Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Until the Road Ends
When Peggy saves a stray, she and Beau, the dog, become inseparable. However, they are forced apart by the war as Peggy and her brother, Wilf, are evacuated to the safely of the coast, leaving Beau- and Wilf’s grumpy cat, Mabel, behind in the city on the condition that the animals are not put down. Although lonely, Beau is allowed to help Peggy’s father in his Air Raid Warden’s duties, saving countless lives as he scents those trapped by fallen buildings. But disaster strikes and both Peggy’s parents are killed, leaving the animals vulnerable and alone. Determined to be reunited with the person he loves the most, Beau, a very unwilling and uncooperative Mabel, and Bomber, a resourceful and determined pigeon, set off on the journey of a lifetime.
This is the third novel by Phil Earle which is set during World War II and like the others, it should come with a packet of tissues attached. Phil’s incredible skill as a storyteller, his ability to capture poignant moments and his attention to detail makes each of these stories a special read- but this is, I think, my favourite. I am not ashamed to say that I was reduced to a sobbing wreck in places- but this is the power of Phil’s writing and it should be celebrated.
The story is full of historical details, with an afterword by Phil explaining where fact meets fiction, making this an excellent text to share with children who are learning about, or who are keen to find out more about, this period of history. The bravery of the humans and animals who worked as Air Raid Wardens, the destruction and devastation of the Blitz, the needless loss of life are all witnessed through the eyes of the animals, whose voices are unheard and unheeded, yet are key to this narrative. There is also the joy of discovering that there really was someone who cared enough about animals at this time to create a rescue centre in a cinema! Phil Earle captures all of this in a way which children can understand- and learn from.
In part, the story is reminiscent of Sheila Burnford’s ‘The Incredible Journey’ – the devoted bond between pets and their humans which is so strong that nothing will stop them being together- but this book does so much more than that. It’s about love and loss and reunion, valour, determination and belief, kindness, truth and joy. There are many deeply poignant moments as the story unfolds which ring true, provoking genuine emotion in the reader who is deeply bound up in the story of Beau, Mabel and Bomber.
A must-have.
Until the Road Ends Phil Earle
Andersen Press ISBN: 978-1839133169
Out in June.
Fanatical About Frogs
This ever-popular series is perfect for animal lovers or anyone curious about creatures. From cats to crocodile, bats to beetles, each book in this brilliant collection offers a fascinating overview to a particular species. ‘Fanatical about Frogs’ first appeared in hardback in 2019 and this May, will be available in paperback.
A clear contents and detailed index (which includes the binomial classification of each species) make the book easy to navigate if trying to locate specific information, but with its stunning illustrations and bite-sized chunks of text, it is perfect for browsing through and discovering more about these intriguing creatures. Having explained what frogs are ( I had no idea all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads!) and where they are found in the world, the book looks at their physical attributes, diet and the variety of pigmentations and patterns frogs can have. There is so much here that I did not know about these fascinating amphibians!
A section on mythology introduces the reader to some traditional tales from around the world which feature frogs. The book closes with information about the problems frogs are facing around the world with around a third of known species being under threat and over 100 now considered extinct.
Endlessly engaging and beautifully presented, ‘Fanatical about Frogs’ is an excellent addition to any bookshelf!
Fanatical about Frogs Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838741518
You can read my review of ‘Passionate about Penguins’ here.
Blog Tour: Animal FACTopia!
I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for the latest book in the FACTopia series. These books have been a huge hit with children I’ve shared them with and spark endless curiosity and amazing discussions!
Get ready, because things are about to get wild.
The FACTopia series is back and this time, animals are the stars of the show! As with the previous titles, each fact is linked to the next one, offering the reader many different trails to follow through the book. Information is presented in fascinating, bite-sized chunks, sure to grab the attention of the most reluctant of readers as they can follow as little or as much of each trail as they like! I had no idea that Marine iguanas sneeze out the extra salt they ingest, resulting in a white ‘wig’ or that this fact would lead me to discover that a Komodo dragon could weigh as much as a fridge.
The web of information presented in the book is connected in ways which are often surprising and frequently funny! Information about microscopic crustaceans can lead you to facts about mucus; knowing what a skunk does as a warning before spraying could set you on a path to finding out about fabulous feet. Readers will return to the book again and again to see where one fact might lead them, carefully following one path or veering off on another, intrigued by a passing connection- how information about a cheetah’s tail might link to dragonflies, for example!
