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On Board: The epic history of ships, sailors and the voyages they made by Tom Adams ill. Tom Jay

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 7 Oct 2026

Publisher: Wide Eyed
ISBN: 9781836004691

A handsome monster of an illustrated information book with wonderful end papers.

There are feature page spreads interspersed between the main chapters and that can make the sequence seem somewhat surprising at times. However, this is hardly a book to be read from cover to cover, page after page, but rather one to be dipped in and out of. It’s just the kind of book to have in a KS2 class library, available during wet play or for those finishing work ahead of schedule. Better still, have a personal copy in the home library.

Packed with exciting, real-life stories and detailed illustrations, this is the fascinating story of how boats and ships have transformed our world. 

For thousands of years, the only way to cross the oceans was by boat. How must those first voyagers have felt, first hugging the shorelines and eventually venturing out across open seas?  

On Board charts water transport through history, exploring: 

  • Early seafarers and the great journeys that carried people across the globe. 
  • How boats and ships have changed over time, from simple craft to modern engineering. 
  • Famous voyages, including circumnavigations and groundbreaking expeditions. 
  • Life at sea, from navigation and safety to daily routines on board. 
  • Remarkable vessels from history, including iconic ships and ancient discoveries. 
  • Inspiring figures who changed maritime history, such as lighthouse keeper Grace Darling, who saved lives at sea and Hugh Mulzac, the first Black US shipmaster. 
  • Surprising facts, record-breaking ships and unusual designs from around the world. 

Brought to life with rich, detailed illustrations, On Board takes readers deep into the world of seafaring, past and present. From dramatic adventures to quiet moments of discovery, every page reveals something new about how humans have explored and connected across water. 

Perfect for curious readers who love history, technology and adventure – step aboard and start your journey today!  

Take a look behind the scenes with Tom Jay the illustrator on Instagram:

The Science of Art by Ruth Millington ill. Rose Blake

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 7 Aug 2026

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
ISBN: 9780241733134

See also illustrated by Rose Blake:
A History of Fashion [ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 Sep 2025]
A History of Words for Children [ACHUKA Book of the Day 28 Sep 2022]
A History of Music for Children [ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Sep 2021]

Ruth Millington is an art historian, writer, and critic. She appears frequently on radio and TV.
Rose Blake is an award-winning artist and illustrator who has illustrated numerous books for children, including, as well as those mentioned above, A History of Pictures for Children and Meet the Artist: David Hockney.

This new title takes readers on a museum tour of art history’s most important techniques and movements, with expert insight from art consultant Ruth Millington and illustrations by Rose Blake.

See art brought to life in a playful and engaging way as you discover popular art techniques, learn about the key elements of each movement, understand the artists’ motivations, and appreciate the beauty and complexity of art through the ages.

Immerse yourself in a guided tour of art’s most important movements, styles and methods:

  • Uncover some of the most prominent works from across history, including the Sumpang Bita Cave paintings, the Sistine Chapel and Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, to name a few – brought to life with insightful, beginner-friendly commentary
  • Features expert but accessible commentary from art consultant and curator Ruth Millington, with gorgeous illustrations by award-winning artist Rose Blake
  • Perfect for kids aged 7-9 looking for an inspiring art resource in one playful, beautiful and thoroughly engaging book

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A post shared by Ruth Millington (Art historian) (@millington_ruth)

Follow the illustrator there as well:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Pyramid Boy by Satoshi Kitamura

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 25 Jun 2026

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781529525403

See also:
Hannah And The Violin [ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 Feb 2025]
School For Puppies [ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 Dec 2024]
When Creature Met Creature [ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Mar 2022]
Lily Takes A Walk
The Smile Shop

“A captivating combination of adventure and history, vibrantly illustrated with amazing detail.” RedReadingHub

A new book by Satoshi Kitamura is always an event for ACHUKA to celebrate.

