My First Book of Birds Zoë Ingram

This is a smashing little book that introduces to youngsters twenty or so birds that commonly visit our UK gardens.

Such is the quality of Zoë Ingram’s illustrations that as well as taking delight in them, little ones can use them to help in avian identification.

After an opening spread explaining that the birds are presented in size order as well as talking about conservation status (this is given to each one in the ‘Bird Facts window) and feeding, each bird is showcased in a double spread.

The first is the tiny Goldcrest, Europe’s smallest bird, while the largest and final bird is the omnivorous Magpie that has a wingspan about four times larger than the Goldcrest.

In between are some real beauties including the mellifluous colourful Goldfinch, the yellow-billed Blackbird and the glossy feathered Starling.

As well as the facts window, each bird has a paragraph about such things as plumage, diet, song – plus there are egg facts and a ‘Did you know?’

Ideal for home use as well as to add to a primary school collection; it’s important that youngsters get acquainted with birds and this is a great starting point.

Discovering Architecture Eduard Altarriba and Berta Bardí I Milà

The urge to build structures is seemingly, a universal human trait. I spent some of the spring Easter break constructing a den in a quiet woodland glade in Bushy Park, from a fallen tree truck and branches, with a six-year old and her soon to be four, brother.

When they are ready to discover more about the build environment, this tremendous introduction should prove invaluable.

The graphic designer and illustrator Eduard Altarriba has already introduced young readers to Quantum Physics and now in a similarly engaging manner presents a look at iconic buildings through history, their creators and some of the items that might be found inside such buildings.

Starting with the earliest known building projects, the pyramids of Egypt, Iraq and Mexico, classical Greek, Roman and Byzantine places of worship, domestic and vernacular architecture from many parts of the world, information on architects such as Antoni Gaudí, Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Zaha Hadid, readers are given a superb presentation of things and people architectural.

The final spreads focus on architecture’s basic elements – there’s a cut-away diagram of the principal parts of a building; what being an architect entails and lastly a look at what buildings might be like in the future (it’s good to see sustainability given a paragraph here).

Altarriba packs a wealth of absorbing information into the uncluttered spreads, so finely designed and illustrated by university lecturer at the School of Architecture, UPC, Barcelona.

Perfect for KS2 readers and perhaps adults wanting a starting point for the topic.