Author & Illustrators
We love non-fiction books that take readers to faraway places, and this one does the job beautifully, all the while focusing on science and the role of scientists whose job it is to chart different places and habitats.
Young readers are invited to join an international team on a vital mission to Antarctica to survey the unique environment and vast wildlife, from introducing the dedicated team and their specialist equipment to exploring the varied creatures and environmental challenges encountered in this remote region. The clear structure, aided by maps and diagrams, makes even complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging.
This book is a superb resource for Key Stage 2 and especially for children who love exploration, habitats or frozen worlds. With its bright and appealing illustrations and a hopeful message about the future of Antarctica, it’s a great non-fiction choice for learning about our planet’s wild spaces and the dedicated individuals who explore them.
If you know Flying Eye publishing house’s output, you will know before you even see this book that ‘Amazon River’ is a beautiful object, that the art will be as thoughtful as the writing, the quality of paper as important as the factual information.
Reading this to a class as the launch of a topic on the Amazon/Rainforests will undoubtedly whet the children’s appetite to learn about this astonishing and awe-inspiring place. The introduction is amply matched by the end piece, ‘A River of the World’, which sums the book up perfectly, as well as acting as an excellent discussion starter on the interconnectedness of our planet.
In between these two marvels, the main body of the book is divided into 4 main themes: water, wildlife, people and life on the river. These pages tread the tightrope between concision and depth expertly. Despite a background as a geographer, I learnt many new facts such as the difference between clearwater, blackwater and whitewater. The summaries of a wide range of exciting and unusual animals are also superb, as are more summaries of the Legends of Pirarucu and Naia, star of the water.
‘Amazon River’ is a stunning way to engage children with an important and breathtaking part of the world. It could easily be used as the centrepiece of a topic, and would inspire much engagement with the natural world and our place within it.
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