Children's Non-fiction Recent Picks
March 2008
The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.
Natural History Museum animal records, by Mark Carwardine.
"Did you know that the okapi has such a long tongue that it can reach up to lick and clean its own eyes? Elephants have been reported swimming for as long as six hours at a time, (as far as 30 miles) without stopping and Western slave-making ants steal pupae from other ant species and raise them as slaves. From the strongest and shortest to the longest and laziest, Natural History Museum Animal Records is the definitive guide to the most exceptional creatures on Earth." (Book cover)
Stuff to hold your stuff, by Ellen Warwick; illustrated by Bernice Lum.
"A cool little book full of ideas on how to make bags, purses, pencil cases, beach bags and much more..." (Staff member)
Asian elephant : in danger of extinction, by Matt Turner.
"What is the difference between an African elephant and an Asian elephant? Are all Asian elephants the same? Do female Asian elephants have tusks? Animals Under Threat explores the lives of animals that are endangered, threatened or at risk. The series examines the threats they face from human intervention and environmental change." (Book cover)
Look for other titles in this series: Giant Panda and Koala are two new ones on the shelves.
Blame your parents, by Buffy Silverman.
"A great introduction to genetics, this book covers the topic of inherited genes and cloning in easy to understand text. Another excellent resource book from the Raintree Fusion series. Other titles in this series new to the library include Forensic Investigator,Mexico or Bust and Animal Secrets."
365 things to make and do, by Fiona Watt.
"Whenever you feel like painting or printing, cutting or sticking or even just drawing, there's something in this book for you to do every day of the year." (Book cover)
Boating for all : navigation, boat-handling and skill-building activities, by Mike and Dee Pigneguy.
"This book introduces a range of boating information and skills, including tides, cloud formations, how to maintain your boat, safety drills, reading charts, plotting a course and taking bearings. Includes activities and experiments. Suggested level: intermediate, secondary."
Also by the same authors is Boating Fun, aimed more at beginner sailors.
How the incredible human body works by the Brainwaves, by Richard Walker ; illustrated by Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar.
"Fantastic fold-out pages reveal exactly what's happening in your insides, exploring all the important bits and how they work."
Hillary and Norgay's Mount Everest adventure, by Jim Kerr.
"Travel back more than 50 years to the greatest climbing challenge in the world ... Read about the problems faced by the climbers ... find out how the team moved their camps and supplies, stage by stage up the massive mountain, until two men made for the top and became global heroes." (Book cover)
Other titles in this series are Amundsen and Scott's race to the South Pole, Captain Cook's Pacific Explorations, Magellan's Voyage around the world, Marco Polo's Travels on Asia's Silk Road and Burton and Speke's Source of the Nile Quest.
Ripley's search for the shrunken heads and other curiosities.
"This fascinating... diary offers a first hand account of Robert Ripley's travels to far-flung exotic corners of the globe in search of the weird and wonderful during the 1930s. Inside Ripley's own drawings, cartoons and memorabilia evoke the strange and bizarre world that unfolded before his eyes. From lakes of soda and bridges of blood to the shrunken heads themselves, Ripley's discoveries are laid out for you to explore in fantastic three-dimensional detail."(Book cover)
Amazing book. Fascinating read for any Ripley fan. (Staff member)
Weather watch New Zealand, by Sandra Carrod.
"Learn the whys and wherefores of weather in New Zealand. Sandra Carrod explains winds, clouds, rain, snow and all the other kinds of weather New Zealand is subject to. There are lots of activities for children to do throughout, as well as explanations of local weather patterns in the context of global concerns." (Book cover)
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