Andy Smith’s lively, colourful illustrations cleverly combine with photographs to frame the facts, making each spread really appealing. A comprehensive index makes it easy to locate specific information, but the joy of this book is that any starting point can lead you on an adventure of discovery! All the facts are verified by Britannica and it would be great fun for children to use the facts to create quizzes and games of their own, perhaps making a simplified version for younger siblings or children in younger year groups in school.
Animal FACTopia! Follow the Trail of 400 Beastly Facts
Julie Beer, illustrated by Andy Smith
Britannica Books ISBN: 978-1913750725
Many thanks to Britannica Books for asking me to join the Blog Tour for this fascinating book!
You can read my review of ‘Gross FACTopia!’ here.
Blog Tour: The Way of Dog
I am delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for this very special book. It is one which I will not forget in a hurry- and am sure to read again soon.
Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor.
Born in a harsh, grey world, a pup is taken from his mother and locked in a cage with the rest of the litter. As the others are chosen, he yearns to belong to a family, but finds himself alone until he meets a manpup who shows him affection- and gives him a name, ‘Scruffity’. Set free from his cage by this boy who is as unloved as he is, the two run away together and Scruffity gains a taste of both love and freedom…until tragedy strikes.
Told in verse, this is a deeply poignant and utterly beautiful novel. From the opening page, it completely absorbs the reader in Scruffity’s story, shocking them with the callous, casual cruelty of the ‘Shoe-legs’ whose only interest in the dogs is financial gain. The innocent, optimistic, loving nature of this young pup serves only to underline the neglect and the use of verse cleverly frames his thoughts, capturing them in a way which prose would not have done.
Scruffity’s devotion to ‘MyManpup’ (as he calls his boy) and delight in the world outside the cage, his curiosity and excitement are captured perfectly, allowing the reader to share each new discovery about ‘the way of dog’ which Scruffity makes. His loyalty to the humans he meets along his way- the boy who befriends him, OldOne, the little girls, LilaMay and Pippa and their mother, and CharlieMan- is testament to the trusting, faithful nature of dogs and their longing for companionship.
The story also highlights the plight of humans who have been victims of human cruelty. Seen through Scruffity’s eyes, their stories unfold to the reader, the cruelty and neglect shown to them as incomprehensible as that shown to Scruffity. There is so much to discuss here- so much to develop empathy as the loyal true heart of a dog helps others to heal. The ending is just perfect- if requiring a whole box of tissues!
The text is punctuated in places with gorgeous illustrations which are as atmospheric as the verse. Scruffity is beautifully shown in his happiest and darkest moments with shadowy human shapes emphasising the threat they pose.
I am not ashamed to say that I cried many times as I read this story. Zana Fraillon is well known for her powerful writing and tackling ‘difficult’ subjects. ‘The Ones that Disappeared’ almost finished me completely, but the beauty of her writing and the poignancy with which she handles the subject matter are unquestionable. ‘The Way of Dog’ is an outstanding book, a story of love and hope, a story of cruelty and compassion- a masterpiece.
The Way of Dog Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Sean Buckingham
Chicken House ISBN: 978-1915026231
You can read my review of ‘Wisp’ here.
Wild Animals of the World
‘Wild Animals of the World’ is a beautifully illustrated book, the perfect gift for any animal lover. Combining Dieter Braun’s ‘Wild Animals of the North’ and ‘Wild Animals of the South’, it takes the reader from continent to continent, admiring a selection of the incredible animals that live there. The text has undergone some revisions from the previous editions and offers information in a concise synopsis.
Each picture is clearly labelled with both the English name and the Latin binomial classification which Y6 children enjoy applying their learning from science lessons to! The index allows animal specific information to be quickly located; however, for some, there are only a named illustration rather than additional text. This lends itself perfectly to further research where children could write their own entry for these animals, using Braun’s text as a model.
The illustrations are simply stunning. The Northern bald ibis seems to fix you with a steely glare whilst the Asian elephant seems to move through the water, trailing bubbles in its wake. A Malayan tapir drinks from a river as its young waits by its side; ermine, alpine hare and Arctic fox share a snowy spread and Japanese macaques enjoy the hot springs. There is so much to enjoy and explore in these pages and children never stop marvelling at the pictures, returning to them again and again.
This book would make a lovely gift for a nature loving child (or adult!) who also enjoys beautiful illustrations.
Wild Animals of the World
Dieter Braun
Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838741143
Passionate About Penguins
The latest in Owen Davey’s very popular non-fiction series, ‘Passionate about Penguins’ is a beautifully illustrated, essential addition to your collection. These books are so tactile and inviting that I have seen children pore over them for ages, completely caught up in the experience.
