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Find out moreHow many times as parents are we asked How? Why? When? And Where? Questions? Help your kids to get to know more about the world around you with our Fascinating Facts category - The perfect way of cramming their heads full of facts without them even noticing.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month May 2017 Described as ‘the Bansky of the bird world’, Matt Sewell has created a fabulous hide-and-seek guide designed to inspire children to start bird watching both on the page and outside. Jungle, desert, woodland and city oasis - each beautiful double page spread shows an amazing wildlife habitat for birds and, in each, there is a native bird of that place hiding! Enjoy bird spotting and also Matt Sewell’s glorious and vibrant illustrations. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for May 2017 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King of the Sky by Nicoloa Davies A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis King Coo by Adam Stower The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman The Big Bird Spot by Matt Sewell
Children are invited to explore eight different habitats in this appealing and very attractive information book, clever split page design allows them to examine the creatures that live there both above and below ground or sea and it also deftly illustrates the way animals share their habitats with each other. There are spreads on the ocean, rainforest, savannah and river amongst others, one colourful page depicting a lively scene packed with fauna and flora while on the opposite page short paragraphs of text accompany details from the scenes giving readers with useful and sometimes quirky information. This look-and-find format is also very effective and Hanako Clulow’s illustrations are full of child appeal. ~ Andrea Reece
With comforting clarity, this thorough guide provides vital insight into all aspects of friendship, and also offers support and solutions for navigating one’s way through worries and difficulties. While there are many excellent books aimed at guiding young people through their teenage years, this book’s focus on friendship makes it uniquely invaluable. It places much emphasis on understanding emotions, personality types and behaviours, both one’s own, and those of others. I particularly loved how friendship is framed in the context of being a fundamental human characteristic – “humans are, by nature, social animals”, “we have created lots of ways of supporting each other, through various sorts of friendships.” The book comprehensively covers how to make good friends, toxic friendships, dealing with social media and bullying, developing empathy, and managing stress and anxiety. The personality quizzes are perfect for nurturing self-awareness, inviting readers to explore, for example, if they might be too anxious, how empathetic they are, whether they’re more introvert or extrovert. Both enlightening and practical, this is a must-read for 12+ year olds, and an essential addition to school libraries.
In a nutshell: historical adventures full of facts and fun Not since Horrible Histories has the past been brought to life for young readers so accurately and with so much humour. Written in partnership with the National Trust in the form of the diary of a young boy, page to a knight at Widemoat Castle, the story recounts an exciting episode in his life culminating in an attack on the castle by the rebellious Welsh. Young John Drawbridge and Widemoat are fictional but everything else in the book is real and it’s full of interesting historical detail, giving a complete view of life in a medieval castle. You can always rely on Philip Ardagh to add humour and this rollicking story has some very good jokes as well as appealing characters. ~ Andrea Reece The Editor at Nosy Crow says: “This is the perfect book for Philip: it takes advantage of his incredible mix of talents as an author - hilarious writing, brilliant characters and voice, and lots of fascinating factual detail. Jamie’s brilliant artwork is the perfect complement - it’s lively, funny, full of rich detail and expression, and hugely child-friendly. A winning combination!”
