Light and Sound Topic (KS2)

This is a superb non-fiction text that incorporates history, geography and STEM by exploring the topic of lighthouses through a series of interesting questions. The text has both simplicity and depth which means that you could use it across the whole primary age range and I can imagine it pairing really well with related popular children’s fiction, such as Ronda and David Armitage’s ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’ books in KS1 or Emma Carroll’s ‘Letters from the Lighthouse’ in KS2. It is also a great example of a non-fiction text that could be read for pleasure over and over just because it is fascinating in itself.

Each double-page spread addresses a different question about lighthouses, such as ‘What Is it Like on the Top Deck?’, ‘How Does the Light Shine So Far?’ and ‘What Happens When It’s Foggy?’ and the text is cleverly structured so that each question builds on knowledge from the previous pages.

Accompanying the text are striking illustrations in primary-coloured tones, designed to emphasise the yellow light across the blue of the water and the reds of the lighthouse structures. The diagrams show a range of lighthouse types from all different angles and tend to highlight the way in which lighthouses are carefully constructed and engineered according to their geography and purpose. This is a text that covers the topic in such a way that every page is interesting and appealing and at no point through the book does the topic lose appeal. On the final pages, the reader is challenged to walk through the steps of designing their own lighthouse. A highly recommended addition to your primary library.

An inspiring picture book true story of the inspiring life of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie.

Evelyn began to experience hearing loss at ten years old. She loved music, and did not want to give up on her passion because of her deafness. Trying different instruments helped, and she switched to percussion, where the vibrations could help her to feel the music with her body. Over time, Evelyn became an award-winning percussionist and opened doors to making music education more accessible for others.

The beautiful and evocative artwork captures the optimistic tone of the story and highlights the idea of ‘feeling’ the music.

Have you ever wondered why frogs are green? Or if the sun is really yellow? Or maybe why the sea is blue? Well, this colourful science compendium suitable for KS2 may hold the answers!

Written by author and astronomer, Dr Sheila Kanani, this fascinating book starts by explaining what colour is and how we see it, before taking us on a journey of big colour questions. Each section is based on a colour of the rainbow (plus some added extras ‘beyond the rainbow’ such as black, white and fluorescent colours) and, after an introduction to that colour, asks five colour-based questions. Red, for example, explores why blood is red, why Mars is known as the red planet, why flamingos are pink, why some monkeys have red bottoms and why hippo’s sweat is red.

Each question is explained clearly, with lots of added information and ‘did you know’ sections to keep the reader engaged. This all leads to the big question of the book: Can you Get Rainbows in Space? As well as being a captivating read, it is the design, layout and illustrations that will get children picking up the book and delving in.

Unsurprisingly, in a book about colour, every spread is full of glorious images that celebrate each colour in turn. A feast for the eyes as well as the mind, I would highly recommend this engaging text for bookshelves in every school library.

A beautifully presented picture about Anna Atkins, who is acknowledged to be one of the first women in the world to take a photograph, and one of the first people to publish a book of photographic images.

After being given a camera in 1841, Anna was excited by this new process, but it was her introduction to Herschel’s discovery of cyanotype printing that sparked a passion for cyanography; the process of using chemicals that react to sunlight to dye paper and print images. In the book, the author’s own drawings and cyanotypes are combined with reproductions of Anna Atkins’ original work.

Written and illustrated by Ukrainian husband and wife team Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv and translated into English by Vitaly Chernetsky, this is a book crammed with information, history, and thought on the phenomenon of sight. Each page is illustrated mostly in infographic style, and is very colourful and eye-catching. This book could be treated as a read-to-the-class book by reading only the larger text at the bottom of each page, and some of the smaller text could be used to spark further discussion of particular sections, or it could be pored over at length by anyone wanting to understand as much as possible about sight. There is so much information in this book it can take much, much longer to read than you might expect from a book of this format, and additionally, at the end, there are further explanations of words or phrases used and suggestions for further things to research or investigate. As well as supporting STEM-based education, this book also encourages thought and reflection on things such as beauty, the invisible, different ways of seeing the world, and ways of experiencing the world without sight. A thoroughly informative book about sight, with so much on each page.

