Publishers Flying Eye have acquired a reputation for producing eye catching books packed with detail that make learning appealing to children. A browse through their latest catalogue is hugely tempting and here are two of their recent titles that would be perfect for school library, classroom and home bookshelves.

Amazon River by Sangma Francis and Romulo D’Hipolito

Amazon River is a beautifully illustrated book following the journey of the world’s largest river from its tiny beginnings in the mountains until it flows into the ocean. Packed full of facts, stunning illustrations and details of flora, fauna, indigenous people, life on the river and more besides this comprehensive guide will satisfy the most curious child.

The introduction provides a welcome that invites the reader to explore ‘Nature’s Palace’ and from then on the book is divided into sections covering the many different aspects of the Amazon. From Source to Sea charts the journey including the different types of water and a look at the water cycle itself; Wildlife of the Riverbank describes the ecosystem of the river and the various creatures large and small which inhabit the river and its surroundings; in People of the Forest we meet the ancient civilisations and some of the many different societies; Life on the River incorporates everything from fishing to the city of Manaus and ends with the work done by climate activists.

The presentation of all this information is excellent. Large colourful illustrations demand time and focus to explore them properly and this is a book to savour. This would be wonderful to browse for general interest but includes fascinating facts that may surprise such as the recent discovery of the Hamza River that flows four kilometres down beneath the surface of the Amazon. The book asks questions too and encourages young readers to think about the natural world and its protection and our connection to it. A visually stunning book with enough information to satisfy the most curious of children. Perfect for Upper KS2 for cross-curricular study.

Curious Creatures: Glowing in the Dark by Zoe Armstrong illustrated by Anna Susanj

Curious Creatures: Glowing in the Dark takes a look at some of the most interesting animals that live on our planet. Those featured including fireflies, angler fish, sea turtles and squirrels all have something in common; they glow! The introduction explains how and why this happens and the difference between bioluminescence, created by chemical reaction, and biofluorescence, transforming ultraviolet light. The reader then discovers the many different types of animals with these features and their habitats; we explore the deep oceans, the forests and caves learning as we go. This is all presented in language that primary school children will understand and comparisons and examples from everyday life enable children to relate to the subject more easily.

It is a thoughtful touch to mention that ‘bioflurescence is something of a mystery – like a language we haven’t learned yet.’ Children will enjoy realising that adults are still learning too, even scientists. The book finishes with a section explaining that these creatures are inspiring humans to find new ways to save energy which is an encouraging note to end on. This is an extremely engaging information book about a subject that children will probably find intriguing. Full of wonder and presented in a lively manner with appealing illustrations this deserves a place in all primary schools.

Both these books are available to purchase on the Flying Eye Books website and I should like to thank the publishers for providing my review copies.