What We&#8217;ve Been Reading: Non-Fiction Round-Up

This large-format, colourful tome is packed to the rafters with facts, figures of interest. Each matt double-page spread is focused around one particular view of Earth – Earth is old, for example. The next double page provides a contrasting perspective – Earth is young or hot/dry or fast/slow and so on. This format allows for an unusual compare and contrast array of detail and fact and allows the reader to view the fascinating subject of the Earth around us from a multitude of different viewpoints.

Each page has simple, eye-catching infographic style illustrations that add to the interest whilst not detracting from the written information. Chunks of boxed up, thematically organised facts and explanations are arranged around the page in an easily navigated format. The writing addresses the reader in the second person ‘Every star that you see with your naked eye’ for example, thus allowing the reader to feel that the author is talking directly to them, which adds a friendly feel to some fairly weighty material.

Aimed at children, Earth is Big makes the mind-blowing scientific study of Earth tangible and relatable. It’s a clever trick to connect new and perhaps complex concepts to experiences and objects that are within children’s knowledge and understanding. Being able to relate and connect abstract to concrete really enhances the accessibility of the information. The vocabulary in Earth is Big does not and cannot shy away from being technical but new language is explained in a friendly style. I particularly liked the Earth is Round page which gave a clear explanation of what it means to be spherical and then provided examples of known and less known objects which are ‘spherical’, ‘almost spherical’ and ‘lumpy and bumpy’!

As a conclusion to the study of Earth, Steve Tomacek adds a poignant message to the reader to remind them that, despite being big, Earth is fragile and in need of our protection.

I think Earth Is Big would appeal to children and adults alike; I loved dipping in and out of it and felt enlightened by what I had discovered. Those children who are fascinated by Earth Science and those who come to the concept with fresh eyes will be informed and entertained. A must for classrooms and school libraries.

Publisher: What on Earth Books

Publication date: September 2021

2. Rescuing Titanic

By Flora Delargy

Reviewer: Julie Bennett

Subtitled ‘A true story of quiet bravery in the North Atlantic’, Rescuing Titanic is the beautifully illustrated recount of the Carpathia, the ship that went to the aid of the Titanic on that fateful night in April 1912.

Told through simple, clear facts and glorious illustrations, the book focuses on the Carpathia’s intended voyage from New York to Gibraltar and how that voyage turned around when it received a distress call from the Titanic. The quick actions of the crew onboard led Carpathia to re-route in an attempt to reach Titanic and save as many passengers as it could, despite the risks that it would bring to its own crew and passengers.

Most people have heard the story of the Titanic, yet there will be many who do not know of the involvement of Carpathia; I know I didn’t. The book brings an added dimension to Titanic’s story, remembering and celebrating the efforts of others.

The format of the book makes it very user-friendly; facts and illustrations intertwine to led the reader through the important information. Specific vocabulary is clearly explained, key crew members are named and celebrated and there is a helpful glossary. One element that was particularly useful was a clock on most pages, showing how the events unfolded over a short period of time.

This book would be an excellent companion to any work around the Titanic. Having the opportunity to explore the history from a different point of view brings an alternative and wider perspective to the historical information already known and would broaden children’s understanding of the event.

A great addition to any school library and Key Stage 2 classroom.

Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions

Publication date: September 2021

3. Nature and Me

by The School of Life

Reviewer: Louise Buisson

Nature and Me is written to appeal to children’s natural interest in the world around them while cleverly connecting the attributes of plants and animals to children’s own wellbeing.

Each colourful double-page spread is dedicated to a specific plant, animal or natural feature and begins by telling the reader something special about it. The text then moves to directly addressing the reader and focuses on feelings or situations which they might well find themselves in then gives them advice using the plant, animal or natural feature as inspiration. For example, we learn about working as a team after studying a colony of ants and, after learning about how rabbits snuggle up together in their burrows, we consider how it is ok to cosy up, relax and take time out from busy lives from time to time.

This book is very gently written with accessible language. Children will identify with many of the feelings described within it and quite possibly feel armed with some positive thoughts or strategies for when things seem to be going wrong or the future looks too big and scary. Nature and Me could be dipped into and used for individuals, emotional literacy support, class circle times or even assemblies.

Publisher: The School of Life Press

Publication date: June 2021

4. Eureka!: A Big Book of Discoveries

By: Jonathan Litton & Wenjia Tang

Reviewer: Kristen Hopwood

Eureka introduces a world of discoveries made by the bright sparks who developed electricity and the scientists who looked to the stars. Readers can marvel at mathematicians and be amazed by archaeologists as they learn about discoveries both old and new, in this encyclopaedia of exploration.

