Professor Astro-Cat’s Deep-Sea Voyage

Professor Astro-Cat and his team are off on another adventure. Having arrived at the beach to enjoy some fun, they take a closer look at the seashore with its tide pools, sand and waves. Each element is clearly explained, with emboldened words appearing in a glossary at the end of the book. After discovering how oceans are formed, the gang climb aboard a ship and proceed to explore the oceans and their features, the water cycle and the diverse habitats and life forms that populate the deep.

This fascinating read is packed full of facts, peppered with the humorous antics of the crew. Along with the food web, water cycle and sea creatures, many of the places they visit- the Galapagos Islands, the Antarctic, underwater mountains, tectonic plates- feature in the KS2 curriculum, making this as useful as it is attractive.

The book also looks at the threats that are facing the oceans from overfishing to plastic pollution before explaining what is being done to reverse this and things that can be done to help. There is a Factoids section at the end which contains some amazing snippets of information to get young scientists investigating!

As with all these books, the illustrations are brilliant. Bright colours and bold blocks add to the appeal. Contents and index pages help readers to quickly navigate the text, making this excellent for dipping in and out of, locating information or reading from cover to cover.

Professor Astro Cat’s latest trip is every bit as enjoyable and informative as his previous expeditions. Join him on his deep sea voyage soon!

Professor Astro Cat’s Deep-Sea Voyage

Dr Dominic Walliman, illustrated by Ben Newman

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1912497126

Professor Astro Cat's Human Body Odyssey

Professor Astro Cat is off on another amazing journey- this time to explore the wonders of the human body. The book starts by explaining what biology is and identifying the seven characteristics of living things.

Professor Astro Cat and his team then seek to answer all manner of questions about the human body and how it works from your cells to your ears to your heart to genetics. The book also looks at some quite complex bodily functions- the lymphatic system, the endocrine system, the immune system and genetics. Each area is carefully explained with clear illustrations to support the text. The book also looks at reproduction and keeping healthy before finishing with impairments and future science. From start to finish, it's a fascinating read with fabulous illustrations.

Covering many of the areas of study for KS2 science, 'Professor Astro Cat's Human Body Odyssey' would be a welcome addition to any classroom as a reference tool and for examples of explanation writing. 

A 'factoroids' section offers some gems and a glossary/ index clearly explains terms used throughout the book. Excellent stuff!

Professor Astro Cat's Human Body Odyssey   

 Dr Dominic Walliman, illustrated by Ben Newman

Flying Eye Books      ISBN:978-1911171140

The Plesiosaur’s Neck

We made our way through many dinosaur books when my son was little, but ‘The Plesiosaur’s Neck’ manages to offer a fresh approach to this much loved subject. The book introduces Poppy the Plesiosaur and seeks to explain the purpose of her extremely long neck. Accompanied by Alfie Ammonite and Bella Belemnite who tell plenty of jokes, the rhyming narrative text explores lots of scientific theories whilst concluding that no one is really sure.

Fact boxes are found on each page, giving additional information. It is a fascinating read with plenty of appealing illustrations by Adam Larkum which really develop the personality of each creature. A Spotter’s guide at the end of the book encourages the reader to focus on each spread, locating Cretaceous creatures. A useful glossary at the end explains many of the technical terms included in a child friendly manner.

Perfect for sharing with little ones, dinosaur enthusiasts or anyone who enjoys exploring scientific theories, ‘The Plesiosaur’s Neck’ is an essential addition to any collection of dinosaur books.

The Plesiosaur’s Neck

Dr Adam S Smith and Jonathan Emmett, illustrated by Adam Larkum

UCLan Publishing ISBN: 978-1912979424

Real-Life Disasters

From the team that brought us ‘Real-Life Mysteries’, ‘Real-Life Disasters’ is an engrossing read which explores the facts behind some real life disasters like the sinking of the Titanic, the Bermuda Triangle and the Black Death.

