Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Author & Illustrators

Ben Hoare Books

We Are All Animals is part of the ‘What on Earth!’ children’s information books, exploring elements of life on Earth from Bees to Wind. This book focuses on the similarities between animals, in particular demonstrating common traits between different species and humans. The aim is to highlight that humans should treat other species as equally important,  as, after all, we are all animals.

The foreword, by ‘Supervet’ Professor Neil Fitzpatrick suggests that our similarities with other animals should mean doctors and vets work together to understand living things better and provide an equal amount of technology, medicines and care to all species of animal. Each double-page spread highlights a commonality between living things, e.g. we are all tubes (focusing on digestion), we are all networked (focusing on nervous systems), as all pass things on (focusing on genetics and inheritance) and so on. Each section introduces the topic, explaining some complex scientific processes in clear, child-friendly language, before giving specific examples in humans and then a range of different animal species. For example, in the ‘We all have feelings,’ pages, emotions are demonstrated through the fear of rattlesnakes, the grief of African elephants, the love of birds, the fun of bees and the joy of rats!

The illustrations by Mark Ruffle are clear and pleasing to the eye. Complex scientific diagrams are simplified yet still accurate. This is a great book to dip in and out of, but also useful in science lessons as it discusses areas covered in the National Curriculum for Science in clear and interesting ways.

Reveal extraordinary stories form nature by best-selling author Ben Hoare with this awe-inspiring animal book for curious kids aged 6-8.

The world is filled with curious objects made by plants, animals, and even by the Earth itself. The wonder of wildlife is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. Nature’s Treasures is a stunning nature encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they dive into this collection of more than 100 intriguing items from the natural world and discover the stories behind them. Whether it’s learning how bristly mouths help huge whales capture tiny animals, how minute scales make butterflies shine in the sunlight, or how studying a leaf skeleton can tell us how it transports food, children can learn all sorts of fun animal facts from the storybook descriptions.

Arranged into four chapters: Animals; Plants, fungi, and algae; Minerals and rocks, and Made by nature, objects are shown with truly stunning photography and colourful illustrations to help kids understand the science behind them. The lively descriptions by best-selling nature writer Ben Hoare explore the remarkable tales of each item and all are packed with fascinating information. Nature’s Treasures takes you on a tour of our planet through commonplace-but-incredible objects made by nature itself. The engaging storybook-style descriptions and simple text shed a light on the wonders of nature and wildlife, making this book ideal for inquisitive children aged 6-8 who loves to spot things when exploring outside and wants to know more about the wonderful and mysterious natural world.

A timeless treasury of more than 100 stories from the incredible kingdom of plants, told by author and nature expert Ben Hoare.

Plants are found almost everywhere on Earth, but to many people, their lives are a mystery. Learn how seagrass flowers underwater, how the Venus flytrap counts to make sure it catches its prey, and why some tulips used to cost more than a house! This fascinating book for kids explores the vast plant kingdom and explains how plants work, as well as the weird and wonderful relationships they have with animals.

Children can discover the secrets of more than 100 amazing plants in this treasury of fascinating flora, as well as the essentials of plant science, including photosynthesis, pollination, and germination. Each species is shown with remarkable photography and beautiful illustrations, all brought to life by Ben Hoare’s writing, filled with charm and infectious enthusiasm.

This nature book for children ages 7+ features:

– An eye-catching holographic cover, gilded edges, and stunning photography and illustrations, making it the perfect gift
– A wide range of incredible plants and trees from all around the world
– Illustrated diagrams to support definitions of different types of plants
– Introductory reference pages that explain key topics such as photosynthesis

This book is a must for any child interested in the natural world and the plants that grow in it. Plants provide us with food, fuel, and medicine, and without them, life as we know it would not exist. From orchids that grow vanilla pods to leaves that look like stones, and from bamboo that can be made into clothes to moss that soaks up vast amounts of carbon dioxide, plants shape our world in an endless variety of ways.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments