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Non-Fiction Book Reviews
pub. Priddy Books
There are a number of key skills that it is important for children to learn whilst they are still young, possibly even still in primary school. Among these are reading and writing skills. Some people, adults as well as children, can struggle with these skills because they have dyslexia and it is not always easy to recognise easily. Luckily there is a lot of support for those with dyslexia, providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
Priddy Books have developed a series of books to support children aged 6 plus, their Key Skills For Kids and one of the latest titles is Dyslexia. This excellent book is intended for use at home and is a bumper workbook with bookmarks and a tear-out Alphabet Arc that can be wiped clean for multiple uses. The book is bursting with activities and it could be tempting to sit down and try as many as possible. The advice is to spend 10-15 minutes a day, work through the book methodically and keep it up, little and often so the learning has time to be digested.
Each section begins with tips for parents and is followed by exercises for children. Beginning with Alphabet work helping children to associate letters and sounds there are plenty of helpful tips and colourful activities which gradually a little more challenging. After this children can move to handwriting practice then on to phonics before learning to break down words and use pictures to help with memory. By the time they reach the end of the book children will be able to practice reading, comprehension and writing. An excellent resource.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Key Skills For Kids: Dyslexia
Little Dinosaurs, Big Questions
Swapna Haddow, Dr Diplo illus. Yitnig Lee, pub. Magic Cat
Deciding whether to include this book in our Junior and Middle Grade fiction section or non-fiction did not present a simple solution, much as the stories contained in this book. There are no simple answers to some questions, and ultimately I think that is what guided me. And so here we are, in non-fiction with a book of ten short stories each of which helps to go some way to answering some of the very BIG questions we all, and especially children, have.
Have you ever been asked why bad things happen; if they are being unkind can I be too; why do they have so much and I have so little and even does the grass hurt when I eat it? The questions that go the mind of a child should never be dismissed, they are growing and learning which means questions are natural. We all ask questions when we are flummoxed by something be it big or small. It is the big questions which it is harder to find answers for, certainly answers that children can understand and process. With the help of the friendly, and very clever Dr Diplo and some wonderful Jurassic characters both children and adults can find the answers or take steps to.
After each question, the story that helps explain the answer, find a page which takes small steps to guide readers to an understanding. For example, the question about grass and feelings is answered by explaining that we can all do things that will give back to and help nature. There is then a page filled with activity ideas. A nature stroll is suggested in relation to this question. It may sometimes feel overwhelming to attempt to answer philosophical questions but with the help of these stories and their gentle guidance, the practical exercise too, soon we could all be working up to being or at least thinking like a philosoposaurus!
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Marvellous Messages
Rose Ayling-Ellis, illus. Lena Addink, pub. DK Books
Marvellous Messages is an ideal book for children aged 7+ and its colourful pages, exciting illustrations and engaging layout, make this a superb book for a multitude of readers. While it is educational, it is also enjoyable and the characters of Rose, her cat and the pigeon tour guide add a relatable element to the book.
This is a fascinating glimpse through the history of communication and language from across time spans and around the world. It is thorough and all encompassing, leading the reader from types of ancient communication through to emoji’s, taking into account all the milestones and changes the world has faced which have impacted the way we communicate.
Sign language, body language and text talk are just a sample of the forms of communication covered, outside of the more traditional written and spoken forms. The formatting on each page is easy to follow and understand, with the vast range of illustrations making it even more enjoyable. The narrative voice allows the reader to feel part of the adventure through time, discovering fascinating facts and details new to them.
Erin Hamilton
Mega: The Most Enormous Animals Ever
Jules Howard, illus. Gavin Scott, pub. Nosy Crow
Mega is absolutely magnificent! It is an engaging book which explores the most enormous animals ever – any child who loves animals, especially larger and potentially more dangerous ones, will adore this book.
Packed with interesting information, Mega compares the megafauna (animals that weigh more than 45kg) from various periods of history to those who roam the Earth now. Exploring dinosaurs such as Giganotosaurus and birds like emus, this book really has everything! Split into different sections based on the group that the animals belong to it starts with mammals, then moves through birds, reptiles and fish so that it covers a whole range of species to suit the individual interests of every child. Each section is split into three main parts, ‘Biggest Extinct’ which explores the animals through history; ‘Biggest Today’ which explores the species that are the largest living currently and ‘Megafauna at work’ which breaks down how each type of animal survives and is successful on the planet today.