Each disaster is clearly and concisely explained before it is further explored in a ‘disaster dossier’, including eyewitness accounts and maps showing the location of the event. The text encourages the reader to consider different theories, exploring the evidence and looking at how some newspapers reported information incorrectly. New vocabulary is introduced with each section and these are gathered together in a glossary at the end of the book.

Illustrated throughout, each section is clearly presented and easy to navigate, offering an absorbing read.

‘Real-Life Disasters’ would be an excellent addition to any book corner or library.

Real-Life Disasters

Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker

b small publishing ISBN: 978-1912909278

Real-Life Mysteries

'Everyone loves a good mystery...' and this book is full of them. From monsters of the deep to crop circles, plenty of unexplained, real-life cases are investigated, offering the evidence so the reader can make up their own mind.

Each 'case' is set out on a double page spread, with key vocabulary is explained in 'weird', 'spooky' or 'monster' word boxes. Some are well-known mysteries like the existence of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster whereas some are lesser known- like the apparition at Versailles or cases of spontaneous human combustion.

The spread which follows each case considers the 'evidence', offering theories, witness statements and illustrations. The authors carefully offer no answers, just pose questions and challenge the reader to come to their own conclusions.

The harder concepts are carefully explained and there is a comprehensive glossary at the back to clarify unfamiliar terms. The History curriculum says 'Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.' 'Real-Life Mysteries' certainly encourages the reader to do all of that and offers a great starting point for finding out more about any of these intriguing mysteries or others which are suggested. 

A great read for the curious or the lover of mysteries!

Real-Life Mysteries  

Investigated by Susan Martineau and Vicky Barker

b small publishing      ISBN: 978-1911509080

A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue

With a sea turtle acting as guide , ‘A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue’ offers a fascinating look at the ‘five big blues’ and the essential role they play. There is so much to learn here, all presented in easily digested sections, using child-friendly language. Starting with the location and importance of the oceans, each one is then introduced in more detail. Waves, tides and currents are the next focus, with each element being explained clearly with diagrams and illustrations to support.

The book continues to look at ocean habitats, ‘wonders’ and the threats the oceans face. A comprehensive contents and index make it easy to navigate the book for research and a glossary explains terms not explained in the body of the text. The book offers not only an excellent tool for children, but great support for the non-specialist teacher with the KS1 Geography statement-name and locate the world’s seven continents and five oceans- and various elements of the KS2 curriculum. The book is also perfect for dipping in and out of for finding out about wonders like St Elmo’s fire and fog ‘tsunamis’.

Books like this one are key for teaching children the research and note making skills they need to be able to apply their writing skills across the curriculum. Children are often presented with the vastness of the internet for research with no guidance as to the many skills which are need to sift through layers of information , often resorting to flicking from one site to the next in the vain hope of finding something they can copy. Carefully chosen books allow teachers to develop much needed skills in the knowledge that what the children are trying to find out is actually contained in the material they are being offered. Everything from the early skills of using a contents and side headings to those required to interpret diagrams and graphical devices can be tackled using books like this one.

Beautifully illustrated, ‘A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue’ is perfect for navigating and wondering at every aspect of our oceans.

A Turtle’s View of the Ocean Blue

Catherine Barr, illustrated by Brendan Kearney

Laurence King ISBN: 978-1786279095

The Secret Life of Bees

Buzzwing the honeybee takes everyone on a guided tour of the world of bees . Not only does she welcome the reader into her hive, but Buzzwing also introduces bees from all over the world. A fabulous celebration of bees and the amazing role they play in our lives, ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ even includes bee tales from around the world.

Buzzwing explains the roles taken by different bees in her hive and gives lots of details about bee anatomy. I had no idea that bee eyeballs are hairy! Buzzwing then shows everyone inside the hive and how bees make honey. The information is presented in short accessible sections with plenty of illustrations and diagrams.

There is so much to be learned about bees in these pages, showing just how fascinating their ‘secret’ lives are. ‘Buzzing Around the World’ looks at different types of bees - there are about 20,000 in the world- and how they differ. One thing I really like is the inclusion of a number of bee related stories from around the world- the tradition of telling news to the bees and the Aboriginal story of the lady of the moon, for example.

