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Amazon River by Sangma Francis ill. Romolo D’Hipolito

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Aug 2021

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“I’m always very conscious of the language I use, I hate the idea of a child being bored, and the last thing I want is for them to disengage because the text is too heavy or dull. Where I can I add lightness and introduce sensory elements to illuminate the world while delicately trying to expand out the vocabulary I can use. I firmly believe that language is one of the gatekeepers to knowledge. When it comes to non-fiction, it’s the words, the language, we choose that can unlock large ideas or keep them hidden. I keep a constant flow of notebooks where I scribble down stray thoughts, find new ways of describing, or conceptualizing information to keep the information clear but exciting.”
The author, Sangma Francis, on the Flying Eye Books blog.

Flying Eye Books can always be depended upon to produce quality non-fiction children’s books.

Beginning with a tiny trickle high in the mountains, smaller streams join until they form the world’s largest river. Crossing a continent, it winds through lush rainforests until it meets the ocean. From piranhas to the giant anaconda, this mighty waterway is home to the world’s most incredible ecosystem. Welcome to the Amazon River. This stunning illustrated guide to the world’s most famous river and its surrounding rainforest is packed with incredible facts about South America’s wildlife, people, geography and history.

Follow the Brazilian illustrator on Instagram:

Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul ill. Rachelle Baker

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 6 Aug 2021

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“A remixed remix of a foundational text… Cherry-Paul does an unparalleled job of presenting this complex information to younger readers, borrowing language from Reynolds’ remix (like the definitions of segregationists, assimilationists, and antiracists) and infusing it with her own interpretations, like the brilliant, powerful, haunting metaphor of rope woven throughout… Exhilarating, excellent, necessary.” KIRKUS 

Adapted from the award-winning, bestselling Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.

Ibram X. Kendi’s research, Jason Reynolds’s and Sonja Cherry-Paul’s writing, and Rachelle Baker’s art come together in this vital read, enhanced with a glossary, timeline, and more.

Follow Rachelle Baker, the illustrator, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indoorcatgirl/

Musical Truth: A Musical History of Modern Black Britain in 28 Songs by Jeffrey Boakye ill. Ngadi Smart

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Aug 2021

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“This is a clever book, whose ambition is belied by its lucid and approachable text. Boakye sets out to tell the story of modern British black history through twenty-eight records.” BfK 5-star review
“Boakye’s knowledge and passion shines through as he explains the background, emotional impact, and historical significance of songs that changed British culture forever – from London is the Place for Me by Lord Kitchener to Vossi Bop by Stormzy.” BookTrust

Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle. Lord Kitchener, Neneh Cherry, Smiley Culture, Stormzy …

Groundbreaking musicians whose songs have changed the world. But how? This exhilarating playlist tracks some of the key shifts in modern British history, and explores the emotional impact of 28 songs and the artists who performed them. This book redefines British history, the Empire and postcolonialism, and will invite you to think again about the narratives and key moments in history that you have been taught up to now. Thrilling, urgent, entertaining and thought-provoking, this beautifully illustrated companion to modern black music is a revelation and a delight.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngadismart/

Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari ill. Felicita Sala

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 29 Jul 2021

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“This is a book that will appeal to adults/teens as well as younger readers. Pleasing compositions and expressive characters draw us into Felicita Sala’s artwork, which has a confident sophistication and cheerful accessibility that gives it wide appeal. Intriguing visual ideas are explored, and Sala adds layers of meaning to the text (introducing trees in different habitats; using snails to extend the idea of curling and coiling; providing a context for change over time) without losing sight of the need to engage children who may have little experience of picturebooks.” BfK 5-star review
“This book has the advantage of lyrical, accessible poetry and vibrant watercolors from an ever changing palette. The book consists almost entirely of double-page spreads, and each page turn but one yields images of trees or parts of trees—and many show gloriously diverse children and adults enjoying their time with, under, and among equally varied kinds of trees.” KIRKUS
“In strong, sweeping lines, Sala draws massive trees with trunks of green and brown, but also lilac, rust, and deep blue, that often dwarf the children playing underneath them; visitors of many ages and ethnicities stroll under the trees in a park.” Publishers Weekly

A lyrical, gorgeously illustrated look at the majesty of trees-and what humans can learn from them.
Stand tall.
Stretch your branches to the sun.
Be a tree!
We are all like trees: our spines, trunks; our skin, bark; our hearts giving us strength and support, like heartwood. We are fueled by air and sun. And, like humans, trees are social. They “talk” to spread information; they share food and resources. They shelter and take care of one another. They are stronger together.
In this gorgeous and poetic celebration of one of nature’s greatest creations, acclaimed author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Felicita Sala both compare us to the beauty and majesty of trees-and gently share the ways in which trees can inspire us to be better people.

