What On Earth? style a timeline across the bottom tells us what was happening in Shakespeare’s world – political and personal – as his plays were performed. Extra material includes 30 different newspaper-style reports on different aspects of the Bard. Typically of this innovative, inspiring series it will catch young people’s interest and encourage them to discover even more about our greatest playwright. ~ Andrea Reece The wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Shakespeare Timeline Wallbook is a unique introduction to all thirty-eight histories, comedies and tragedies by William Shakespeare on a timeline set in the iconic Globe Theatre. On the reverse, a newspaper-style narrative reviews all the most significant moments in the legacy of William Shakespeare from his death to the present day. In addition to the Wallbook, The Shakespeare Timeline also includes a Chronicle which features more than 30 newspaper stories and a quiz.
Winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2017 - Best Books with Facts In a nutshell: jaw-dropping true stories; survival against the odds | Proof that true stories can be every bit as remarkable as the most fantastic fiction, David Long recounts twenty plus astonishing true life adventures; from different times, starring different types of people, and set in different parts of the world, they are all stories of incredible bravery, resilience and the strength of the human spirit. Those who managed to survive against the odds include Antarctic explorers, including Shackleton; people shipwrecked or stranded during the second World War; individuals caught in natural disasters; plus the remarkable girl who survived falling from a plane two miles high. Both terrifying and inspiring, the stories make compulsive reading and will leave young readers gasping. Kerry Hyndman’s colour illustrations make this handsome to look at too. ~ Andrea Reece On his Blue Peter win David Long said: he was “overjoyed” not least because he too grew up watching Blue Peter. “My sons never missed an episode, and now I’m going to visit the studio and meet the team. It’s fantastic news,” he said.
This fascinating and highly pore-overable book maps the United Kingdom not via contours or motorway networks, but through its people, habits and history. It takes readers on a journey round our green and pleasant land region by region, packing colour double page illustrations of the relevant bit of sceptred isle with representations of notable people who were born or lived there, of important things that happened there, of notable places and quirky local customs – well-dressing in Nottinghamshire, bog snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells, the spring cuckoo festival in Marsden. It lists each area’s favourite dish too, in short giving readers a true flavour of Great Britain. The text is lively and thoroughly engaging and the pictures are equally energetic.
In the name of science, this book allows children to create gloopy, magic slime; turn milk sour; and investigate their own farts. Well, you can’t say you weren’t warned: seldom has a title so accurately reflected the contents of a book. Sticky and stinky as the 32 experiments are however, they teach proper science, and each one is accompanied by a page of clear explanation of the different processes involved. There’s a page recommending further reading and a useful glossary, and the unorthodox approach could well inspire lots more science learning. Grown-ups can be reassured that amongst other things, the ‘rules of the lab’ emphasise the importance of cleaning up afterwards.
Packed full of interesting facts and quirky details, presented in bite-sized chunks of text and vibrant illustrations The Awesome Book of Space lives up to its name. Adam Frost was the worthy winner of the Blue Peter Best Book of Facts 2016 with The Epic Book of Epicness and brings his eye-catching style and enthusiasm to the subject of space covering space travel, planets and stars but with plenty of bizarre facts too such as on Mars snowflakes are square, Russian cosmonauts change their pants once a week and the most likely day to see 'aliens' is the 4th July! With the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings in 2019 there will be many books published on this subject but for 5-9 year olds you'd struggle to find an more entertaining and informative source.
UKLA Longlist Book Awards - 2019 | Three Cheers for Women is a hugely inspirational book for children. It is full of facts, quotes and jokes brought together in a really fun way to ensure you remember them. You may even feel having read about some of these women that one of them was you in an earlier life? Joan of Arc perhaps - the teenage warrior, Florence Nightingale or even Marie Curie - probably the most famous female scientist of the 19th & 20th century. This book could even be the catalyst to what you want to be when you grow up - a pioneer and adventurer, a leader and world-changer, a scientist that finds a cure for cancer or an environmentalist that stops global warming Marcia Williams' much-loved comic-strip style will encourage even the most reluctant reader to enjoy this inspirational book packed with facts, quotes and jokes. So be inspired by these incredible women and think beyond the ordinary.
Our Fascinating Facts category includes titles that children of all ages can really get their teeth into and enjoy whilst also filling up their brain with useful facts to help them better understand our amazing world.
Non-fiction readers will enjoy some additional special features we have on the LoveReading4Kids site, packed with interesting factual books to suit a range of ages;
30 Seconds - This striking, energetic series takes a rapid-fire ‘look and learn’ approach to curriculum-linked subjects suitable for children aged 8 and over. With fascinating topics ranging from Space to Inventions, from Myths to the Human Brain, each of these books presents a key subject in a fresh and fascinating format.
The Academy Series - a great non-fiction series for children aged 7 to 10 approximately offering an introduction to a range of subjects through fun activities and imaginative play.
Little People, Big Dreams - Discover the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
The What On Earth? series from Christopher Lloyd which brings facts to life! Each book contains a fold-out timeline, with intricate illustrations and bitesize pieces of information, which show the complete story of a range of popular non-fiction subjects including Science, History, Sport, Shakespeare and Nature.
You can read more about the What on Earth series in our special section here or visit www.whatonearthbooks.com/shop where, in addition to the fantastic Wallbooks there are a range of sticker books and poster books available.
This category will be refreshed regularly as we find what we think are the best of breed books across age ranges and interests but all of them in their own way will bring factual information vividly to life. So whether you have a keen reader or a reluctant one, a toddler or a teenager there's something here for them to get their teeth into.
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