The book is full of colourful, engaging illustrations and some pages have things to find on them, encouraging close exploration. The final page offers ideas for how to ‘be a bee friend’, showing how to help these amazing insects who make the world ‘a sweeter place’.

The Secret Life of Bees

Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Vivian Mineker

Words and Pictures ISBN: 978-0711260498

Rebel Animals at Risk

Our planet is home to a vast array of fascinating and extraordinary creatures. Sadly, many are on the edge of extinction. ‘Rebel Animals at Risk’ introduces the reader to amazing creatures from every continent and ocean, with each section illustrated by illustrators from around the world in their own unique style.

The book tells the stories of over 60 real-life creatures. A map at the start of each section helps the reader to locate where each comes from and a fascinating introduction to that area, the creatures that live there and the challenges that they are facing. A wonderful range of creatures is included, both well-known and lesser- known. The ‘wildlife wins’ for each region are also listed, celebrating the successes and offering an encouraging, positive note.

There are so many fascinating tales here such as that of mischievous Veeti, the European mink who lives at Ranua Wildlife Park in Finland or Whiskey, the Numbat who was born at Perth Zoo. Both these creatures are playing an important role in the conservation of their species as well as raising awareness. Each story could lead to further research about that particular creature or that breed. The book contains suggestions for further reading or film to watch as well as ideas for how to take action to make life better for endangered animals.

A clear contents, comprehensive index and glossary make the book perfect for research, allowing the reader to readily locate information. There are also sections about the author and each illustrator. Packed with information about conservation and entries on individual creatures, ‘Rebel Animals at Risk’ would make an excellent addition to any classroom or library!

Rebel Animals at Risk

Kimberlie Hamilton , with illustrators from around the world

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702300110

Rebel Cats!

Cats are wonderful creatures and ‘Rebel Cats’ is full of stories, facts and famous felines. The book has been illustrated by a range of artists, each bringing their own style and personality to the work.

Some of these rebel cats are quite well known. The story of Mrs Chippy (who was actually a male cat!) and his time on the Endurance with Shackleton is familiar to those of us who have used William Grill’s ‘Shackleton’s Journey’ and many people have seen Doorkins when visiting Southwark Cathedral (myself included!).

Musical cats, Hollywood stars, marvellous mousers and furry heroes are all included here. As well as being enjoyed in their own right, many of these mini-biographies could be used as the basis for story writing as the lives led by these cats are amazing! Other books, like ‘Tibs, the Post Office Cat’ by Joyce Dunbar, could be used alongside this book- Tibs is mentioned on page 49 in the ‘Mighty Mousers’ section.

The cat-ographies are interspersed with fascinating feline facts. There are suggestions for how to help cats in need, ‘spooky cats’, information about cats ‘from nose to tail’ and a ‘Puss in Books’ section. There is also a useful glossary and ‘Rebel Cats’ timeline.

Beautifully illustrated in a range of styles, ‘Rebel Cats’ is a fabulous treat for anyone who loves cats.

Rebel Cats! Brave Tales of Feisty Felines

Kimberlie Hamilton

Scholastic ISBN: 978-1407192604

Earth’s Incredible Places: The Great Barrier Reef

Celebrating one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, ‘The Great Barrier Reef’ is a stunning and accessible book. The National Curriculum Programme of Study for Geography states the study of this subject should spark a curiosity and fascination about the world and aims to ensure that it should develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes. This book does that - and so much more!

Beginning with locating the Great Barrier Reef, the book explains its significance as a World Heritage Site before describing how it began to develop. Accompanied by diagrams, the explanation is very clear and easy to follow, making it accessible to children in KS1 and KS2. It details how the reef is built by coral, describing these fascinating creatures and how they develop.

The creatures that dwell on the Great Barrier Reef as well as their ‘neighbours’ are also celebrated, making the book useful for research. Information about the diverse and fascinating creatures found here is accompanied by Lisk Feng’s dynamic and appealing illustrations. Catchy side headings grab attention, encouraging those who like to dip in and out of non-fiction to read different sections whilst making an appealing read for those who enjoy reading from cover-to-cover!

