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.
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”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.
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.
I noticed this month that several of the books I wanted to read had red covers, so I thought I’d lean into it and pick some more for a satisfyingly red September TBR!
Look at that beautiful stack! Books I was given for review will be marked with a star.
Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
This is a non-fiction book about the women of the Wars of the Roses. I saw a recommendation for it on Twitter, though I can’t remember from whom, and decided to buy a copy since it’s an area of history I’d like to know more about. I like to have a chunky non-fiction book on the go between novels; my last few have been folklore-themed, so I thought it was time for some history.
Venom by Bex Hogan*
I mentioned in my August Wrap Up that I was looking forward to tackling some sequels this month, and I’m so looking forward to rereading Viper (which I adored) and then finishing up the series! This is one of those books I’ve been putting off until the perfect time, but it got a little lost in the TBR pile, so I’ve decided now is the time.
As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool*
The second sequel on this list that will require a reread of the first! I had great fun with There Will Come a Darkness (review here), but I’ve forgotten a lot of the details – time to refresh my memory and then read this before book three comes out this month!
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace*
One more for the sequel stack – All the Stars and Teeth was a favourite read of mine last year (review here), and I’m ready to finish the duology. I have a NetGalley e-ARC of this, but Justine gave me the pretty paperback for my birthday.
An Illusion of Thieves by Cate Glass*
I’m about halfway through this fantasy heist caper as I write this, and I’m having a whale of a time. An ex-courtesan, a Renaissance Italy inspired world, forbidden magic, art theft… it’s brilliant!
Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
You might notice this has carried over from my August TBR, as it was one of the two books I didn’t get to. I’m hoping that my smaller reading goals this month will mean I have the time to reread Strange the Dreamer and then read this – it’s a big commitment both in terms of the page count and the emotional weight! I’m looking forward to it though – Strange the Dreamer was stunning and Laini Taylor is always a good bet for me.
So that’s my little red stack of books for this month. What should I read first?
Okay, that’s a clunky title, but I wasn’t sure how else to round up the absolute smorgasbord of information in these gorgeous illustrated non-fiction titles. Little knowledge-seekers will be in heaven with these! All three books were sent to me free of charge, but all opinions are my own.
Fez Inkwright’s Folk Magic and Healing now has a darker sibling! Botanical Curses and Poisons looks at the folklore and science behind evil, cursed, and poisonous plants in a book just as beautiful as its companion.
This flap-filled history book is the most stunning kids’ non-fiction book I’ve ever seen. I would have swooned for it as a child, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with my son when he’s older!
This huge, stunningly illustrated hardback book is definitely one to put on Christmas lists for history-loving kids!
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 