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Raven Winter by Susanna Bailey

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A brand new novel from Susanna Bailey – the bestselling author of Snow Foal and a new star of middle grade contemporary fiction.

Ever since Billie’s kind and nature-loving dad went to prison, her life has lost its shine. And now, Mum’s new boyfriend has moved in and home is full of sharp-glass silences. Billie’s never felt more alone. Until one day she discovers an injured young raven and in nursing him back to life, Billie finds friendship, hope and a letter that might bring her one step closer to reuniting with Dad.

Raven Winter is the story of friendship, family and the belief in a very special relationship with a young raven set against the beautiful and the wintery backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales.

The History of the World in 100 Animals – Illustrated Edition by Simon Barnes ill. Frann Preston-Gannon

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An exquisite edition of The History of the World in 100 Animals by author and journalist Simon Barnes, adapted and abridged for younger readers, with superb illustrations by award-winning artist, Frann Preston-Gannon, illustrator of I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree.

This outstanding gift book proposes the 100 animals who have had the greatest impact on humans and the way we view the world around us. From the bees who pollinate our food to the chimpanzees who share over 98% of our DNA, this book explores the unique and thought-provoking relationship between humans and animals throughout history. This fact-filled guide is sure to inspire and delight animal lovers young and old, and will make the perfect gift this Christmas.

Winter Lullaby by Dianne White ill. Ramona Kaulitzki

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 8 Dec 2021

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“Simple, quiet illustrations executed in a soft, elegant, swirling style trace the transition from tawny autumn’s bareness to early winter’s silvery wonderland. Scenes of Mouse, Chipmunk, Skunk, Hare, Badger, Racoon, and, eventually, Small Bear and Mama snuggling safely inside their respective cozy winter dens should provoke useful parallels and opportunities for parents to cajole their little ones to sleep. Reassuring, inviting bedtime fare. ” KIRKUS

Winter is on its way. For bears, that means it’s time to tuck in for a long sleep. But other forest creatures are still awake, so why can’t Small Bear stay up and play, too? Mama Bear gives her small one the cosiest of answers and paints a dreamy picture of bright colours and new adventures that will greet Small Bear come spring. But first, to sleep.

Ramona Kaulitzki is a book illustrator based in Potsdam, Germany who works primarily digitally and has conducted several ADOBE Live sessions, which can be found on YouTube. Follow her on Instagram:

 

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Carnival of the Animals by Michael Morpurgo

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Collaborating once more with iconic artist, Michael Foreman, Morpurgo’s poems are inspired by The Carnival of the Animals – a humorous musical by the French composer Camille Saint-Saens. Building on this classic framework, Michael has added many more animals – they speak in their own voices, full of humour and brio, to tell of their lives and the impact of humanity on their habitats.

With full colour illustrations throughout, this celebrated partnership has created a gift book with a strong ecological message that will also ignite a love of poetry in young readers and will appeal to fans of The Lost Words. Above all it is a celebration of the natural world in verse, a book to treasure and to inspire.

Michael Morpurgo has sold over 35 million books globally, many of them illustrated by Michael Foreman.

Inside Animals by Barbara Taylor ill. Margaux Carpentier

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 Aug 2021

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This brilliant book from the always dependable Wide-Eyed Editions contains 21 cross-sections that show how skeletons, organs, nerves, and muscles fit together inside creatures from across the globe.

  • Uncover some truly amazing facts: did you know that the blue whale has arteries that are so big, a human could swim through them?
  • Learn about surprising ways in which animals have adapted to their environments, such as a scorpion’s ability to glow in the dark!
  • Special spotlight sections throughout are packed full of absorbing details about skeletons, organs, muscles and more.
  • Brilliantly bright artwork makes every animal picture fascinating to look at again and again.

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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.

We Want A Dog by Lo Cole

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 9 Jul 2021

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“The bold digital illustrations, done in a minimal palette of black, white, and red, are full of spontaneity and ingeniousness; a delightful gatefold allows for an ordinary spotted dog to become extraordinarily long, accompanied by the also-expanding question “One that grows…and grows…and grows?” The simple but sophisticated graphic style is reminiscent of Michael Hall and Craig Frazier. Together, text and art will garner giggles for this perfect read-aloud with a surprise twist ending!” KIRKUS
“The digitally created illustrations pop off the page in flat black, white, red, and gray. Strong, simplified shapes of dogs being dogs are arranged dynamically to both please and surprise the eye.” SLJ

For dog owners, pet lovers, and parents of children clamoring for a dog: an absolute delight.

This hilarious rhyming texts takes us through twenty-seven unexpected and amusing varieties of dogs that one could have, like “one that begs, one that sheds, one that rips things into shreds.” And while the book is sure to delight any dog lover, the narrator’s choice at the end will make readers laugh out loud! See how many of these lovable and amusing pups you can recognize from your own life.

Lo Cole is a British illustrator, printmaker and author. His artwork has featured on posters, album covers, in books, magazines and newspapers. Currently, he is a weekly contributor to The Guardian and The Economist.

Follow Lo Cole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lo_cole/

The Secret Life of Whales by Rena Ortega

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Jun 2021

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Whales are some of the largest animals to have ever lived on our planet, but what do we really know about them? This glorious guide takes readers deep beneath the ocean’s surface to explore the unseen world of whales. They will learn how to recognize the different whale species, discover how they evolved and how they eat, sleep and communicate with each other. The book follows them on their long migration journeys around the world, and finds out why they sing, how they look after their young, where in the world to watch them and why they urgently need our protection.

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Kaleidoscope Of Creatures – The colours of nature explained by Cath Are ill. Greer Stothers

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Why are animals so amazingly colourful? Find out in this kaleidoscopic look at the technicolour world of animals. Meet animals of every colour of the rainbow and find out why they are the colours and patterns they are. Discover the reason why some animals are stripy and others are spotty.

Why do some creatures deliberately pop out while others strive to blend in?
Why are some bright to warn off others while others only pretend to look toxic?
Why are some male animals so much more flamboyant than their female counterparts?Why do some babies look so different from the grown-ups in their families?

A beautifully illustrated first look at the colourful and kaleidoscopic world of animals for young children.

Greer Stothers is an award-winning Canadian illustrator with a background in evolutionary biology.