Not only is the book a treasure trove for science and geography, it is also rich in historic and cultural facts. It celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling amongst Indigenous Australians and the respectful and harmonious way they have interacted with the Reef for thousands of years. Captain Cook’s arrival and the subsequent pillaging of the Reef for profit are also included.

The book looks at the threats to the Reef, but also at what can be and is being done to help it. The work of scientists like Terry Hughes and Professor Madeleine van Oppen is explained and the book closes with an appeal to the real to consider the future story of the Great Barrier Reef. A clear contents and a well developed glossary are also included, but the book has no index.

Having been lucky enough to have visited the Great Barrier Reef, I wish that I had had a copy of this book before going. A brilliant resource for home and school, ‘The Great Barrier Reef’ can be used to support many areas of the curriculum as well as igniting children’s curiosity about the world and its amazing and diverse locations.

The Great Barrier Reef Helen Scales, illustrated by Lisk Feng

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1912497812

Moth: An Evolution Story

The peppered moth story is a famous example of natural selection and this beautiful book vividly brings it to life. Until the early 1800s, most of these moths were light with peppered wings, with a very rare dark variety. The moths’ wings help them to lie camouflaged on lichen-covered branches; however, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and its pollution, the reverse became true. The darker variety became dominant as through natural selection, the darker moths were better adapted to their environment. As laws to reduce air pollution have been passed, the lichens have grown back and the light moths have returned and now both varieties can be seen.

This book is a real gift to the Y6 teacher when teaching the Science P of S strand : to identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution. The story of the moth is told clearly, effortlessly explaining the ‘science bit’ and encouraging the reader to go and look for these wonderful creatures. A message of hope - hope for survival, hope for adaptation and hope for change. More detailed notes are included at the end, including the Latin name (Linnaeus’s binomial system!).

In addition to the fascinating text the book is lavishly illustrated with stunning illustrations. From the stunning moth emerging from its cocoon to the dangers of predators to the menacing pollution to the cleaner skies, each spread is just gorgeous.

‘Moth’ is both fascinating and beautiful- and an excellent resource for school! The perfect mix of art and science, it’s a real must have!

Moth: An Evolution Story Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egneus

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1408889756

Welcome to our World

Welcome to our World

Customs, traditions, culture and languages from all round the world are celebrated in this wonderful book.

The introduction explains that we are all different, but all have things in common. It encourages the reader to make friends with others, to have fun, to share what is different and what is the same. It encourages them to have a go at other languages, using the pronunciation guide in the book, looking them up online or trying to hear them 'spoken by a native speaker' It promotes a sense of excitement and discovery which permeates the whole book.

From greetings to mealtimes, from family to pets, school to clothing, this joyous book explores all areas of life, asking questions of the reader along the way. 'What special hats do people wear in your country?', 'How do you get to school?', 'Do you have any clothes you like to wear for special occasions?'. 

There is so much in this book which could be used in school. The section on playtime games called 'My Turn!' would be great fun to try out and build upon to create a bank of alternative games for playtime. Drinks and recipes from around the world could be made and tried, encouraging everyone who has a favourite to share it with their friends. 

The illustrations are wonderful- full of joy and colour- adding to the appeal of this lovely book.

Welcome to our World   

Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Harriet Lynas

Nosy Crow     ISBN: 978-1788001373

Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story

Orphan, Matthew Henson, runs away from his violent step-mother to find a new life in New York. Hard working and determined, young Matthew manages to find work in a cafe. Listening to the sea going stories of characters like Baltimore Jack, Matthew embarks on a life at sea as a cabin boy and ends up accompanying Captain Peary on his adventure to ‘discover’ the North Pole. In spite of being the first of the party to reach their goal, Matthew was given no recognition on his return to America.

This is a fabulous account of one of the unsung heroes of history. Having battled against the odds, Matthew Henson’s achievements were unacknowledged during his lifetime and are little known today so this very readable book is an essential addition to libraries and classrooms. The significant contribution made by the Inuit, who gave their expertise and support to the exhibition, and Matthew’s positive relationship with them are also highlighted in this stunning book.