The first thing that struck me about this book was the colour palette and the sheer number of discoveries covered in just one book. The book explored discoveries related to animals, plants, science and places around the world, ranging from recent innovations to those from long ago. The short introduction also poses several questions to encourage enquiring minds and I could not wait to dive in.

Eureka uses age-appropriate language and explains any more technical words that children might not know within the text. The illustrations help to further explain each of the discoveries and I kept finding new things to look at. There is also an additional section dedicated to women who have made discoveries over the years, making the very important point that it is not only men that can be scientists and mathematicians but also acknowledging the injustice of how many people were not given due credit in their time because of their gender.

Suitable for Year 4 and up, children will love dipping in and out of the discoveries within this book, finding new and unusual facts to quote.

As a teacher, I loved how many different topics I would be able to use this book for, including the Stone Age, Polar Regions, evolution and famous scientists. This is a book that I will return to many times and use in lots of different lessons with my Year 6 class. An absolute delight of a book.

Publisher: 360 Degrees

Publication date: August 2021

5. The Most Important Animal of All

By Penny Worms & Hannah Bailey

Reviewer: Louisa Farrow

A class at school are learning about animals. At the end of the term, when they have discovered all kinds of amazing things, their teacher asks them to share their ideas about which is the most important animal of all. In turn, seven children make the case for a different keystone species – species on which other plants and animals depend. They don’t just use fascinating facts (although many are fascinating) but ones that illustrate how the species fits into a wider ecosystem. I love 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 other impressive feature of this intelligent and immaculately produced picture book was the way in which it combined painted illustrations with carefully curated photos. The framing story of the class at school and the start of each child’s argument are accompanied by Hannah Bailey’s charming and expressive pictures and diagrams that capture the essence of the animals. These pages are interleaved with others that feature photographs that have supposedly been chosen by the children. The shift from paintings to photographs suggests the excitement of the children and the two elements enhance each other.

It would be a brilliant addition to any primary school book corner or library. Of course, it fits neatly into study of Animals including Humans in Science and would also enrich any work on ecology and the environment. Even better, it’s accompanied by school resources, which you can download here. But I would urge you to recommend it also as a great ‘read for pleasure’ – it’s a cracking non-fiction read!

Publisher: Mama Makes Books

Publication date: July 2021

6. Amazon River

By Sangma Francis & Romolo D’Hipolito

Reviewer: Carol Carter

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 to 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 breath-taking 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.

Publisher: Flying Eye Books

Publication date: August 2021

7. A Day in the Life of a Caveman, a Queen and Everything in Between

By Mike Barfield & Jess Bradley

Reviewer: Amy Cross-Menzies

This colourful, cartoon-style reference book brings history to life with humour and fun. Following on from the enormous success of its award-winning predecessor ‘A Day in the Life of a Poo, a Gnu and You‘, this book is packed full of information and facts, presented in an entertaining comic style that is a joy to read.

The book is divided into three main sections – Ancient History, The Middle Ages, and The Modern Age. Within each section, relevant ‘day in the life’ comics describe certain aspects of history. We learn about the typical day of a Neanderthal, an Inca Farmer, and a Gladiator, as well as the more unexpected daily routines of a wheel, a Samurai sword, and a stick of chalk!

Additional ‘bigger picture’ pages give extra details and more in-depth information – for example on Civil Rights, the Terracotta Army, and the world map. ‘Secret Diaries’ provide a wider viewpoint over a larger timescale – we find out from Isaac Newton’s cat that he got stuck in an apple tree, dislodging one of the fruits; The diary of a wooden board from Leonardo da Vinci’s studio stretches over four hundred years and sees the board end up in an art gallery in Paris. ‘Newsflashes’ are interspersed throughout the book and give more context to the ‘days in the life’ and ‘secret diaries’ by filling you in on what else was happening in the world at the time, and there is also a world map and a glossary for easy reference.

I enjoyed the variety of historical information, which felt like a balanced view of different areas of the globe. I was also really pleased to see open explanations of things like colonisation and civil rights being highlighted. This would be a great book to sit and read individually, or to dip into as a class when exploring related topics.