When a boy gets lost exploring a museum, he finds himself falling through time and landing in ancient Egypt! This engaging story reveals what daily life was life in ancient Egypt, how to decode hieroglyphs and even how the pyramids were built. Packed with extra information, this is an ideal introduction to a fascinating historical subject and one frequently studied in primary school.

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The Crystal Vase by Astrid Goldsmith

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 5 Jun 2026

Publisher: Jonahan Cape
ISBN: 9781787334311

“What’s extraordinary about The Crystal Vase is just how much family history Goldsmith manages to squeeze into 200 pages without overloading the narrative. She takes us as far back as Kristallnacht in 1938, when the Nazis ransacked [Astrid’s grandmother’s] magnificent childhood home in Bad Homburg, smashing everything to pieces.” Observer
“One of the book’s great strengths is its tonal balance. Goldsmith writes with warmth and sharp humour, finding comedy in family negotiations and absurd demands without diminishing the weight of historical loss. The strained yet affectionate relationship between father and daughter grounds the story emotionally, showing how inheritance is as much about responsibility and misunderstanding as it is about love.” VoiceMag
“History is made tangible.” Financial Times

This memoir in graphic novel format, by the stop-motion animator Astrid Goldsmith, is published on an adult list but can be recommended for young adults, especially those interested in the history of Jewish displacement.

When her imperious, chain-smoking German Jewish grandmother dies, it falls to Astrid and her father to drive a hire van to the Black Forest and collect the family heirlooms from Gisela’s nicotine-stained apartment.

In Freiburg, they are faced with several lifetimes’ worth of belongings to sort through – infested Persian rugs, mysterious photographs, a toy monkey that started a marriage – and a grasping landlord, impatient to renovate.

As the list of demands from uncles, sisters and cousins grows longer, the rabbit-holes of history and memory grow deeper. Long-buried secrets and tales of survival are revealed – from Nazi Germany to colonial Africa – and old feuds are reignited, as father and daughter struggle with the responsibility of preserving the family legacy. More importantly, will they be able to fit everything into a medium wheel-base transit van?

Funny, bittersweet and beautifully drawn, The Crystal Vase is an odyssey of family arguments, identity crises, and late discoveries.

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Here is a short film about Mock Duck Studios, her other career as an animator:

Young Discoverers: True Tales of Kids Who Made Incredible Discoveries by Stephen Davies ill. Violaine Leroy

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 12 Feb 2026

Publisher: WideEyed
ISBN: 9780711298293

See also:
Norse Myths, Monsters and Viking Voyages [ACHUKA Book of the Day 23 Sep 2025]

I was obsessed with reading about explorers and discoverers when I was a young reader and this is exactly the type of book I would have borrowed from the library and pored over until it needed to be returned. Public libraries and schools alike should have this on their purchase list and it would make a handsome birthday gift for any curious child to add to their bedroom bookcase.

From fossilised creatures and ancient treasures to mysterious scrolls and glimmering gems, Young Discoverers is a thrilling collection of real-life tales about some of the most astonishing discoveries ever made and the young people who made them.

Travel through time and across continents to uncover:

  • A prehistoric monster hidden in the cliffs of England
  • The boy who uncovered the first step to the tomb of Tutankhamun, leading to one of the most famous archaeological discoveries of all time
  • A glittering gold nugget that sparked America’s first gold rush – found by twelve-year-old Conrad
  • A Viking Sword pulled from a lake in Sweden by an eight-year-old girl
  • The world’s biggest star sapphire, once used as a doorstop in Australia!

In each of the twelve tales, you meet the young person at the heart of the discovery, following them through the twists and the turns of their adventure. The children and teenagers you meet may have come from different places and lived at different times in history, but they all have something in common—a curiosity for the world around them.

Some saw something that seemed out of the ordinary and went to take a closer look, while others felt something strange with their fingers or toes or heard an unexpected sound. One even followed his nose all the way to an incredible find.