On their return, Peary was celebrated for his achievements and received many accolades whereas Matthew was overlooked despite the fact that much of their success was due to his expertise. This uncomfortable truth offers the perfect starting point for discussions about racism and the importance of telling everyone’s story- not just that of those who fit a particular narrative.

This is an extremely satisfying read about a fascinating character with plenty of challenge in terms of content and vocabulary. It would make an excellent guided reading book and is an essential addition to topic boxes or book collections to enhance work on a number of topics.

Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story

Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickey

Barrington Stoke ISBN: 978-1781128404

Lesser Spotted Animals

‘Lesser Spotted Animals’ speaks out for the overlooked, almost forgotten and practically unknown creatures of the animal world. Big or small, cute or quirky, endangered or numerous-the one thing that these animals have in common is that they are most definitely Z-list. Unlike the A-List celebrities of the natural world, these creatures have never had their moment in the lime light- that is, until now…

So, say goodbye to the gnu, cheerio to the cheetah and poo poo to the panda. There will be no lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) but rather pikas and numbats and yellow-footed rock wallabies. Prepare to meet the wonderfully wow wildlife you never normally get to see.

Each page of this book celebrates a different mammal, one of the thousands that never gets seen and never get talked about. Some of the animals within the book are plentiful. Take Africa’s pongy predator, the zorilla, for example. This carnivorous weasel-like creature may look a little like a skunk, but when it comes to pong-power, it knocks the more commonly known skunk out of the water. The zorillas’ potent stench can be smelt more than a mile away. Despite this, Kenyan farmers are eager to have zorillas around as they eat the grubs, rats and mice that ruin pastures and wreak havoc on their crops. There is also the dagger-toothed flower bat, the friendly fruit champion of the night. Although its name suggests otherwise, these are gentle creatures with a sweet-tooth. They flit from flower to flower sipping at the nectar. At the same time, they spread the pollen that has stuck to their faces, pollinating the trees. In fact, without these peaceful pollinators, some fruit trees would be entirely fruitless!

However, many of these Lesser Spotted Animals are far from numerous, with many being critically endangered or having so little known about them that it is impossible to say whether or not they are at risk. The rocky rabbit relative, the ili pika, was first discovered in 1983 and since then its numbers have halved, making it endangered. Unlike its rabbit cousins, the ili pika has small rounded ears and shorter legs; it also has a voice, making short eep, eep, eep noises. They are just as cute as their rabbit relations though and have some seriously clever survival skills to help cope the long, cold, snowy winters. The numbat – toothy termite-eater of the Australian west – can scoff as many as 20,000 termites each day, licking them up with its long, sticky tongue. There are only about 1000 of these unique creatures left in the wild and their numbers continue to drop. Unbelievably, there are more giant pandas in the world than there are numbats, but, unlike those big black-and-white celebrities, they get little to no attention.

‘Lesser Spotted Animals’ is an absolutely fascinating and eye-opening look at the natural world, delivering a powerful message, especially when sharing those animals that are endangered but whose plight (and existence) is virtually unknown to most of us. However, the book does not preach or lecture. In fact, its accessible chatty style, fact boxes and humour make it a light, easy read which would appeal to most children as it manages to be factual, engaging and funny all at once. The text is a perfect mix of scientific terminology and facts with description and anecdotes that will allow children to visualise the animals. For example, the size of each animal is described in ways such as, ‘as long as two average twelve year-olds, end-to-end,’ and, ‘about as big as a mouse – with wings.’ Alongside this are Martin Brown’s brilliant illustrations. Every page is full colour with delightful cartoon character animals, many of which have fun speech bubbles, which will have you chuckling to yourself. As well as the large illustrations, there are plentiful additional smaller pictures which will raise a smile: the sand cat in an ‘I heart sand’ t-shirt; the dagger-toothed flower bat dressed as batman; the tap-dancing black-footed ferret.