Follow Felicita Sala on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felicita.sala/

 

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Adventures in Time: The Second World War by Dominic Sandbrook ill. Edward Bettison

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Jul 2021

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“At a time when history is under unrelenting attack, this is my personal crusade to convert Britain’s young readers to the joys of the past, free from political dogma or ideological prejudice. From the start, I was determined to write with children in mind, not adults. There was no question of pandering to the weird obsessions of the present.” Dominic Sandbrook

Prepare to enter the most dramatic conflict the world has ever seen, as historian Dominic Sandbrook takes us on a spine-tingling, heart-stopping adventure. We witness the Second World War first-hand through the eyes of ordinary people living in extraordinary times, from the women who worked all night in factories to the chess players who cracked unbreakable codes. Because in total war, no life is left untouched…

The Adventures in Time series brings the past alive for twenty-first century children. These stories are every bit as exciting as those of Harry Potter or Matilda Wormwood. The only difference is they actually happened…

See also The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Follow the illustrator, Edward Bettison, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edward_bettison/

Two more titles, Alexander the Great and The First World War, will be published in the autumn.

The Silk Roads: The Extraordinary History that created your World – Illustrated Edition by Peter Frankopan ill. Neil Packer

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 23 Jul 2021

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A special illustrated children’s edition of this hugely successful world history book.

“An extraordinarily vivid book on an often-neglected corner of history.” Inis Reading Guide
“Not just children, but people of any age will find this book an absorbing read” New York Journal of Books
“Peter Frankopan’s text is pitched at exactly the right level for children to read and for adults to share with them. The illustrations of Neil Packer are completely captivating … this is a perfect marriage and a book to treasure.” Armadillo
“Studded with stylish, evocative illustrations from Neil Packer … this is an ambitious account that nevertheless tackles big themes in a friendly, accessible way.” History Revealed magazine

Illustrated edition of this stunningly original new history of the world.
Historian Peter Frankopan  explores the connections made by people, trade, disease, war, religion, adventure, science and technology and shows how the east married the west with a remarkable voyage at its heart—the journey along the Silk Roads. From ancient world laws laid down by King Hammurabi and the mighty Persian empire, to terrifying Huns, the rise of Europe, two world wars and politics today, The Silk Roads illustrated edition moves through time and history sewing together the threads from different peoples, empires and continents into a phenomenal history of the globe.

With stories from each and every corner of society, Frankopan’s magnificent brand new text based on his literary triumph The Silk Roads, sumptuously illustrated by Neil Packer, is a must-have world history.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arvokimchi/

Sight: Glimmer, Glow, SPARK, FLASH! by Romana Romanyshyn & Andriy Lesiv

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Jul 2021

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Produced by a duo of Ukraine-based multi-award-winning artists known as Agrafka Studio: https://www.instagram.com/art_studio_agrafka/

A real “WOW-Wonderful!” illustrated non-fiction picture book in which the visual voice is as important as the voice spoken by the words.

* VISUAL EDUCATION: A striking visualization of a complex subject and a compelling, nimble and clarifying look of what otherwise might be only a jumble of abstract information
* INTRICATE DETAIL/IN-YOUR-FACE KNOWLEDGE: A combination of richly-layered illustrations and carefully crafted text not only provides an immediate wealth of information but rewards rereading and careful attention from sharp eyes.
* MORE THAN JUST THE FACTS: The authors’ wide-ranging intellectual curiosity encourages not only scientific exploration but philosophical reflection on the very nature of sight.
* SUPPORTS STEM BASED EDUCATION: Oodles of facts in an appealing kid package.

