Non-Fiction Books
Meet the Microbes
Dr Emily Grossman & Maggie Li
Non-fiction Picturebook
Meet the Microbes is a captivating insight into the tiny creatures that live under our noses and have a massive impact on our lives despite only being visible through a powerful microscope. Through the colourful and lively pages, children will meet a succession of cartoon microbes and learn all about them. They will learn about where they can be found and how they multiply; how they survive in the most extreme of conditions; the jobs that they do and how they might be beneficial to our future.
By the end of the book, they will have reached an understanding that microbes can be both good and bad for our bodies and how we can avoid spreading the less desirable ones. They will be fascinated to find out that mould is formed from microbes and that some of their favourite foods such as yoghurt, fluffy bread and cheese would not exist without them. The language is accessible to younger readers and concepts are explained clearly.
This book would be an excellent accompaniment to science topics or just a great addition to the non-fiction, reading for pleasure offer in the school library.
The Big Book of the Blue
Yuval Zommer
Non-fiction
This large-sized informative compendium is the kind of non-fiction that children like to come back to again and again to pore over its pages. Each double-page spread dives into a different sea-themed question, such as 'Are jellyfish made of jelly?' or 'Why do crabs run sideways?'. There is never too much text on each page, but what you find is accessible chunks of information cleverly interspersed into each ocean scene. The illustrations are stunning and come together to make wonderful spreads that serve as a treasure trove of visual delights for young eyes, as text and pictures work together to build an understanding of underwater habitats and the life they hold.
Counting on Katherine
Helaine Becker & Dow Phumiruk
Picturebook
Meet Katherine Johnson, the mathematical genius who helped make the historic Apollo 11 moon landings possible and made sure that Apollo 13 returned home safely when the mission was in critical danger. Counting on Katherine is a beautiful biography, sure to inspire young readers. Winner of the information book category of the UKLA Book Awards 2020. As a child, Katherine loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about maths, about the universe . . . Helaine Becker interviewed Katherine and her family for this authorized biography. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, this is the true story of a groundbreaking African-American woman who went above and beyond what was expected of her in the 1960s, saving lives and making enormous contributions to history. Featuring Dow Phumiruk's gorgeous full-colour illustrations throughout.
Life Savers: Spend a day with 12 real-life emergency service heroes
Eryl Nash & Ana Albero
Non-fiction
Taking you to the heart of the heroes who help us, experience a day in the life of Cecilia the nurse, David-Lawrence the paramedic, Leonie the firefighter and Tamika the veterinarian.This uplifting picture book showcases the amazing work our frontline staff do, the incredible skills they have and the important equipment they need to save a life, in a unique graphic novel-inspired non-fiction format.
The Rainforest Book
Charlotte Milner
Non-fiction
Step inside the fascinating world of tropical rainforests where you'll encounter an enormous variety of flora and fauna! This gorgeously illustrated picture book is a wonderful way to introduce children to the world of nature and conservation. In this colour non-fiction text, you'll discover amazing rainforest animals, learn about the diverse range of life-giving plants, and find out why the Amazon rainforest is known as the "lungs" of our Earth.
Meet The National Animals
Catherine Veitch & Shiori Saito
Non-fiction
Meet the National Animals is a playful and humorous look at the animals all around the world who represent their country. Why do they represent the particular country and what is so special or symbolic about them? Featuring over 35 amazing animals, from the mystical Scottish Unicorn to China's much-loved Giant Panda and the wonderful, but extinct, Dodo from Mauritius. The witty text brings each animal to life and celebrates their quirks and characteristics. Includes a playful, charming narrative along the bottom of each spread, which sees Brown Bear gradually bringing all the animals together as they travel the world, celebrating each country as they go. Filled with fascinating facts about each animal and country, the text also touches gently on conservation issues related to each animal and their habitat. The illustrations inject warmth and humour into the narrative, making the animals the stars of their respective countries!