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The Most Important Animal of All

Book Synopsis

The Most Important Animal of All is a beautiful picture book, illustrated by award-winning Hannah Bailey, where a teacher challenges her class to decide which is the most important animal of all. Seven children champion a different animal for the top spot.

* Is it BEES as master pollinators, or BATS who are night-time predators as well as pollinators? * Is it ELEPHANTS who shape their landscapes and spread seeds, or BEAVERS who create watery habitats? * Is it TIGERS or SHARKS who keep populations in balance so there is food for all? * Is it tiny KRILL, food for so many whales and sea creatures?

Learn all about these keystone species, plus see photographs of them up close and in their habitats. At the back there’s information about other important animals, such as wolves, hummingbirds and coral.

This is a positive and gentle primer for young children from 5 years old about the more worrying issues of habitat loss, endangered species and climate change.

Our Review Panel says...

This is the story of a class of children learning about different animals. At the end of the term, when they have discovered all kinds of amazing things, the teacher asks them to share their ideas about which is the most important animal of all. The pupils share fascinating facts and illustrate how each species fits into a wider ecosystem. We loved this precise perspective and it seems that the British Ecological Society do too, as it is the first children’s book they have endorsed. The book fits neatly into KS1 Science curriculum and is accompanied by school resources to download.

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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

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