Wind Atlas, the third in the amazing weather series by Thames & Hudson, consolidates that appreciation and then some.
Like its predecessors, Wave Atlas and Cloud Atlas, this guide into the world’s fascinating zones of pressure and air movements is both refreshingly informative while simultaneously easy to assimilate.
Filled with a sequence of facts that inform and educate, this collection has set the stage for a new encyclopedic type of book, accessible to readers of all ages.
It's a stunning publication that
While it deals with an episode of history that is
both terrifying and confronting, the format and the narrative from a child’s
perspective means it is less so for younger readers, while still delivering
factual information.
Peter Lantos, a Hungarian Jew, was 5 years old when he and his parents were deported to Bergen-Belsen, where his father subsequently died.
Through many adverse and frightening situations, Peter and
his mother survived Belsen, and while they were liberated by the US Army, they
were, by that time, in Magdeburg which became Soviet occupied territory.
The greatest scientist of the twentieth century is, without a doubt, Albert Einstein.
Einstein’s amazing reasoning and powers of observation brought us the photoelectric effect (key to solar panels), special relativity (E=mc2) and general relativity which describes our current understanding of gravity.
However, my favourite observation of Einstein’s – which is pertinent to teachers not just in science, but in all fields – is his assertion that 'If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, then you don’t truly understand it.'
This has huge relevance to me in my line of work as a children’s writer and also in my day job as a science communicator.
Monotremes, birds, reptiles, molluscs, crustaceans and amphibians – all produce babies by laying eggs.
Heidi
Cooper-Smith’s latest picture book release, Hatch is a gorgeous
foray into just how and where these (Australian) animals facilitate this egg
laying / hatching phenomena.
It is the next book in her Illustrated Encyclopaedia series: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals.
Some of Bayly’s other books include: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals and How We Came to Be: Surprising Sea Creatures.
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals is a beautifully produced book with debossed (indented) lettering on the cover, cloth quarter binding and in-built satin ribbon bookmark, all features that help to make it both durable and a book worthy of gifting. In addition, the cover and internal design as well as typesetting is by award-winning book designer, Astred Hicks.
Upon opening The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals, I scan the contents page which features a silhouette of each animal in the book and note a few entries for megafauna. I don’t know about you, but any book with megafauna draws me in straight away. Of course, I’m referring to animals such as the giant marsupial diprotodon, which was related to wombats and koalas. Did you know that the diprotodon is the largest marsupial to have ever walked the Earth and became extinct about 25,000 years ago? Amazingly, these animals lived at the same time as the First Nations people in Australia for more than 20,000 years. Hang on there’s also a giant monotreme! Hackett’s giant echidna was about 1 metre long and weighed around 30 kg (about the weight of a ten-year-old child). Mind-blowing!For each animal in the book, there is a double page spread and information under the subheadings: Description, Extinction Status, Location/Habitat, Diet and Fun Facts as well as illustrations. These illustrations are exquisitely good. Each animal is depicted in watercolour with precision and detail. One of my favourites is the Kangaroo Island assassin spider with its pelican-looking head. Bayly has created rich patterning on the spider’s abdomen and its long, spear-like legs are stunning.
There are not only extinct species in this volume but also near-extinct species, reminding us of human’s impact on other animals. The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is critically endangered so hopefully the curiosity and joy generated by this book helps encourage readers to make good choices regarding the beautiful wildlife that we have around us.
In terms of use in the classroom, on top of inspiring animal lovers, this book provides a great opportunity to model headings, subheadings and tier 2 and 3 vocabulary. There are also teachers’ notes with other ideas. Thank you Sami Bayly for another beautiful book filled with wonderment. My eleven-year-old son adores his collection of your work.
Title: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia Of Extinct Animals
Much of that recent SE QLD tropical cyclone turbulence resulted in storm surge, disastrous beach erosion and record-breaking massive wave heights (12.3 metres off the Gold Coast).
You don’t have to be an ex-sailor, like me, or even a storm chaser to appreciate the wonders of weather however; the pulse and rhythm of waves has a hypnotic pull that most of us find difficult to resist.
Which is why, Thames &
Hudson’s latest atlas-styled publication about the phenomena of waves rates
high on my barometer of brilliant reads.
Following
a similar format to Cloud
Atlas, Wave Atlas: Everything You Need To Know About Waves, takes young
readers (and old sea dogs like myself) through a fascinating journey around our
water dominated planet. We explore the hows and whys of our oceans’ existence
and the global currents, tidal pulls and meteorological conditions that induce
those great oceans to move.
Although not specifically a children’s book as such, the Compact Guide to Australian Birds with 800 species, text and illustrations by Michael Morecombe AM, is worth having on any bookshelf.
Children will eagerly delve into it due to its beautiful images that will certainly initiate interest in the birds that surround us everywhere, daily.
