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Age Group: KS2

expedition diaries indian lowlands

Expedition Diaries: Indian Lowlands

Simon has arrived in New Delhi, India,on the start of his journey to Corbett National Park and intowetlands, desert, and low-lying dry forest beyond. He’s searching for the endangered Bengal tiger. But early on, the trip doesn’t go according to plan, when Simon is involved in a car crash …

Simon Chapman, winner of the Blue Peter Book Award, brings geography to life, and his Expedition Diaries are a great way to introduce the world’s biomes and habitats to children, direct from someone who’s actually been in them – sometimes up to his neck! These books are perfect for sparking interest in this key school topic.

alastair humphreys great adventurers

Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers

Non-fiction, Short story collection

Hand-picked by adventurer Alastair Humphreys, this compilation retells the extraordinary journeys undertaken by his personal heroes. These men and women have ventured into space, oceans, deserts and jungles and inspired Alastair’s own adventures. They may do the same for you too.

ferdinand magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

Non-fiction

Meet FERDINAND Magellan, the swashbuckling 16th century explorer who masterminded the first ever voyage to sail round the world and ‘discovered’ many new lands (even though loads of people already lived there!).

Find out: – Why he was hated by royals and sailors alike, – Why he made one of his sailors dance with a giant – And how he was saved by a pot of jam!

Get to know FERDINAND on First Name terms.

explore the indus valley

Explore!: The Indus Valley

Non-fiction

Around 4,000 years ago, the Indus Valley was home to a great civilisation. Find out about the mysterious rulers of the Indus Valley, their splendid cities and their flushing toilets.

How were the cities of the Indus Valley built? What were homes like? What food did people eat? What gods were worshipped?

This book helps children at Key Stage 2 discover the answers to these and other fascinating questions. It also recommends sites on the Internet and sources in their local library where they can find out more about the Indus Valley.

Packed with fascinating information, the Explore! series inspires children’s curiosity to find out more about the past. A great tool for readers age 8+ or teachers looking for books to support the curriculum.

british museum find tom in time ming dynasty china

British Museum: Find Tom in Time, Ming Dynasty China

Non-fiction

A brilliantly fun search-and-find puzzle book for children from 6+, developed in consultation with the British Museum!

Tom’s not only lost in time, he’s lost his cat, too! Can you find Tom and his naughty cat, Digby, on every page? Packed with detailed artwork, fascinating facts about Ming Dynasty China and over 100 other things to find – from the emperor in his yellow robes to an acrobat doing a handstand!

The perfect book for fans of Where’s Wally!

Filled with stylish artwork by award-winning illustrator Fatti Burke. Now in paperback!

Have you read Tom’s other adventures? Find Tom in Time: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.

daily life in shang dynasty china

Daily Life in Shang Dynasty China

Non-fiction

This book explores what life was really like for everyday people in Shang Dynasty China. Using primary sources and information from archeological discoveries, it uncovers some fascinating insights and explodes some myths. Supported by timelines, maps and references to important events and people, children will really feel they are on a time-travelling journey when reading this book.

a question of history why did the shang write on turtles and other questions about the shang dynasty

A Question of History: Why did the Shang write on turtles? And other questions about the Shang Dynasty

Non-fiction

Take a look at the wackier side of history!

Who were the Shang people? Why did they LOVE mud and moths? And just what made the Shang such fearsome warriors? A Question of History: The Shang Civilisation answers all these questions and much more.

With an engaging question and answer format, this series draws young readers into the fascinating, sometimes gruesome, world of famous peoples and civilisations through history. Each spread opens with a simple question, opening up an exploration of an aspect of the life of a people or civilisation and busting some popular myths along the way!

The lively lay-out is supported by annotated photos and cartoons, making history fun and accessible for readers aged 8+.

the ancient chinese

The Ancient Chinese

Non-fiction

Who were the Ancient Chinese and how did they live? Using your powers of analysis, work out what primary sources tell us about this ancient civilization.

dragon legend

Dragon Legend

Chapter book

The second adventure in the ROARsome DRAGON REALM series for 9+ readers! Perfect for those looking for edge-of-your-seat adventure.

Dragon Destiny, the fifth and final instalment in the Dragon Realm series, is available. But fear not, the new Dragon Force series launches in September 2023 with Infinity’s Secret. And don’t miss A Dragon Realm Adventure, the special World Book Day story!

‘Splendidly addictive’ – Guardian

Billy Chan and his friends are not having a very relaxing summer. Their friend, Dylan, has been kidnapped by the evil Dragon of Death and it’s up to them to travel through time, back to the dangerous Dragon Realm, in order to save him. Luckily they have their own dragons on side, but they’ll need to collect eight magical pearls if they’re to amass enough power to destroy the Dragon of Death and her followers for good. So begins an epic quest that will take them to the depths of the Frozen Wasteland and the imperial palaces of Ancient China. But can good triumph evil…?

stone age tales the great monster

Stone Age Tales: The Great Monster

Chapter book

Mesopotamia, 2500 years ago

Everyone in the tribe must work; all the men go hunting for bulls and mountain lions – apart from Sin-leqi, that is. Sin-leqi stays home and reads tablets in the great temples. The tablets tell tales of the legendary Gilgamesh, tales that are so fantastical that lazy Sin-leqi doesn’t have to work, as long as he keeps telling them. But when the story comes to end, Sin-leqi is in trouble…

A brand new and exciting tale, based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary’s imaginative style and dry wit.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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