This Book is Cruelty-Free: Animals and Us by Linda Newbery

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Jul 2021

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ACHUKA has been an admirer of Linda Newbery’s fiction for many years.
Now she has written a guide for older children and teenagers concerned about animals, wildlife and the planet we live on. And it’s clear this has been written from the heart — she’s not someone simply hitching a ride on the zeitgeist.

Packed with information on how to live a cruelty-free life, it includes sections on:

  • Using your spending power. The choices we make – what to eat, what to buy, what to wear – and how these affect animals. Asking questions and reading labels. Cruelty-free fashion and beauty.
  • What’s on your plate? Being vegetarian or vegan, or just eating less meat? What impact can your diet have on cruelty and on the environment?
  • Should you have a pet? If so, would your pet choose you as its owner? Points to consider before bringing an animal into your home.
  • Animals on show. Do zoos and animal parks look after animals or exploit them? Good zoos and their important conservation work.
  • Watching wild animals. Watching and learning about wildlife – building an appreciation of nature and helping your mental wellbeing.
  • Love those bugs! Many people are squeamish about insects, but these creatures are vital to ecosystems.
  • Don’t throw it away – there is no away. Simple things everyone can do to avoid waste: recycling, re-using, choosing plastic-free. Resist the throwaway culture.
  • Where do you draw your line? What can you realistically achieve? Some of the difficulties, especially if family / friends don’t agree with you. What are the best (and worst) ways of influencing others? How to feel confident with your decisions.

This book will help readers live as cruelty-free as possible and examine all of the areas in their lives where they can help animals and the environment.

Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature by Dara McAnulty ill. Barry Falls

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 8 Jul 2021

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“A dreamy dive into the natural world to thrill wildlife fans of six-plus.” Guardian
“A personal journey, introducing them to facts and phenomena that fascinate him and encouraging exploration. His love of lore and language as well as his respect for nature shine through in the poetic text which is carefully integrated with the illustrations.” BfK

Join brilliant young naturalist Dara McAnulty—winner of the 2020 Wainwright Prize for his book Diary of a Young Naturalist an ACHUKA Book of the Day in May last year—on a nature walk and experience the joy of connecting with the natural world on your multi sensory journey.

This beautiful gift book, illustrated in full colour by Barry Falls, is divided into five sections: looking out of the window, venturing out into the garden, walking in the woods, investigating heathland and wandering on the river bank.

Dara pauses to tell you about each habitat and provides fantastic facts about the native birds, animals and plants you will find there – including wrens, blackbirds, butterflies, tadpoles, bluebells, bees, hen harriers, otters, dandelions, oak trees and many more. Each section contains a discovery section where you will have a closer look at natural phenomenon such as metamorphoses and migration, learn about categorization in the animal kingdom or become an expert on the collective nouns for birds.

Dara ends the book with advice for young conservationists.

Follow Barry Falls, the illustrator, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barryfalls/

Curious About Crocodiles by Owen Davey

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 6 Jul 2021

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“There’s lots going on here, and all of it good.” KIRKUS on Crazy About Cats
“the images here are the real star, delivering at least as much information as the words, in exciting ways. The two-page spread called “Hide and Seek” subtly employs color and pattern to demonstrate exactly how camouflage works, with different cats in an amalgamation of different habitats. And the spread on scale — with eight cats lined up beside one another, behind a woman, each identified on a line demarking the tip of the nose — beautifully and clearly makes its point with almost no text at all.” Horn Book on Crazy About Cats
“A vast amount of information on monkeys is expertly delivered in both text and image without patronizing either readers or monkeys—a delight.” KIRKUS on Mad About Monkeys

This is now the seventh book in Owen Davey’s ‘about animals’ series for Flying Eye books, which began with Mad About Monkeys in 2015. Davey is the lead illustrator on the multi-award winning app Two Dots and leads an illustration course on Domestika.

Did you know that crocodiles can live to be over 100 years old, and can climb trees to sunbathe? They can even sense the vibrations from a single drop of water falling from the mouth of a drinking wildebeest over twenty metres away. Sink your teeth into this fascinating illustrated guide to the largest reptiles on Earth, full of juicy facts on crocodile behaviour, biology and myth, and packed with details on how we can live with and protect our scaly companions.

Follow Owen Davey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owendaveydraws/

 

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