ACHUKA Children's Books UK

children's & YA recommendations on the go

You are here: Home / Archives for NonFiction

Please Write Soon: An Unforgettable Story of Two Cousins in World War II by Michael Rosen ill. Michael Foreman

By Leave a Comment

Times Children’s Book of the Week 9 Apr 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop
Blackwells

Inspired by the true story of his father’s cousin, Michael Rosen presents an astonishing wartime story of perseverance and hope in the face of horrors and hardship. Beginning in 1939, young Solly in London exchanges letters with his teenaged cousin, Bernie, in Poland. While Solly is evacuated and tries his best to adjust to life in the English countryside, Bernie’s parents know that as Jews they’re not safe staying in Warsaw, so they send Bernie to the Russian-occupied side of the country in the hope that he’ll be safer there. Soon, though, he is arrested and sent off to a forced labour camp in Russia. As the cousins exchange sporadic letters, they try to keep their spirits up, trading jokes and observations about the world changing all around them. Then Bernie seizes the opportunity to join the Anders Army and fight the Axis powers, and tells Solly all about his experiences in Iran and eventually Italy, where he fights alongside the British at the famous Battle of Monte Cassino. Will Bernie survive this war and find a safe place to call home?

Antarctica: The Melting Continent by Karen Romano Young ill. Angela Hsieh

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 20 Apr 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Published by What on Earth Books, a UK-based children’s non-fiction publishing house founded in 2010 by world history author Christopher Lloyd and illustrator Andy Forshaw.

Antarctica – vast, cold and mysterious. This frozen continent is full of incredible stories. Discover incredible wildlife, awe-inspiring landscapes and adventurous scientists and explorers.

Join author Karen Romano Young on a trip across Antarctica  learning about how this special place is changing, and what it means for our planet. You’ll find out about some of the coolest creatures on earth above and below the ice as you meet emperor penguins, killer whales and elephant seals. Follow in the footsteps of brave explorers and learn about how scientists survive here  and what they do all day — from studying climate change to investigating ice cores almost a million years old to learning about the history and future of our planet.

sample page spread

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Angela Hsieh (@hisiheyah)

One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies ill. Jenni Desmond

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Apr 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Where on Earth are you, right now? It’s late where I am and almost everyone’s asleep, but I’m awake, looking out into the night. Wondering…

As the clock strikes midnight, a little girl and her sister visit animals of every shape and size, all around the world, discovering that, in some places, creatures have just started their day, where in others they’re already busy hunting for food. Turning the popular concept of time-zones on its head and drawing on a powerful climate message and delightful illustrations, this book is narrative non-fiction at its most spellbinding.

Listen to the author and illustrator discuss the book on this Just Imagine podcast…

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jenni Desmond (@jennidesmond)

And this interview with her is highly recommended:

And follow the author on Instagram:

Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made by Beth Kephart ill. Melodie Stacey

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Apr 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“The nature elements that appear as motifs throughout the artwork, coupled with detailed close-ups of the processes of whittling, sewing, and bookbinding, reveal just how much Morris’ art was connected to his appreciation of the beauty of the natural world. A harmonious picture book whose poetic text and delicate illustrations befit its subject.” KIRKUS

A poetic story about the life and work of William Morris, maker of beautiful, useful things, sure to engage young dreamers and artists.

William Morris is best known for his colourful wallpapers and textiles, inspired by English forests and wild foliage. But  this icon of the Arts and Crafts Movement was also a poet, a painter, a preservationist, an activist, an environmentalist, and a maker of many other beautiful useful things, like books.

Follow the Brighton-based illustrator on Instagram:

And follow the author on Instagram too:

The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang ill. Alina Chau

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 31 Mar 2022

Amazon
Bookshop

“Vibrant and fun.” Simon Smith
“Vivid, fine-lined watercolors by Chau offer sweeping, energetic cartoon-style scenes. Chinese calligraphy appears throughout, while plentiful onomatopoeia and staccato sentences successfully evoke the action in this dynamic profile of a living legend.” Publishers Weekly

An action-packed picture book biography about Hollywood actor, stuntman, and beloved superstar Jackie Chan! A great read for Chan fans hoping to share their love of Rush Hour, Supercop, and Jackie’s original brand of martial arts with their ready-to-tumble tyke.

sample spread

Pow! Bam! Wow! Jackie Chan has been making movies and amazing audiences with his original and comedic stunts for decades.
Pow! Bam! Ow! But before he was an international star, Jackie grew up in relative poverty in China, studied martial arts at the gruelling China Drama Academy, and worked for years trying to find his way in film.
Pow! Bam! How? Twist, tumble, and train alongside martial arts hero Jackie Chan in this picture book biography from  Kristen Mai Giang and illustrator and Hong Kong native Alina Chau. Discover how Jackie used his goofball acrobatics to make a name and a style all his own.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson by Sandra Nickel ill. Helena Perez Garcia

By 1 Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Mar 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

An inspiring picture book about the meteorologist whose discoveries helped us understand how weather works.