This book is fascinating and the pages are brought to life by the incredible illustrations which show the habitat that each group of animals would be found in. The text is broken into paragraphed chunks and scattered around the pages with clear subheadings which makes it really straight-forward to navigate as a reader. Each type of animal group has a double-page to introduce the key facts about them before the reader can explore the individual species that are related to each other. If you are interested in dinosaurs then there are plenty of references to them throughout the book – it is incredible to see how many current species have evolved from their dino-ancestors yet still carry many of the same characteristics.
Mega truly is a wonderful book. It is very engaging as it is a book that is easy to dip in and out of when you want to explore and discover facts about your favourite enormous animals. It certainly lives up to its name – what a mega-interesting read!
Tom Joy
Moving to Mars
Eduard Altarriba, Guillem Anglada-Escudé, Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón, and Miquel Sureda Anfres, pub. Button Books
A most unusual book that raises questions about the Red Planet – will we ever set foot on Mars? What will the journey be like? What will be there? How will we live?
What I particularly like about this book is that it contains information about science but is also inspirational and creative. It’s written by experts in planning future planetary bases. We learn about the solar system and Mars, but the book covers much more. Look at the chapter headings – Myths; Mars and Earth Sister Planets; Phobos and Deimos; Solar Wind and on they go covering every possible detail that would need to be considered if we were to ever live on Mars! The pages are well presented with a good balance of text and illustration. Much information is conveyed visually which makes it very accessible. The artwork is clear and the explanations are easy to follow.
In addition to giving information, the book also encourages thoughts and responses. In the section on atmosphere we are told that in 2004 the Mars Express probe detected methane gas in Mars’s atmosphere. This came as a surprise. On Earth methane is mainly produced by living things, although it can be produced by certain geological processes. The writer concludes: “We will have to continue investigating and collecting information to solve the mystery.” In the section on society we are told living on Mars will be challenging with many difficulties. The author continues: “But it is also a unique opportunity to start over and try to learn from the mistakes made on Earth. A Martian society based on community and respect for the environment would be a mirror in which the inhabitants of Earth could look at themselves to find solutions to many of their problems.”
Perfect for scientists, explorers and dreamers this is an awe-inspiring book that encourages readers to think about what humankind will be able to achieve. Don’t miss it!
Brenda Marshall
Normal Women: Making History for 900 Years
Philippa Gregory, illus. Alexis Snell, pub. Red Shed
This book is an absolute mine of captivating information. Author Philippa Gregory is known for her well-researched historical novels and has trawled through history books gathering up all the tiny mentions she could find of women, discovering millions of them doing things we don’t think are typical of women such as owning lands prior to 1066, being spies and soldiers during the Civil War and setting sports records at the end of the 19th century.
Prior to 1066, one in seven landowners was a woman but William of Normandy took control, giving land to his fifteen commanders - all of whom were men - and, in one fell swoop, women no longer owned any land in England! However, it is obvious that through the centuries women have been pushed out and controlled, omitted from the history books and from many walks of life, often only able to participate by disguising themselves as men. The book, aimed at 12-16 year olds, is a shorter version of the original book for adults (of the same name and with longer chapters and suggestions for further reading) and anyone interested in the history of women and feminism would find it fascinating.
Covering the period 1066 – 1994 and written in chronological order, great use is made of sub-headings to break up the text making it eminently readable and accessible and I love the notes in the margins adding further background information and comments. A great addition to the senior school library plus many of the sections would be an excellent starting point for discussion around women’s roles and their treatment in society. This is one of those books where you find yourself dipping into it and emerging a couple of hours later having been totally transfixed!
Barbara Band
Six Queens: An Illustrated Guide to the Iconic Queens of Henry VIII
Lydia Monks, pub. Macmillan Children’s Books
There can’t be many children who are not aware of the mnemonic ‘divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived’ and this wonderful book brings to life those stories of Henry VIII’s six wives.
From his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess, after the death of her first husband, Henry’s brother, Arthur to his last wife Katherine Parr, who became stepmother to Henry’s three children and outlived him, we learn about all of his wives. Along the way we are given delightful glimpses into Tudor life including the great parties and food that was served, illnesses and medicines, and court fashions. Readers are introduced to the Reformation, key players and their roles in Henry’s court, family connections and links and the various plots that were contrived, particularly when he was away fighting wars with France and Scotland.
The book is richly illustrated with some of the stories told in a monochrome graphic novel format making it engaging and accessible. So often books about Henry VIII give him centre stage with only brief mentions of his wives, this one explores their lives and we learn about their back stories, their education and interests, influence on the King and their fates. A fantastic introduction to this fascinating period of history for children aged 7 – 10 years.