On a Beam of Light celebrates curiosity and the powerful mind of a quiet little boy called Albert. Albert watched the world in silence – speaking at all as a young child. Then one day he is given a magnetic compass, and it sparks a lifetime of exploration.

This book is a glorious introduction to Einstein’s ideas about atoms and motion, and space and time. We learn too about Einstein’s creativity and sense of fun: his habit of playing the violin while wrestling with tricky ideas, his love of cycling and of walking barefoot through town, eating ice cream. The artwork seems to echo Einstein’s thoughts and calculations, and captures his sense of wonder about the universe. Possibly my favourite illustrated non-fiction book in the world!

When the Stars Come Out is an illuminating read, meticulously crafted by Nicola Edwards and brought to life through the vibrant illustrations of Lucy Cartwright. As educators, we strive to expand the horizons of our pupils, and Edwards’ book serves as a perfect aid. The book invites readers to explore the enchantment of the nocturnal world, from the rare phenomenon of moonbows to the captivating dance of the Northern Lights. This book’s seamless blend of science and storytelling makes it particularly enjoyable and valuable.

The narrative unfolds in an engaging and informative manner, navigating through various habitats, including the bustling life in cities and the serene expanse of the oceans at night, highlighting how these ecosystems pulse with life after dark. The attention to detail in describing animals and their unique night-time behaviours can support various cross-curricular links, from science to geography. The book touches upon creatures that craft intricate resting places and others that have adapted to sleep while on the move, sparking curiosity and potential research projects among students.

Cartwright’s illustrations are not mere accompaniments but play a crucial role in engaging children. The artwork is as informative as it is captivating, ensuring that the visual learners are equally catered for, making the book an inclusive resource for various learning styles.

When the Stars Come Out is not just a journey through the night-time world but also a resource that offers endless educational possibilities. It encourages inquiry, sparks imagination and provides a cross-curricular resource that is as entertaining as it is educational. This enchanting book should be considered a staple in KS2, especially when addressing topics related to the natural world, habitats, and the diversity of life and culture on our planet.

Something strange has happened, and the earth has shifted from its axis. The sun is burned with a blemish and no one knows how it appeared. The people of the world have been told that this will eventually mean the sun will disappear – it would seem the world end is nigh.

This new fragile world is dominated by tech genius and billionaire Howard Hansom. And rather conveniently, he declares he can reverse this disastrous fate for the planet. But of course, this means everyone will need to live in his artificial town, which will tip the balance of the world and put the earth back where it should be.

Grian is a boy growing up with this uncertain future and is an avid fan of Hansom tech, ruled by his smartwatch avatar Bob. Grian has a typical relationship with his older sister Solas, who is on her own agenda in life. But when she goes missing, Grian is sure she has run off to Hansom city to save the world. Grian and his friends set off to find her; not only do they track her down, but they are also faced with a mysterious place with artificial intelligence that fuels a thousand questions. What is Hanson up to?
What is really happening to the sun?

The intriguing prologue to Helena Duggan’s book kept me hooked yet puzzled simultaneously. The book is described as quirky, and I think that is a fitting word. Duggan has an incredible imagination, and the fantasy elements of the story cleverly intertwine with real life elements with which readers can make connections. This story perhaps reminds us of the power of technology and the negative aspects of the dominance of large corporations. There is clearly an environmental message running through, reminding us of how fragile our planet is too.

The enormously fun Sam Wu series is back with the third instalment, Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of the Dark. 