See some inside pages in this post from the French illustrator based in Strasbourg:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Violaine Leroy (@violaine.leroy)

Dance of Resistance: The Josephine Baker Story by Catherine Johnson ill Katie Hickey

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 25 Sep 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

See also:
Journey Back To Freedom [ACHUKA Book of the Day 14 Sep 2022]

Queen Of Freedom [ACHUKA Book of the Day 7 Aug 2020]

“The narrative voice fizzes with exuberant positivity throughout and this carries the reader through and brings the young woman to life on the page. This is so skilfully done that by half way through it is possible to imagine that Josephine Baker herself is telling the story.” LibraryLady
“A remarkable feat of storytelling…” BfK

Just the type of narrative biography ACHUKA is always saying young readers need more of.

ACHUKA has admired Catherine Johnon’s writing since reviewing Other Colours, an early YA title of hers. Here she celebrates the incredible life of Josephine Baker in this true story, chronicling her journey from an impoverished childhood to beloved actress, dancer and wartime heroine.

Dancer, singer, actress, movie star, civil-rights activist – Josephine Baker was a phenomenon. Overcoming the poverty and abuse of her childhood in a segregated America, Josephine grew up to become one of the biggest stars of the early twentieth century, particularly adored in her adopted country of France. She used her connections to help the Resistance in their fight against the Nazis during the Second World War and later became involved with Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement in the US.

Controversial and outspoken, she is an iconic historical figure and Catherine Johnson brings her story vividly to life for a young audience in this enthralling piece of narrative non-fiction.

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A History of Fashion by Celia Joicey & Dennis Nothdruft ill. Rose Blake

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 19 Sep 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

It’s London Fashion Week and here’s a book that invites a younger audience to appreciate the history and the industry behind the clothes we wear.

It’s a shame a need was felt to include the superfluous and potentially misleading subtitle “for children” on the book’s cover. This is not a book about “fashion for children” but a book about fashion aimed at younger readers — all of which should be obvious from the style of the jacket. That small gripe aside, there are far too few children’s books dedicated to such an important part of our lives and the industry that has grown up around the clothes we wear. This is a good title from a reliable publisher.

Aimed at children 7–11 years old, this book is an introduction to fashion past and present, and includes reproductions of historic, modern and contemporary clothes and accessories throughout.

Blending a history of costume with contemporary fashion, the book spans different time periods and cultures to explore why we care about what we wear; how fashion reflects changes in society; who makes our clothes and how; as well as the influence that fabrics, accessories, fashion magazines and celebrities all have on how we choose to dress ourselves.

Featuring a chronological walk through fashion styles of the 20th century, it explores the work of iconic designers including Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo, among others.

This lively book celebrates fashion for all genders and body types, showcasing fashion’s capacity to express identity, communicate ideas and reflect the changes in our world.

Celia Joicey is the director of Dovecot Studios (a world-renowned tapestry studio in the heart of Edinburgh) and the former head of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. She is the author of the bestselling How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer.
Dennis Nothdruft is head of exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London and the illustrator of the bestselling How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer.
Rose Blake is an artist and author. She has illustrated numerous books for children, including the Bologna Ragazzi award–winning A History of Pictures for Children as well as A History of Music for Children and A History of Words for Children. 

You can follow Rose Blake on

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Dennis Nothdruft is on too:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Dennis Nothdruft (@dennisnothdruft)

What it was like to be an Ancient Egyptian by David Long ill. Stefano Tambellini

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 6 May 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

From sacred cats to the invention of toothpaste, Blue Peter Award winning author David Long takes readers on an intriguing investigation into the ancient Egyptian civilisation.

The incredible civilisation of ancient Egypt lasted for 3,000 years. Ruled over by pharaohs, the Egyptians developed agricultural skills and trading partnerships that enabled them to build a rich and powerful nation centred on the Nile.

Far more advanced than any European countries at the time, the Egyptians achieved incredible feats of building, created a new way of writing, and revolutionised farming.