Barbara Bend
STEMville: The Fast Lane
Ben Newman, pub. Flying Eye Books
This is a fun book, crammed with amazing details and facts about racing cars. The book promises a lot from the very first page. There is an easy-to-read text accompanied by fantastic informative and very colourful illustrations. A table of contents makes it easy to find the different sections of the book.
A very informative book is made even better because of the great mix of fiction and fact. It is based on the well-known tale of the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise, Wilbur Harshell, is up against Frankie Thunderfoot, the hare. Will the tortoise or the hare win the race? Look out for an amazing twist at the end of the story. The book has double page spreads covering the design, building and testing of race cars; the high-tech car parts and many gizmos and gadgets; speed and engine power; tyres, from dry to wet; braking; pit stops; driving skills; emergencies and skidding and crashing; the start line, starting lights and finish line. Even more is covered - street circuits, stock car racing, rallying, Indy 500 and drag racing!
If you want a basic introduction to everything there is to know about Formula 1 racing, then this is the book for you. Everyone will enjoy this, from the very youngest children, both boys and girls, as well as adults. Did you know that a regular car has 30,000 pieces, whilst a Formula 1 car has 80,000 parts? An illustrated timeline of racing cars from the 1950s to the 2000s is an excellent addition. A final touch worth a mention is that sportsmanship is very much a part of the story line.
Gary Kenworthy
What’s the Actually Factually Difference?
Jane Wilsher, illus. Liz Kay, pub. Words & Pictures
There’s a prevalent level of than most of the books of this type that I’ve seen recently? Yes. It’s a good addition to an over-crowded shelf that should elbow most of its companions out of the way. Is there anything radically different or idiosyncratic about it? No. Simply, it’s a top-notch example of its type and nicely accessible.
What do I most want to tell you? It pulls you in, it is excellent at getting you to start and then keep reading. Fact books, especially random-fact books which have no easy path to building engaging narratives are very easily boring. Not so here. The writing is wonderfully frictionless and erudite, it takes skill to be this unobtrusively good. The art has professionalism and a tonal/stylistic approach that represents a baseline for collections of random facts these days against which new entries to the category need to be compared. Is this one better
hooky flicks of texture and an interesting palette. Again, below-the-radar clever. This probably is the single most important thing: this book is very readable. Second: there’s lots of it. I hate feeling short-changed by fact books; this is value-for-money. It doesn’t seem it at first glance, the pages are spacious, there’s only 112 of them, but reading it feels like a marathon.
Lastly, it takes an approach that, having seen, I don’t know why lots of other books aren’t doing. It compares pairs of related concepts so that you learn about each through its differences to, or similarities with, the other. This is brilliant. It’s such a good way of increasing the information content, getting higher-level thinking going, and following the framing of so many real-life questions actual children ask. There’s some attempt at grouping the entries into thematic chapters, but they all pretty much fall within ‘science’, which is good, because clear explanations of science for 7-10s are not as commonplace as we’d like them to be.
Superb. If I had a library, I’d buy it and display it by the door.
Dmytro Bojaniwskyj
Xtraordinary People
Kate Griggs, illus. Steve Woods, pub. DK
The number of people who have some degree of dyslexia is very likely superseded by the number of misunderstandings that surround the condition. If only for that reason any new book which provides more insight, advice and practical tips is welcome. This particular book is more than welcome because it goes beyond the usual approach.
Xtraordinary People encourages us all, especially anyone with dyslexia, to unlock their very own xtraordinary. It is a guide, there is practical advice but there is also a great deal of encouraging messaging. Every page has a positive comment, suggestion or fact to share. What we see is that dyslexia is complex in that it can take many forms and affect every person differently, that means there is no one size fits all approach to dealing with it. Everyone will find their own way and this book aims to show just how many people have done just that, continue to do just that and how we all can too.
Did you know that those with dyslexia may struggle with spelling, reading and remembering but tend to be above average when it comes to creativity and communication. This ability, to be really, really good in certain areas is what Kate Griggs explains, makes those with dyslexia xrtraordinary. Her aim is to show young people how to harness this rather than worry about challenges. With examples from seven different types of xtraordinary people, including storytellers, movers and entertainers a positive message is delivered and all those either living with dyslexia or who have dyslexic children in their lives need a copy of this book and its vibrantly positive messages.
May Jonas