Starting with an explanation of what penguins are and the six distinct groups they can be split into, the book then introduces diet and habitat. Most penguins live below the Equator with the book explaining that, contrary to what many people believe, penguins and polar bears would never meet in the wild.
Penguins are specially adapted to their aquatic lifestyle and Davey focuses on the Humboldt penguin to illustrate these features, making it very useful for the Y6 Science curriculum work on adaptation as each feature is taken and considered, making it a great model to use for presenting work on other creatures.
Whether exploring their feathers, how they move or how they defend themselves, each topic is clearly explained in bite-sized chunks of information using side headings to help the reader navigate the page. Word play and puns are used to add a touch of humour to the text and although there is no glossary, many words are explained in context.
A sense of the size of different penguin species can be found on the pages entitled ‘To Scale’. Here, a whole host of penguins can be seen drawn around a human with a handy scale marker down the side of one page, allowing the reader to gauge the relative size of these creatures, some of which are surprising!
‘And the Award Goes To…’ offers some fascinating trivia. I had no idea how the Macaroni penguin got its name nor which species was the fastest underwater! The book ends with a note on conservation and how human activity is endangering most penguin species, but offers positive comments on what can be done to help them.
‘Passionate About Penguins’ would be a brilliant addition to any library, topic box or reading shelf for many reasons. It is also one of those wonderful books which has appeal to a wide age range and could be used in classes across KS2 to support work in science. Details like the Latin binomial classification added in the index demonstrates the work of Linnaeus and classification systems touched on in Year 6 or to support work on food chains in Year 4.
As usual, the illustrations are colourful and engaging, adding to the pleasure of immersing yourself into the world of penguins. I hope this series continues for a long time!
Passionate About Penguins Owen Davey
Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740771
Published 4th August 2022
Lifesize: Baby Animals
Sophy Henn’s ‘Lifesize’ series has a new addition! ‘Baby Animals’ introduces the reader to some of the world’s most incredible baby animals- lifesize! The interactive nature of the book is highly engaging - sure to encourage discussions about size, ordering and comparing as well as about the animals!
As with the two previous books, every time the word LIFESIZE appears in capitals, the reader knows that they are face to face with an illustration reflecting the real size of the animal- sometimes only the part of the animal which can fit on the page! Each creature is accompanied by concise snippets of information written in a chatty, accessible style which is sure to engage and spark interest. There are even fold-out pages which reveal the size of a baby African elephant for children to compare themselves to!
This lovely book is perfect for using in school for work on animals and also for introducing maths concepts such a ordering, comparing and measuring. Sophy’s stunning artwork is so appealing and the range of creatures included is impressive. At the end of the book, there is a spread showing all of animals and how they compare to each other- and how many copies of the Lifesize book they measure. The tiny dot on the page is actually a daddy seahorse whilst the adult blue whale is a staggering 100 Lifesize books long! There is so much to love and learn in these pages!
Lifesize: Baby Animals Sophy Henn
Red Shed ISBN: 978-1405299497
Published 7th July 2022
Make sure you read the other Lifesize books too! You can read my review of Pizazz here and Pizazz vs Perfecto here. I reviewed Pizazz and the Demons for Reading Zone.
Curious Creatures Working with Tools
People use tools in all sorts of ways. You might say it’s part of what makes us human. But did you know that a small number of extraordinary animals also use tools?
The natural world is endlessly fascinating, not only for its beauty, but also for the ingenuity of its inhabitants! Engaging and appealing from its very cover, ‘Curious Creatures Working with Tools’ is an absorbing exploration of the resourcefulness of tool-using animals.
Having defined what a tool is, the book then explores how various animals use them to help get things done. Sea otters use kelp to solve the problem of crabs escaping until they can eat them. Many animals use sticks to help them whilst the veined octopus uses coconut shells to make a shelter. Sections entitled ‘Just Like You’ make links between the ways in which creatures and animals use tools, showing just how much we have in common with them.
Each spread is beautifully illustrated, full of detail and interest, and the book would make a perfect addition to libraries and class book shelves. It offers links to many areas across the curriculum- in science, design technology, art, geography- as well as opportunities for writing. Encouraging problem solving and creativity, ‘Curious Creatures Working with Tools’ is a great read.
Curious Creatures Working with Tools
Zoe Armstrong, illustrated by Anja Susanj
Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740344