5 minute read
Kids Non-Fiction
Unseen Worlds: Real-Life Microscopic Creatures Hiding All Around Us | Hélène Rajcak & Damien Laverdunt | $29.99 | Walker Books | Ages 5+ Be amazed by a hidden universe of microscopic monsters, revealed right before your eyes in this large format hardback. Each page unfolds to reveal stunningly detailed illustrations of locations both familiar and strange as you search for the smallest creatures on planet Earth. The beautifully illustrated pages are filled with jelly-like amoebae, predatory centipedes, ravenous mosquitoes and more mites than you could imagine. They live in the murky ocean depths, your kitchen cupboard and even inside your nose! You’ll never see the world the same way again!
— Kay
Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of | Natalie Labarre | $24.99 | Nosy Crow | Ages 5+ Do you know what you want to do when you grow up? Why not work as a babysitter... for sloths? Or become a masseuse... for cows? Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of explores all different types of jobs—those that are literally way underground, and those that are glamorous or mysterious. This book pairs fabulous illustrations with easy to read and engaging information on the most out-there jobs in the world. The approach to these topics involves the reader, making this a great choice for children who love interesting and unusual facts.
— Hester
Orchestra | Avalon Nuovo & David Doran | $29.99 | Flying Eye Books | Ages 7+ A fun and exciting musical journey that includes over 100 original drawings and photographs. Children can listen, learn, and enjoy as they are introduced to the most powerful works from the greatest composers throughout history and the things that inspired them to write their masterpieces. Each instrument of the orchestra, from the cello to the timpani, is covered as well as different musical styles from Baroque to Modern. Orchestra also features a poster and access to audio tracks from an exclusive website. This is a beautiful introduction to the magical world of classical music. — Kay
Fauna: Australia’s Most Curious Creatures | Tania McCartney | $24.99 | NewSouth Books | Ages 7+ We live in a country with an extraordinary range of fauna and Tania McCartney has gathered the most curious of these creatures here in this exciting and informative book. Snappy mini-blocks of information reveal the animals’ quirkiest of features, from breeding, feeding and habitat to the stand-out, unique characteristics which make that animal so special. This fabulous illustrated book really has it all—smarts, style and charisma—so prepare to be delighted while learning a bunch of facts about our crafty Australian fauna.
— Dean
Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures | Helen Skelton & Liz Kay | $24.99 | Walker Books | Ages 9+ Calling wild girls everywhere! This inspirational guide to getting outdoors and having incredible adventures is for you. From kayaking the length of the Amazon to cycling to the South Pole and running an ultra-marathon across the Namib desert, big adventures definitely are for girls. With six stories from TV presenter Helen Skelton of her daring adventures across some of the world’s most extreme wildernesses, this book is all about embracing your fears and finding the positives in the toughest situations. Alongside these inspirational tales are ideas for where readers can find their own wild adventures closer to home.
— Kay
Australian Sea Life | Matt Chun | $29.99 | Hardie Grant Egmont | Ages 3+ This beautifully illustrated book will spark young readers’ imaginations and evoke wonderment in all animal-lovers. Matt Chun takes us on an exploration of Australia’s oceans, showcasing our most fascinating sea creatures, from the great white shark to the tiny soldier crab. Chun’s unique portrayal of our natural world is carefully curated to inform and entrance readers of all ages, engaging them in Australia’s unique marine wildlife and creating lifelong nature enthusiasts.
— Hester
Most of the Better Natural Things in the World | Dave Eggers & Angel Chang | $34.99 | Chronicle Books | Ages 3+ Most of the Better Natural Things in the World is a curious investigation of some of the world’s most beautiful places by the bestselling author Dave Eggers. Containing only twenty-six words—with just one word per page—and beautiful, lush landscapes by illustrator Angel Chang, this book introduces young readers to different geographic elements: an archipelago, a dune, an isthmus, a lagoon. Each page also features a tiger with a chair strapped to her back, travelling left to right with each turn of the page. Readers follow her journey through various natural landmarks toa rewarding conclusion.
— Kay
Can You Hear the Trees Talking? Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest | Peter Wohlleben | $29.99 | NewSouth Books | Ages 9+ Do trees hurt? Do they drink through the night? Who are their close friends? And who controls the Forest Internet? Peter Wohlleben’s Can You Hear the Trees Talking?—a new edition of his bestselling The Hidden Lives of Trees for young readers—answers these questions and many more, with explanations that put you right at the centre of the forest amongst the trees and their siblings, parents, grandparents and close friends. The hidden lives of trees are revealed with exciting insights into science and biology, as readers are taken on a delightful, humorous walk through the magical real-life forest.
— Sanjo
Dr Karl’s Random Road Trip Though Science | Dr Karl Kruszelnicki | $35 | HarperCollins | Ages 8+ If you thought Dr Karl would have run out of ideas by the time he got to write his 45th book, think again! He has stepped it up to a whole new level in this random road trip through science. There are plenty of mindbending and thought-provoking facts unearthed in this fantastic book, including how humanity nearly got wiped out by a huge asteroid on Halloween 2015. Best of all, though, is the augmented reality videos that you can call up using an app downloaded to your device. Point your phone to specific hotspots throughout the book and up pops Dr Karl in a video to explain the concepts on that page in more detail. It’s geektopia!
— John
