Autumn Non-fiction Roundup

As National Non-fiction November approaches, it’s the perfect time to share a varied and absolutely fascinating collection of brilliant new non-fiction books for children. From publishers who specialise in non-fiction such as Nosy Crow, Buster Books, Templar, Weldon Owen and Prestel, these eye-catching books will fly off classroom library shelves as children enjoy them together.

Size Wise: From Colossal Squids to Snowflakes, a Life-Sized Look at Nature by Camilla de la Bedoyere & Vasilisa Romanenko (Buster Books – 19th October 2023)

Have you ever wondered just how big (or small) something actually is? From the miniscule to the massive, Size Wise explores the amazing dimensions of all the things that make our world so intriguing.

Which animal has the largest eye? How small is a grain of sand? What does a dragonfly’s wing look like up close? How much does a hummingbird weigh? Why are capybaras called “nature’s chairs”? Just how big is an elephant’s foot? Size Wise will inspire all of these questions and more!

Full of gorgeous illustrations that really emphasise size, detail and the incredible variety on Earth, Size Wise is a book to come back to again and again. Children will love reading out facts to surprise their friends and natural curiosity will grow and grow!

A World of Dogs: A Celebration of Fascinating Facts and Amazing Real-Life Stories for Dog Lovers by Carlie Sorosiak & Luisa Uribe (Nosy Crow – 14th September 2023)

I love Carlie Sorosiak’s animal fiction so I was thrilled to see this wonderful collection of information about our canine friends.

Written in a chatty style that draws readers in, it will have dog lovers hooked in an instant while even cat lovers will be intrigued to find out more about all of these gorgeous pups. It includes information about the origin of dogs and their journey to becoming pets, dog anatomy, communication, breeds, rare dogs, famous dogs, dogs who serve in war and so much more.

The illustrations are beautiful and so engaging. The dogs’ personalities leap off the page and their relationships with humans are clear. This book would make a wonderful gift for any dog lover – young or old. It would be particularly special for generations to share together.

Wheels: The Big Fun Book of Vehicles by Tom Schamp (Prestel – 5th September 2023)

The history of transportation and the invention of the wheel has fascinated humans for centuries. From the oldest wheels made of wood to the first experiments with stone right through to bullet trains and predictions for the future, this book is jam-packed with every kind of vehicle imaginable.

The pages are incredible! Every centimetre is covered with a colourful drawing, intriguing fact or fun character showing just how much variety there is in the world of wheels. This brings us to a very important question from my 15-year-old daughter – are there more wheels or doors in the world?

Around the World in 80 Inventions by Matt Ralphs & Robbie Cathro (Templar Books – 12th October 2023)

The world is constantly changing as technology evolves and humans come up with even more inventions. It’s difficult to imagine life without some of our most significant inventions. Where would we be without the wheel, the telephone, ships, toothpaste or even chocolate? Around the World in 80 Inventions explores the products of human genius and creativity.

Each page combines history, science, technical vocabulary and engaging drawings to encourage children to ask questions and think beyond the everyday things they might take for granted. There is so much to read in Around the World in 80 Inventions. A single page could easily be turned into an engaging non-fiction reading lesson while STEM fans will pour over this book for hours.

Celebrate by Laura Mucha & Hannah Tolson (Nosy Crow – 12th October 2023)

Children love to celebrate and they are always intrigued by festivals from different cultures. This colourful, detailed book from The British Museum allows young readers to find out more about 50 fascinating festivals.

Children will be able to make comparisons with festivals they celebrate themselves and learn the backgrgound and traditions of ones they may never have heard of. Organised by region, they will be able to identify festials they’re familiar with and consider how families take traditions with them when they relocate around the world. My own children are interested in the worldwide festivals they celebrate as well as the North American ones from our Canadian background. They want to find out more about African festivals celebrated and shared by children at their school.

Understanding culture and recognising celebration and joy as something we all share is essential in helping children develop empathy, respect and appreciation for others. Celebrate will go a long way towards this goal.

An Atlas of Legendary Places by Volker Mehnert & Claudia Lieb (Prestel – 3rd October 2023)

An Atlas of Legendary Places is a beautiful book that will show children the world. I was immediately drawn to the magical illustrations and intriguing details about places I have been and those I have always wanted to visit. The mystery of Stonehenge, the powerful oracle of Delphi, the remoteness of Timbuktu and the infamous tomb of Tutankhamun are just some of the legendary places shared.

This is a book to savour. With so much to look at and read, children can lose themselves in their imaginations as they dream of adventures in these amazing places. The variety of locations shared shows readers just how different our world is and the incredible results of human creativity.

The Magnificent Book of Treasures: Vikings by Eugenia Nobati & Stella Caldwell (Weldon Owen – 7th September 2023)

The Magnificent Book of Treasures: Vikings is like stepping into a museum. Each double-page spread contains a large image of a fascinating Viking artefact, a list of detailed yet easy-to-read bullet points about the object and a fact file telling readers key information about where it was discovered and where it is kept now, its age, materials and size.

This book would be a valuable addition to any study of the Vikings. It brings key artefacts to life with gorgeous illustrations that allow children to really get up close to these amazing objects. Find out about the Ship of the Dead, the real Hammer of Thor and the Great Procession tapestry, as well as everyday items such as coins, swords, trader’s weights and winter boots.

The Magnificent Book of Treasures: Vikings is a book to really spend time with. History lovers of all ages will be completely taken in by the authenticity of the artefacts and details on every page. One of the best things about this book is that it is a part of a series that includes magnificent treasures from Rome, Egypt and Japan. These beautiful books are really worth schools’ investment.

Great Minds: 2500 Years of Thinkers and Philosophy by Joan Haig, Joan Lennon & Andre Ducci (Templar Books – 14th September 2023)

Travel through time to discover great thinkers and theories from across the globe. From Confucius and his search for answers in a tumultuous world to the great thinkers Socrates, Aristotle and Plato, through to more modern influencers like Marx, Gandhi, Einstein, Tolstoy and Martin Luther King Jr.

Great Minds delves beyond the obvious to consider the impact of great female thinkers, African influences and the philosophies of indigenous peoples. Themes such as art, religion, reason, politics, truth and existence will challenge readers to discover what these great thinkers believed and what they themselves believe to be true.

This is a complex book suitable for children in Upper Key Stage Two onwards. Not only an intriguing individual read, it would be fantastic to explore as a prompt for small group discussion, in a philosophy club or in an assembly for older children. Great Minds would also be an excellent resource for Key Stage Three teachers who are looking for an accessible way to present and explain these important figures and theories.

Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:

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