This gem of a book will hook children into learning more about lesser known animals. They can discover some of the 5,500 species of mammal out there in the world such as the dik dik, dingiso and delicate deer mouse (that just sneak on to the final page of the book). Perhaps, this could lead toward them creating their own book of ‘Lesser Spotted animals,’ (or a version about birds, marine life, insects, reptiles…). The small maps and geographical information on each page encourage a more detailed look at animal habitats and how different creatures survive in more extreme environments. This is also an excellent springboard for looking at classification and species diversity. Part of the detailed glossary is the different statuses used to classify animals, from least concern to extinct. Children could learn about the reasons behind why different creatures, through history to the present day, have become endangered and even extinct, as well as the different ways they are being protected. They could use persuasive writing and advertising to create their own campaign to help raise awareness about a ‘Lesser Spotted’ animal (just like the campaigns that have been used to rally support for the ‘celebrity’ pandas, elephants and koalas). Such work, with older children, would also help them to consider the part that media exposure contributes to fame – why have some of these animals become such celebrities of the natural world, and others not. Why do we care so much about them?

Lesser Spotted Animals – The Brilliant Beasts You Never Knew You Needed To Know About

Martin Brown

David Fickling Books    ISBN: 978-1910200537

Martin has written a second book called ‘Even More Lesser Spotted Animals’, also published by David Fickling Books (ISBN: 978-1338349610). Some guided reading notes for the first book are available in Reading Resources.

Crazy About Cats

Although I am a fan of photographs in non-fiction books, there is something very appealing about Owen’s stunning illustrations and their beauty which negates this concern completely. ‘Crazy About Cats’ begins with exploring the genus of cats, number of species and general diet and habitat of these amazing creatures before considering their evolution and the domesticity of the house cat. This could form the perfect starting point for work on classification, using examples before working scientifically and classifying creatures they might find closer to home. (Bonkers About Beetles might come in handy here!)

The diversity of cats in this book is wonderful, making the perfect starting point for further investigation, allowing children to compare and contrast how different cats species have adapted to their environments. The marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata) caught my imagination - I’m ashamed to say I had never heard of it; I now know where it comes from and that it is the only species classified as ‘pardofelis’, having previously been thought to belong to the panthera lineage. Another species which leapt off the page at me was the ‘margay’. Sadly. both of these wonderful creatures are considered to be ‘near threatened’.

‘Crazy About Cats’ is packed full of fascinating, clear information, but I also love the fact that there is a section about cat mythology, touching on some of the stories told about cats through the ages. There are many writing opportunities which might come from this book as well- reports, persuasive, discussion as well as narrative.

The contents and index make it easy to navigate, but this is really one of those books that is best lingered over as something catches the eye. The book ends with information about the endangered status of many of our big cats and suggestions for how we can help.

Beautiful in content as well as quality, ‘Crazy About Cats’ is a fabulous book about felines which will captive and educate in equal measure.

Crazy About Cats Owen Davey

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1911171164

Obsessive About Octopuses

The latest in Owen Davey’s ‘About…’ series is every bit as delightful as the others. Each book looks in detail at one special creature and entices the reader in with its beautiful illustrations and fascinating facts. This series has proved very popular in our school library, with ‘Mad About Monkeys’ top of the list. I am sure this latest offering will be just as admired.

Colour is used to great advantage throughout the book, adding to the appeal. Octopuses tentacles wind their way across the pages, framing and bordering the text. There are plenty of side headings with little snippets of information on offer, making it easy to dip in and out of.

The text is packed with information, offering lots of details and facts. There are so many gems included here, all clearly explained, using scientific language where needed, making the book an absorbing read. The index gives the Latin names as well as the English, useful for Year 6 work on Linnaeus and his system of binomial nomenclature, as well as for locating information easily. The contents offers broader sections to entice the browser. My favourite section is the one on ‘Octopus Mythology’, which explores legends about these incredible creatures from different cultures.

A wonderfully tactile and beautifully illustrated book, ‘Obsessive About Octopuses’ is an excellent read. Another to add to the library.

Obsessive About Octopuses Owen Davey

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1912497195