You can follow Stefano Tambellini — an illustrator, animator, puppet-maker and film-maker — on

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim by Kobina Commeh ill. Bárbara Quintino

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 5 Feb 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

“Quintino’s mixed-media illustrations are dominated by oranges, greens, and deep blues; vibrant nature scenes alternate with warm domestic tableaux. Commeh brings the narrative to a triumphant conclusion as both Kwesi and Nana Ruby dive into Lagoon Lake together. An informative and celebratory, multigenerational story of swimming.” KIRKUS
“Threaded throughout is information about Mami Wata’s story and her song, and Ghanaian food. Nana Ruby also tells Kwesi that in the past Black people were not allowed to swim in public pools, and that explains why many Black people never learned to swim. Colorful, informative, engaging illustrations add to readers’ enjoyment. In addition, back matter has more information about Ghana. All together, this is a multilayered and rewarding reading experience.” SLJ

Kwesi doesn’t know how to swim… and discovers his grandmother doesn’t either! Can they conquer their fear of water together with the help of the West African legend Mami Wata?

“How about we make a deal?” Nana rubbed Kwesi’s head. “I will learn to swim, if you do.”
“Deal!”

Kwesi likes spending time at the lake with his friends, except there’s one tiny problem… he can’t swim. But guess what? Neither can Nana Ruby! When she comes over for dinner one night, she tells Kwesi about when she moved from Ghana to the US and the history of segregation that kept her out of pools and caused a fear of water among many Black people.

“So I will never learn how to swim?” Kwesi asks. But Nana Ruby tells him they will call on the strength of Mami Wata, the sea creature of West African legend, to conquer their fears together. This touching intergenerational story teaches the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears.

  • End notes include more information on West African cultures, including the Akan people, day names, and adinkra symbols.
  • Teaches children about the history of segregation of public pools and beaches in an accessible way.

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A post shared by Kobina Commeh (@kobinacommeh)

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The House on the Canal: The Story of the House that Hid Anne Frank by Thomas Harding ill. Britta Teckentrup

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 10 Jan 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

“Not naming the people and places in the narrative itself (though an opening note and detailed backmatter offer more information), Harding employs highly descriptive sensory language, heightening the emotions. Readers will emerge simultaneously awed by the passage of time and personally affected by the stories told. Teckentrup overlays her bright, exquisitely detailed sepia-toned depictions of the house and its environs with a misty haze; the results are hauntingly beautiful. Deeply moving, powerful, and breathtaking.” KIRKUS
“The work’s large horizontal format showcases mixed-media images that combine the feel of engravings and old photos with layers of translucent color and texture, creating a sense of incidents being summoned, connected, and pondered via collective memory.” Publishers Weekly

See also:
The House By The Lake [ACHUKA Book of the Day 22 Sep 2020]

Charting 400 years of history, this is the astonishing true story of the Anne Frank House, beautifully illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.

In the middle of Amsterdam, stands a tall, narrow house on a canal. Over four hundred years, it has quietly witnessed love, desperation, and historic change. Sometimes the narrow house was splendidly decorated, humming with life and love; other times, it stood empty, in near ruins. Sometimes the green door was open and inviting; other times, it was closed against cold and plague or to conceal the victims of wartime persecution.

The house’s last occupant, a young girl with a sweet smile, would famously document her time there. In her diary, Anne Frank wrote of “the old house on the canal,” and today people come from far and wide to visit what stands as a universal symbol of hope and resilience. Thomas Harding’s lyrical text and concise back matter reveal history through the changing face and fortunes of a remarkable structure.

Impeccably researched, Britta Teckentrup’s dreamy mixed-media collages, including a map and archival imagery, perfectly echo the layered narrative and capture the ethereal nature of time and circumstance.

You can follow Thomas Harding on

 

 
 
 
 
 
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and Britta Teckentrup too:

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Britta Teckentrup (@britta_teckentrup)