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

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

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