For an information book, Lands of Long Ago takes a highly unusual approach, filling its pages with errors. Young readers are challenged to find 20 deliberate mistakes on each page; some of them are pretty obvious – a cement mixer standing next to an Egyptian pyramid for example, but others are much trickier: did the ancient Egyptians eat carrots? The mistakes are highlighted on subsequent pages, together with interesting and useful paragraphs of explanation. No, the Egyptians didn’t have cement mixers, but the text explains how the pyramids were constructed, and while they grew figs, melons, pomegranates and grapes, carrots were not grown as a crop for thousands of years. Fun and informative, this is the kind of book that turns browsing into periods of real study. ~ Andrea Reece
Packed with interesting and useful information on a range of important subjects areas, from geography (a section called Around the World), to music, natural history, space and architecture, and filled with bright, appealing illustrations, this book will keep curious youngsters entertained for hours. In each subject section there are facts on early discoveries through to up-to-date information on its current state or new developments and all presented in tempting bite-sized paragraphs of text. If you want to find out more on anything you’ve discovered, the book provides internet links to useful websites. ~ Andrea Reece
April 2017 Book of the Month Who better to take young readers on a guided tour of the British Library than Mick Manning and Brita Granström? Words and pictures work perfectly together to give children a vivid sense of the greatest library in the world, and some of the amazing books to be found there. It begins with a look at the St Cuthbert Gospel, a photo of the book part of a collage also featuring a representation of the saint in his coffin and sketches depicting the book’s extraordinary history. There are equally lively pages on the Lindisfarne Gospel, Beowulf, Mrs Beeton’s cookbook and many more. The approach is as varied as the books featured, while the facts contained will inform and fascinate readers of all ages. It concludes with notes on the authors of the featured books and a helpful glossary. A unique and fascinating way of examining the history of the book through one of our greatest institutions. ~ Andrea Reece
April 2017 Fascinating Facts Book of the Month This beautiful information book explores all aspects of our planet, this ‘tiny sphere that orbits an ordinary, middle-aged star in a quiet backwater of the Milky Way’. It examines the inner workings of the Earth; looks at life, from the smallest beings to the mightiest, past to present; opens up the huge variety of ecosystems; and ponders the impact humans have had and are having. The tone is one of conversation as author Jonathan Litton explains often complex topics in relaxed and accessible language. Thomas Hegbrook’s soft, ethereal images do more than illustrate the text. An inspiring book to send readers exploring even further. ~ Andrea Reece
Covering ten important general areas of scientific study including space, wheels, light, medicine, energy and life, this handsome information book shows how ideas have developed over the centuries, new discoveries adding to what has gone before to lead us to where we are today. It’s a fascinating concept, and a great deal of information is conveyed via the clear, concise passages of text and stylish cartoon illustrations. The book is perfect for browsing and will appeal to readers of a wide age range. ~ Andrea Reece
This excellent book is an inspiring and all-encompassing guide to the world of music for young people. By inviting them to imagine they are attending a music course over an academic year the authors make it particularly involving for young people and the different ‘lessons’ cover everything from the different kinds of music and musical instruments there are, to the elements of musical language, and how to make music yourself. The tone is engaging and conversational throughout and the book is extremely well-designed, colourful illustrations by Daniel Frost adding to the overall appeal. Readers can listen online to recordings my top musicians too thanks to a QR code. Bravo! ~ Andrea Reece Companion title to the School of Art.
The story of space is told with all the drama and excitement it merits but clearly and simply for the youngest readers. Over forty colourful pages readers travel through billions of years of history from moments before the Big Bang to the formation of the Sun and our planets, the development of life on Earth and to mankind’s gradual exploration of space. Painted illustrations depict space and the planets nearest Earth in bright, bold colours, and two little astronauts are on hand to add helpful comments about the scenes that surround them. This is mind-expanding stuff and this intriguing introduction to our universe should inspire a long-term fascination in young children. ~ Andrea Reece
This is a scrapbook with a difference. Yes, readers are asked to record the usual information about themselves, from their height to what kind of house they live in to their dream holiday, but it also tests how ambidextrous they are, and how embarrassing Mum is. At the same time it’s packed with all sorts of unusual and interesting facts on all sorts of things from swimming pools to board games. It’s great fun and kids are likely to return to this book long after the write-in pages have been completed. ~ Andrea Reece
Our Fascinating Facts category includes titles that children of all ages can really get their teeth into and enjoy whilst also filling up their brain with useful facts to help them better understand our amazing world.
Non-fiction readers will enjoy some additional special features we have on the LoveReading4Kids site, packed with interesting factual books to suit a range of ages;
30 Seconds - This striking, energetic series takes a rapid-fire ‘look and learn’ approach to curriculum-linked subjects suitable for children aged 8 and over. With fascinating topics ranging from Space to Inventions, from Myths to the Human Brain, each of these books presents a key subject in a fresh and fascinating format.
The Academy Series - a great non-fiction series for children aged 7 to 10 approximately offering an introduction to a range of subjects through fun activities and imaginative play.
Little People, Big Dreams - Discover the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
The What On Earth? series from Christopher Lloyd which brings facts to life! Each book contains a fold-out timeline, with intricate illustrations and bitesize pieces of information, which show the complete story of a range of popular non-fiction subjects including Science, History, Sport, Shakespeare and Nature.
You can read more about the What on Earth series in our special section here or visit www.whatonearthbooks.com/shop where, in addition to the fantastic Wallbooks there are a range of sticker books and poster books available.
This category will be refreshed regularly as we find what we think are the best of breed books across age ranges and interests but all of them in their own way will bring factual information vividly to life. So whether you have a keen reader or a reluctant one, a toddler or a teenager there's something here for them to get their teeth into.
