I’ve been lucky enough to read some wonderful middle-grade non-fiction in the last few weeks, so here are some of my favourites! All of these were sent free of charge by the publisher, but as always that doesn’t affect my opinions.
I have three books to show you today which don’t have a lot in common beyond the fact that I think each of them would make an amazing gift – they’re all beautiful hardbacks that feel really special, and slightly outside the ordinary for kids’ books. All three of these were sent to me free of charge by the publishers, but that doesn’t affect my opinions: I genuinely think they’re all lovely!
This is quite a varied selection today, but what these very different books all have in common is that they’ll get kids engaged with learning new concepts, even if they don’t necessarily realise it! All of these books were sent to me free of charge, but that doesn’t affect my opinions.
We’re in the full flush of spring now, and if you’re looking forward to getting outside more often, I have a great selection of picture and board books that have a focus on nature, whether that’s the plants you might grow or the creatures you might discover. All of these were sent to me free of charge, but my opinions are my own as always.
How to Make a Book by Becky Davies and Patricia Hu, from Little Tiger
Continue reading “Kitten Corner: Fabulous Illustrated Non-Fiction for Older Readers”This week on Kitten Corner I wanted to take a look at some of the calmer, more gentle picture books that have come out recently. All of these books were sent to me free of charge by Little Tiger, but all opinions are my own, as always.
With the very first hints of spring appearing, what better time is there to look at books that tempt you to get outside and explore nature?
All of these books were sent to me free of charge by Little Tiger, but that doesn’t affect my opinions. Let’s get started!
Toddler Take-Along: Nature, My Outdoor Adventure by Becky Davies and Ana Zaja Petrak
This is such a sweet idea: a book with soft handles, so kids can carry it out with them on a walk and identify the things they see! I do think that perhaps photographs rather than illustrations might have been more useful on a practical level for recognition, but the artwork is adorable and nicely stylised, so you can point out similarities easily. Each page has a category like ‘bugs’ or ‘the sky’ with several things to spot – I can see this being a big hit on walks for us when it’s warm enough to spend some time exploring!
Hello Frog and Hello Bee by Sophie Ledesma and Isabel Otter
These sweet interactive books are full of colour and tempting flaps, textures and cut-outs to hold the attention. You can follow Frog and Bee around their habitats and say hello to all the animals, plants and insects they encounter under lots of different flaps, then everything is rounded up in a really nice, easy-to-read gallery spread at the end. I really enjoyed the whimsical touches – spiders in hats! ant bedrooms! – and the bright, blocky artwork. Lovely for fans of the Peekaboo and What Can You See? series.
Above and Below: Dusk till Dawn by Harriet Evans and Nic Jones
I loved the previous book in this series that I reviewed, Sea and Shore, and Dusk Till Dawn is just as lovely. This time, the split-page landscapes showcase all kinds of different habitats, from the Arctic tundra to the savannah, and all the nocturnal creatures who live there. This is a delicate book, with the split pages just made of regular paper, so it’s one for more careful kids, and the language is also more aimed at an older reader, though the chunks of text are small enough not to be scary. I love the detailed artwork and the calm natural colours – this is a book to pore over to spot everything.
With Christmas looming, I thought it was a good time to show you some beautiful, large-format books that would make great gifts, if you’re still in need of last-minute ideas! All of these books were sent to me free of charge, but as always, my opinions are my own – and I recommend all three!
I’m loving the current trend of beautiful non-fiction picture books aimed at middle grade readers – these huge, fully illustrated books are the stuff of childhood dreams for an inquisitive kid, no matter what subject! I’ve rounded up six of my recent reads to show you – all of these were sent to me for review, but my opinions are my own.
These two books are perfect for toddlers starting to explore the world around them; one helps you with words, and one with practical skills. Both books were sent to me free of charge to review, but all opinions are my own!
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 