This third edition, revised and updated, boasts a great deal. It includes distribution maps, a guide to family groups, and a colour-coded quick index on front and back end-pages.
Colour
tabs on page edges allow easy reference to bird families.
The lists of vital preparations to be made before setting out to journey though
Wild Australia should be adhered to.
These necessities create an immediate awareness of the environment and our role in its protection, from the first page where it sits in the company of a numbered map of Australia.
Look out for wildlife is a main one.
A gorgeous, sometimes whimsical offering that provides
the seeds of good advice and encourages small people to stand in their power,
it shares ideas and thoughts on useful and fun stuff to know as you’re growing
up!
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Did you
know that pandas can do hand-stands?
That some
penguins make their very own poo bombs?
Or that
tigers have spikes on their tongues?
Well now
you do. You’re welcome.
The
world-class wildlife experts at Taronga zoo have captured some of the most
exciting and crazy information for us to laugh at, marvel over and wonder about.
AND they remind us that although this is the current leading-edge science, it
may not always be – so it’s important to remain open and curious about the
world around you.
Four
artists and a designer (who we meet at the back end of the book) have brought
the animals to life visually in the most beautiful ways. The layout, colour,
line, space, movement, flow and vibrance of the information and illustrations
are very special – alive and engaging.
There is so much to love about this book, not least that it’s divided into
segments with easy to read maps - which help us to navigate our way through chapters
organised by habitats that feature land animals, mountain dwellers, sea creatures,
and the like.
Coloured
side tabs indicate where in the book you are, and each page is chock full to
the brim with text boxes, fun facts, vibrant colour or engaging double spreads
with dreamy colour and gorgeous design.
This lush,
friendly book contains much to pore over and marvel at. It’s perfect for
dipping into at leisure, and a wonderful bonus – it also shares the Taronga
Conservation Society’s important work with endangered and critical species.
It will no
doubt adorn coffee tables, perhaps become the centrepiece for family games, and
be a frequent visitor on bedside book piles.
Perfect for Christmas! Or as a gift for any special occasion.
Plantabulous! More A to Z of Australian Plants not only helps me identify plants with indigenous, common and genus names but also captivates with its vivid illustrations and inspiring information.
Plantabolous! details 26 native plants and follows up from, Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants. It also includes a glossary and a map with a list of plant ecoregions.
A botanist with a passion for Australian native plants, Catherine Clowes has created a thoughtful book which exudes her enthusiasm. For each letter of the alphabet, a plant is listed with striking illustrations, an activity and facts. For example, did you know that the native palm called burrawang, is a plant from before the dinosaurs!
The Tiny Tradies always start the day with breakfast. A detailed view of an accepted measure of chaos is provided.
The Aussie slang necessary in the kitchen area is a light-hearted banter passed between bites of toast, spoonfulls of fruit loops, and odd bits shared with the dog – known as a dog’s breakfast.
All this beauty has been made accessible to
children through the brilliance of Jess Racklyeft’s illustrations.
Jevita Nilsen’s alliteration intensifies the poetic
prose and draws attention to the referred images of the twelve locations addressed.
As readers tour our wonderful world, each There is a Place… takes your breath away.
It begins with aurora borealis.
I got over it though, and then we spent whole days of the
summer poring over that miraculous book – marvelling at the unbelievable photos
and records, and vowing to one day break a record of our own (which we never
did).
In 2025, Guiness World Records is celebrating its 70th year of publication.
It contains a chapter celebrating the book’s evolution in
terms of design and inclusions over seven decades, and all the special extras
that you’d expect and love from such a publication – including items that
didn’t make it to print over the years. It’s such a mind-boggling treat to
wander through!
Rhyming prose creates a light music-like atmosphere
when read.
Stunning images of these lovable creatures and their habitats, fill the pages.
Descriptions of their lifestyles in general, the poisonous ones are pointed out along with ones that burrow in the ground to keep cool and those which camouflage helps to hide and protect from danger.
This colourful, dynamic book is laid out in a magazine style similar to it’s older sibling, The Guinness Book of World Records.
Being a paperback rather than a hardcover, it’s perhaps a little more accessible and definitely easier to hold for long periods! Plus it has popping sub-heads and interesting pictures.
Described as a ‘must have for gaming afficionados’ this book celebrates the greatest achievements in video gaming.
The Purinina (Tasmanian devil) are an endangered species.
They grow in their mother’s pouch.
Pink fleshed, at birth, they are the size of a rice grain.
The mother gives birth to about 30 babies at once but the strongest alone reach the pouch where they suckle from her four teats, therefore surviving.
They are weaned at ten months, prefer dry, dark places, and can run at a speed of 25 klm an hour.
Thank you to ALL who entered.