This time, the invitation to go camping in the woods with Sam’s best friend Bernard brings a brand new challenge to definitely-not-scared Sam. Trying not to think too much about the darkness, the monsters, the aliens and the bears, Sam ends up heading reluctantly into the woods accompanied by his cousin Stanley and Bernard’s family.  If there is one person who is able to make any situation ten times worse for Sam, it’s classmate Ralph Philip Zinkerman the Third. As (bad) luck would have it, Ralph and his family just happen to pitch up at the same camping spot with their impressively-shaped tents (Ralph’s tent looks like an actual space rocket). The only bonus is that Ralph’s twin sister Regina and her friend Zoe, who are part of Sam’s friendship group, are there too (in Regina’s super-expensive castle shaped tent), and Sam knows that strength in numbers will definitely be a good thing in the face of werewolves or UFOs. Now all that is left is to face the prospect of surviving the night in the dark, dark woods…

With scary noises, strange lights, spooky shadows and the incredibly dark patch of no-man’s land (not to mention the fact that the grown-ups seem completely disinterested in taking the children seriously about all the scary stuff that might be out there), Sam and his friends are left to fend for themselves as night approaches. Can Sam overcome each frightening encounter in the dark and prove once more that he is definitely NOT afraid?

Filled with warmth and humour, these books will strike a chord with anyone who knows what it feels like to be a little more frightened than they’d like others to think. I also really enjoyed how much value Sam places on his friendships and the way that he is able to attempt to build bridges with Ralph at the end, despite their differences. The narrative’s brand of harmless humour is enhanced by the cool design features of its pages and Nathan Reed’s engaging illustrations that bring a strong a visual element to the book’s humorous tone, making it a brilliantly fun addition to lower KS2 classroom libraries.

The books in this series are popular, quick reads and do not necessarily have to be read in sequence to make sense.

This is a brilliant book. I absolutely loved every page and couldn’t put it down. The story tells of 12-year-old Iris, who is the only deaf person at school and finds friendship in amongst the crackles and vibrations of the broken radios that she is a genius at fixing. Through the novel, the author demonstrates what day-to-day life is like for Iris and how she copes with forming friendships and being part of school when her communication is different to the rest of the community.

Her life changes when, in what looks like an ordinary lesson, she learns about Blue 55. Blue 55 is a whale that travels the oceans looking for another whale to hear his song. For reasons well explained in the book, his song is like no other whale and so he is alone. Iris is determined to help him and has the technical know-how to reach out to him. The novel charts her progress on this trip of a lifetime. Running parallel to the main story are those of Iris’ grandma, grieving after the loss of her husband and a story by Blue 55 himself.

The book deals with the complex issues of communication, friendship, grief and loneliness with sensitivity and heart. The author also describes whale relationships and communication with authority and clarity. It certainly made me want to book an Arctic cruise! At the back of the book is an interesting ‘Author’s Note’ which explains the true stories behind this fictional account and the real ‘Blue 55’.

This would make a fabulous ‘read-aloud’ book in Y4-6 classrooms as well as a good novel for 10 and 11 yr olds to get stuck into. It would support topics on sound science, wildlife, travel, global issues, friendship, grief, ourselves and others…and so many more. An absolute must for all UKS2 classrooms.

Torben Kuhlmann’s Edison is a brilliant addition to a unique science series we love, and just as recommendable as the other books – Armstrong and Lindbergh.

This beautiful text is a longer picture book, and feels more like a large-format chapter book with full-page illustrations, drawing Key Stage 2 readers into a brilliant illustrated adventure with science themes of light, design, discovery and invention. The story follows a young mouse, Pete, on a quest to uncover the mystery of his ancestor’s lost treasure, a journey that unexpectedly leads him and an old Professor into the fascinating world of submarine design and the history of invention.

The narrative weaves real-life scientific discovery into a fantasy plot, and the author’s notes at the end provide a brief history of Thomas Edison and the history of the lightbulb.

Kuhlmann’s unique and detailed illustrations are stunning, often telling aspects of the story themselves and providing incredible detail to pore over and discuss. Impressive, and highly recommended!