Blog Tour: Start Small Think Big

I am delighted to be taking part in Blog Tour which celebrates not only lovely books, but also National Non-Fiction November! ‘Start Small, Think Big’ is a fabulous series which is designed to engage and inspire young readers- and they certainly do!

‘Small, Speckled Egg’ follows the life cycle of the Arctic tern. The egg can be seen through the die-cut on the cover, engaging youngest readers from the outset. A clever mix of simple, easy to read text and more detailed information allows the book to be read and shared in different ways. This offers a text which can both support emergent readers and offer more challenge for those who need it, making it the perfect accompaniment for teaching parts of the KS1 Science or Geography curriculum. The same format is used for ‘Little, Brown Nut’ just as successfully.

Neither book shies away from using the ‘technical’ vocabulary connected with its subject, which is clearly explained and used. Thus the reader learns about the ‘agouti’, what ‘photosynthesis’ is and how long it takes the seed to ‘germinate’. All the information is supported by engaging illustrations, offering plenty of detail. A fold-out page at the end of the book offers a useful pictorial summary of the life cycle, a map of the world/ country relating to the topic, an I-Spy section and a ‘Think Big!’ fact box which includes additional information.

There is so much to learn and enjoy packed into each of these books, showing how essential high quality non-fiction texts are for young children to feed and inspire their natural curiosity about the world around them. The fact that these also offer plenty to interest older children- and adults- make them perfect for sharing and encouraging discussion with others.

Start Small, Think Big: Small, Speckled Egg

Mary Auld, illustrated by Anna Terreros Martin

Mama Makes Books ISBN: 978-1739774875

Start Small, Think Big: Little, Brown Nut

Mary Auld, illustrated by Dawn Cooper

Mama Makes Books ISBN: 978-1739774882

Many thanks to the team at Mama Makes Books for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour!

The Friendly Mammoth

Mansi loves to visit her local museum, but she wishes she had a friend to go with. Noticing that her favourite exhibit, the Woolly Mammoth, is also alone, she decides to draw a friend for him. As she draws, she imagines snow and ice and suddenly realises that she and the mammoth have been taken back in time - to the Ice Age. Here, she meets a little cave girl who also loves to draw and the two quickly become friends. Together, they go on an adventure and meet lots of other creatures from the Ice Age. Mansi suddenly realises she is back in the museum and someone is telling her they like her drawings. No longer shy, Mansi tells this new friend, Benny, all about her adventures and the animals she met which are now extinct. Although they still enjoy a visit to the museum, they take action together to make sure this does not happen to any other creatures.

On the front cover, under the title, it says ‘Friends make EVERYTHING possible’ and this is a gorgeous story celebrating the importance of friendship. However, this is not the only thing to love about this delightful book.

Although shy, Mansi’s love of history, animals and drawing is shared by both the girl from the Ice Age and Benny, the little boy who notices her drawing in the museum, showing how common interests can offer a starting point for discussions and a way into forming friendships. Even though they cannot speak to one another, Mansi and the cave girl communicate through facial expressions and affectionate gestures, allowing them to share their passion for art and interest in animals. Mammoth first prompts Mansi in this direction, offering an excellent starting point for discussions with children who might need support with instigating interactions with others.

The story also raises questions about extinction and Mansi’s encounters with extinct creatures of the past make her reflect on those which are endangered in the present and fill her with the desire to take action to save them. Additional note about these animals, presented as pages of Mansi’s notebook, are included at the end of the story, perfect for initiating further research or sparking interest in this period of history, often studied by children in Year 3 at school. The placards held by those on the protest march attended by Mansi and Benny show many currently endangered creatures, once again offering much to discuss and explore.

With its beautiful depiction of Mansi running up the path to the Natural History Museum at its beginning, the book is also shows the joy and excitement which can be found in this ‘magical place for remembering the past’. I love a good museum and have spent many happy hours with children- both my own and other peoples- exploring the wonders and curiosities they contain.

The illustrations are wonderful with so much to notice and enjoy on every page. ‘The Friendly Mammoth’ would not only make a wonderful bedtime story, but also lends itself to being used in class or as the basis for a book event with lots of activities and fun!

The Friendly Mammoth Anna Terreros-Martin

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788452311