BOOK REVIEW: WILD CITIES BY BEN LERWILL ILLUSTRATED BY HARRIET HOBDAY

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

WILD CITIES BY BEN LERWILL & HARRIET HOBDAY (ILLUSTRATOR)

Children's Non-Fiction Out Sept 3rd  

PENGUIN

BOOK REVIEW

An absorbing and extraordinary insight into the different types of wildlife living in cities across the world.

It is teaming with fascinating facts and intriguing anecdotes that will tempt little explorers and nature lovers to discover and see what animals live in their own cities.

Every city has a wild side waiting to be discovered that is perfectly illustrated by the sumptuous and detailed illustrations that burst from every page. Harriet cleverly brings each of the different cities characters to life making each location a visual delight.

Did you know London was home to exotic parakeets or that Berlin is the greenest city in Europe home to wild boars and racoons? 

This is also a timely reminder that animals are struggling to retain their homes. 

 Mumbai has lost 60% of its green space forcing all sorts of animals and reptiles such as snakes to venture into the city. But is also highlights how adaptable and tough animals and insects are in the example of the 18000 bees who survived the Notre Dame Cathedral fire.

It is a reminder we share our space with many other inhabitants even if we don't always see them. It will ignite curiosity in children and encourage them to look around and keep an eye out for the animals living quietly alongside them. 

 A lovely gift to share with little nature lovers and explorers. 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Picture a city. What do you see? Traffic and tower blocks? Or maybe you imagine something a little . . . wilder?

These are the astonishing stories of the animals who are adapting to live in our urban world - and how you can help them to thrive.

From the pitter-patter of penguins in Cape Town, to the prowl of a leopard in Mumbai, the splash of a seal in Sydney, cities are home to all sorts of unexpected residents.

Keep your eyes wide open as as we travel the globe discovering wild cities. With magical illustration and beautiful storytelling, these incredible stories will fascinate every reader who has the travel bug, or is an animal fan, or has ever wondered what else exists in our big cities.

Featuring: London, Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Calgary, New York City, Chicago, Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore, Cape Town and Seoul.

Ben Lerwill is a multiple award-winning writer. His work has appeared in a host of publications including National Geographic Traveller, Time Out, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. Over the past decade he's won four British Guild of Travel Writers' Awards, and often focuses on wildlife, rail journeys and the outdoors. Best of all, he writes fascinating, magical non-fiction stories that will amaze and inspire - just like the ones in this book.

 

Harriet Hobday is an extraordinary new talent, a recent graduate of the MA Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Currently based in Edinburgh, she was highly commended in the Macmillan Prize 2015 and runner-up for The Batsford Prize 2018.

Book of the Week: Book Review: Fish by Brendan Kearney

BOOK OF THE WEEK

 Book Review: Fish by Brendan Kearney Published by DK 

Published  on 3 September, £6.99 

A gorgeously illustrated inspirational picture book celebrating the environment and highlighting ways to help clean up the ocean. 

Finn and his dog Skip go out to sea to catch a fish for their supper. But when all they catch is rubbish they realise the sealife is suffering. How can they help? They meet children cleaning the beach and learn how to help keep our oceans clean. 

A wonderful inspirational picture book which has the children educating the adult how to help reduce plastic and small steps can make a big difference. It hopefully will inspire younger generations to be more aware of the harm plastic is causing to the sea life and ways they can help and be more mindful. 

A lovely book to share with the family and in the class room. 

The theatrical illustrations tell their own story with a plethora of detail little ones will delight in exploring. A great deal of thought, detail and empathy has gone into this gently educational picture book.  Stunning. 

Book Description- 

Fish follows Finn the fisherman and his dog, Skip, as they try to catch a fish for their supper. Although no matter how hard they try, all they seem to catch is rubbish - but they soon find a way to put all that rubbish to good use. 

 

This is an ideal introduction to the environmental concerns facing our oceans that delivers an uplifting message about protecting the world around us. Brendan dreamt up the story whilst walking his own dog along the beach near Dartmoor and seeing all the litter piling up, so he thought Finn and Skip might encourage children to think about how they can help.

Book Review: The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

 

Book Review The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed Simon & Schuster1992      Four police officers are equited of beating to death a black man called Rodney King. As violence engulfs LA Ashley is trying to focuse on finishing High School but events reveal uncomfortable and hidden truths about the realities of being black even in a protected wealthy environment. This multi-layered story interweaves the rights of passage as a teenager combined with the hurdles about race and class that have to be navigated by people of colour. It is a fascinating and different perspective of real life events seen through the eyes of a fictional teenage girl. A bittersweet journey of self identity and what it means to be black. You are immediately drawn into LA life and the eclectic and engaging group of characters while questioning your own journey through life and seeing events from a different perspective. A gripping and empathetic read that would be excellent for group discussion as it raises many current and ongoing issues as well as being an enjoyable holiday read.