Publisher: Buster Books

Publication date: 30th Sept 2021

8. Scientists

By Isabel Thomas & Jessamy Hawke

Reviewer: Nathan Wilcox

The likes of Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking are some of the first names that roll off the tongue when asked to name the world’s most recognisable scientists. But what about Nettie Stevens, Akira Yoshino or Albert Baez? Scientists looks at many of the leading scientists that have contributed to many of the most important discoveries throughout history covering both the most well-known and the slightly lesser-known stories too.

I started reading this book thinking it would be a non-fiction book about scientists and their discoveries and although that’s exactly what it is, there is so much more there than I had first anticipated. The stories in Scientists are not only informative but also inspiring as they tell the reader about so many remarkable discoveries and the remarkable people who found them. I would wholly recommend that Scientists deserves a spot in any school library as its content is so important in allowing us to see the scientific progress made by the human race throughout history.

Scientists is grouped into four sections: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space. Within each section, there is a list of scientists who made significant discoveries within that area, all in chronological order of their birth. This allows the reader an insight into the timeline of these discoveries and how in turn they impacted and inspired the following generation. I particularly liked how some of the later discoveries mention vaccines and vaccinations with specific references to COVID 19 and the link to recent viruses making it incredibly current and relevant.

Although this book would be popular with science enthusiasts, it is vital that all children have access to this kind of information within school. All the scientists in this book deserve recognition and the book does such a fantastic job of sharing their stories. Upon finishing the book I felt inspired by and informed about the work these amazing people carried out and the impact that work has had on life as it is to this very day.

Publisher: DK

Publication date: August 2021

9. The World’s Most Pointless Animals: Or Are They?

By Philip Bunting

Reviewer: Louise Buisson

Did you know that a platypus can use its bill to sense the electrical fields of its prey in the water? Or, that a skunk performs a warning dance including a handstand before spraying its unique perfume? Neither did I, until I read this book! The World’s Most Pointless Animals is a fantastically interesting non-fiction book that will draw children in with its witty annotations and gripping facts.

Each page begins with the animal’s name, the Latin name and the author’s own made-up Latin name (for example: he has renamed the mosquito Annoyus Maximus). Next, comes a hand-painted picture of the animal which is then surrounded by often irreverent labels. These labels vary between giving information about the animal (who knew so many animals ate poo?) and making jokes, which KS2 children will love. The language used in them is accessible to most KS2 readers meaning all children will enjoy the book. In addition to the labels, and occasional additional diagrams, there is at least one complete paragraph for each animal.

The animals chosen as subjects of the books range from the well-known and ever-popular, like the sloth and the giant panda, to more obscure animals such as the pink fairy armadillo. I am sure that the perfect combination of humour and informative facts would make this a popular book in any KS2 classroom.

Publisher: Happy Yak

Publication date: June 2021

10. The Big Book of Belonging

By Yuval Zommer

Reviewer: Alison Leach

Fans of Yuval Zommer’s Big Book series may have been guessing which alliterative topic was next to come after poring over the previous Big Book of the Blue, The Big Book of Birds, the Big Book of Bugs and the Big Book of Beasts. I wonder how many – if any – correctly landed on ‘Belonging’ as the theme of the latest large-format hardback in this much-loved collection.

The Big Book of Belonging aims to unite young readers from around the globe under one banner – of belonging to planet Earth. In his foreword, the author says, “The Big Book of Belonging is my way of celebrating the wondrous connections between us humans and the natural world. From the air that we breathe, the food we eat, the adventures we seek, to the joy we experience, you will find a connection to nature in every single part of our being. And the more we can reconnect with nature, the more we can reconnect with ourselves.”

Illustrated in full colour in Yuval Zommer’s iconic style, the book is packed with natural history facts that draw out just how much a part of the natural world humans are. Readers may be surprised to discover that sea otters hold hands just like humans do, or that scientists believe that listening to bird song can boost the hormones in our bodies that help us to concentrate and focus better, and that butterflies also have bedtimes. They’ll learn that just as humans have unique fingerprints, zebras have different stripes, cowrie shells have distinct spots and that no two snowflakes are identical.

As well as a host of interesting facts, readers will come across a range of familiar knowledge too – like how leaves fall from trees in Autumn or how frogs start life as frogspawn. Each page of facts is presented as part of a connection between humans and nature – the leaves fall off trees just as human hair falls out when we brush it or male fallow deer shed and regrow their antlers every year.

The book’s uplifting tone, super-short snippets of facts and full colour illustrations make it suitable for younger children looking to collect information without becoming overhwhelmed as well as for older children looking to dive into the connections between the facts they know. This is a lovely book for sharing and discussing, making it a highly suitable choice for primary classrooms.

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Publication date: October 2021