Books for Future Scientists

Getting to know the market...

Stone Age Beasts

by Ben Lerwill

Illustrated by Grahame Baker-Smith 

How many stone-age beasts can you name? Woolly mammoth for sure. Giant sloth. Cave lion. Elephant bird, maybe. They are all in the book. But so are some incredible creatures I had never heard of, like the Siberian unicorn, which looks every bit as magnificent as it sounds. 

What's inside: A stunning illustration on each spread is accompanied by a description of the beast, and whether humans saw them as a threat or as prey. The cause of extinction is included - humans and climate change feature heavily.  

What I liked: The book makes readers imagine what it would have been like for the stone-age humans who lived at the same time as these creatures. It feels as if they might come out of the woods at any moment. 

Who would enjoy it? Animal lovers will enjoy it, and dinosaur lovers might be persuaded to branch out. 

To sum up: Warnings abound in this book. Many of these were dangerous animals, and their extinct status allows the warnings to be fun and playful, but still thrilling. 

Published by Walker Books

What do you get if you cross a science book with a joke book? 

Funny Plants, by Paul Mason and Tony de Saulles.

Some of the plants might have grown googly eyes and started talking, but young scientists won’t be disappointed by how much they learn.

What's inside: Each spread takes three plants that share an unusual feature, like a bad smell, or glowing in the dark, or, umm, being a fungus and not a plant. Jokey cartoons sit alongside short pieces of information. 

What I liked: In summer I listen for the sound of gorse seed pods popping, so the page on exploding plants appealed to me. 

Who would enjoy it? Even the keenest of young botanists are unlikely to have heard of many of the plants in this book. Kids who like silly things of any variety will also enjoy learning. 

To sum up: There is no better way to meet a squirting cucumber or a mushroom that oozes blue goo. 

Published by Wayland

Brainy About Bears 

by Owen Davey

When I tell people I had a stand-off with a bear, they ask me what type of bear. I tell them. Oh, just a black bear, they say. No reason to be terrified. Thank you, Owen Davey, for including a life-sized drawing of a black bear claw in your book. 

What's inside: Together with details on diet, sleep, cubs and habitat, the book explores unexpected topics like bear mythology and ancient bears. It also covers the challenges some bears face due to climate change - and how to stay safe in bear country. 

What I liked: I enjoyed seeing a bear from each species drawn to scale and walking across the page alongside a human. Another spread awards rosettes to species for being number one among bears, from best swimmer to largest claws. 

Who would enjoy it? The book would suit confident and curious readers. There is nothing childish about the language nor the striking artwork, so this is not a book that anyone will outgrow. 

To sum up: If you lack an interest in bears at the beginning, you’ll be a fan by the end. 

Published by Flying Eye Books

Cells

by Anna Claybourne

Dragonfly wings might look delicate and frail, but they have spiky cells that can kill bacteria. You can see a picture of the cells in this book, just below the jellyfish stinging cell and the skin cell that can change a squid’s colour. 

What's inside: Cartoons, under-the-microscope photos and short pieces of text take a challenging area of science and make it not just accessible but fun. 

What I liked: I always enjoy seeing the different scale of things, so I especially liked the different types of cell lined up next to a larger-than-life strand of human hair. 

Who would enjoy it? Despite challenging vocabulary, bite-sized chunks of text make the book perfect for young science fans, whether or not they are devoted bookworms. 

To sum up: Bursting with facts and fun to look at for kids willing to take on some vocabulary. 

Published by Wayland