When Joanne Simpson (1923-2010) was a girl, she sailed her boat beneath the puffy white clouds of Cape Cod. As a pilot, she flew her plane so high, its wings almost touched them. And when World War II began and Joanne moved to the University of Chicago, a professor asked her to teach Air Force officers about those very clouds and the weather-changing winds.
As soon as the war ended, Joanne decided to seriously study the clouds she had grown to love so much. Her professors laughed. They told her to go home. They told her she was no longer needed. They told her, “No woman ever got a doctorate in meteorology. And no woman ever will.”
But Joanne was stubborn. She sold her boat. She flew her last flight. She saved her money so that she could study clouds. She worked so hard and discovered so much that-despite what the professors said-she received a doctorate in meteorology. She was the first woman in the world to do so.
Breaking Through the Clouds tells the story of a trailblazing scientist whose discoveries about clouds and how they work changed everything we know about weather today.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

Follow the author on Instagram:

Aliens and Other Worlds: True Tales from Our Solar System and Beyond by Lisa Harvey-Smith ill. Tracie Grimwood

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

From the author of Under The Stars, Astrophysics For Everyone.

Did life on Earth arrive on a meteorite from outer space? Are there living beings on planets beyond our solar system? If they are out there, what might these aliens look like? Would they be smart, curious, scared? Would they even want to meet us?

Revealing the wonders of scientific inquiry, astrophysicist and best-selling author Lisa Harvey-Smith guides Earthlings young and old through our search for alien life. On the way, she considers where our best chances are to find any galactic neighbours; ponders whether they might already be living among us; and looks at what we might learn about aliens from life at Earth’s extremes.

Asking all the important questions, answering some and explaining why others need further investigation, Aliens and Other Worlds explores the mystery of life beyond Earth. With illustrations by acclaimed artist Tracie Grimwood, this mysterious, awe-inspiring journey will thrill anyone with eyes fixed on distant horizons.

The author is a presenter alongside Professor Brian Cox on ABC TV’s Stargazing Live. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.harveysmith/

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

Mama: A World of Mothers and Motherhood by Helene Delforge ill. Quentin Greban

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 17 Mar 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

“A gorgeous, moving look at motherhood from different cultures and eras. Each of Greban’s breath-taking pencil and watercolor illustrations of a mother and child is paired with a free form poem by Delforge imagining the experience and thoughts of that mother. A wonderfully diverse portrayal of motherhood is presented, including a mother who’s been left behind by a child’s father, a mother who has lost their child, mothers who are frustrated with unwanted advice, and mothers who have mixed feelings about motherhood. An array of cultural dress and styles are also presented in this stunning book… A first purchase for all libraries serving new parents.” School Library Journal

Perfect Mother’s Day gift.

This is a stunning collection of vivid portraits and intimate reflections on motherhood from around the globe. Mama uniquely portrays the emotions and experiences that unite mothers from different times and diverse cultures.

Twenty-one striking watercolour portraits and lively pencil sketches by acclaimed artist Quentin Greban are paired with Helene Delforge’s lyrical words to create a thought-provoking celebration of motherhood in all its complexity: the satisfaction and the sadness, the frustration and the fun – and, always, the love.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram:

Our World in Numbers: An Encyclopedia of Fantastic Facts

By Leave a Comment

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

Great for dipping into. Perfect for primary classroom libraries. Some of the numbers can seem a little arbitrary and many will quite quickly become out of date. The page designs don’t quite meet DK’s usual high standards.

DK’s cool compendium takes children on a number crunching journey around the wonders of our world. With zillions of fun figures at your fingertips, you are sure to expand your horizons and impress your friends with incredible statistics!

Ever wondered how many stone blocks there are in the Great Pyramids at Giza? How long it takes to put on a spacesuit? Or what percentage of your brain you really use? Well look no further! This world fact book will keep both you and the kids entertained, arming you with nuggets of number knowledge and memorable information proving that data doesn’t have to be boring.

Tuck into a feast of fantastic figures and you will find:

-More than 1,000 astonishing facts, divided into six thematic chapters
-Over 80 topics encompassing earth, space, history, technology and more
-Eye-catching double page spreads, including stunning photographs and graphics for every topic
-Fun and surprising information to engage children in the world around them

How big? How small? How many? How fast? Satisfying the most inquisitive minds, this trivia book for children provides the answers to those questions you’ve always wondered about, while offering fresh facts to stretch the imagination.

Did you know, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world’s tallest building with 160 floors? Or that the sperm whale can hold its breath underwater for an average duration of 90 minutes? From spectacular stars to ingenious inventions and extravagant fashion, the vast array of topics will spark curiosity in even the most reluctant readers, setting you on a fact-filled journey of discovery! So what are you waiting for?

Women Who Led The Way: Great Explorers and Adventurers by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom (

By Leave a Comment

ACHUKA Book of the Day 15 Mar 2022

Waterstones
Amazon
Bookshop

From Aud the Deep-Minded, an early voyager to Iceland, and Sacagawea who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition across the USA, to Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space and Arunima Sinha, the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest, this book shows the incredible courage, determination and power of women explorers over the last 1200 years.

These women have led the way exploring lands, oceans, mountains, skies and space, but have also made pioneering discoveries in the fields of science, nature, archaeology, ecology and more.

The lives of these women, told as personal stories, are an inspiration to us all.

Follow Mick Manning on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickmanning.rca/
Follow Brita Granstrom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/britagranstrom/

Meet An Illustrator: Brita https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-20-brita-granstrom/
Meet An Illustrator: Mick https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-19-mick-manning/