Hummingbird

Nicola Davies / Jane Ray

Walker Books (hardback 32 pages)

This gorgeous book is a collaboration between the amazing zoologist and nature-lover Nicola Davies and superb artist Jane Ray. These award-winning creatives have combined to make the most beautiful and informative picture book.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is one of over 300 different kinds of hummingbird which has the most epic migration journey. They have a flight range of around 1800 miles between Mexico and Central America to the East of the USA each spring. This seems even more magnificent when you consider that the bird weighs less than an American nickel.

Nicola Davies’ familiar non-fiction fiction tells the story of the hummingbird’s journey from the viewpoint of a granny and granddaughter, and compares the journey to that of the young girl travelling on a plane to her parents in New York. Scientific facts about the hummingbirds are written alongside the story so you learn as the story progresses. Nutrition, feeding, nesting, sleeping and physical characteristics are all covered. A small section at the back gives further detail about these amazing birds.

Jane Ray’s illustrations are absolutely incredible and each spread is a riot of colour. The detail on the birds, flowers and blossom in particular is incredible, and we especially like the pieces of map built in to the mountains. The endpapers are also stunning!

This book is beautiful, informative and colourful; it’s a triumph for both author and illustrator as it feeds the eye and the mind and leaves both fully satisfied.

We bought this copy of Hummingbird ourselves. You can find out more about Nicola Davies at her website or you could follow her on Twitter. You can also visit illustrator Jane Ray’s website or follow her on Twitter too.

If you’d like to buy a copy, why not visit your local independent bookshop or buy online.

ABC of Opera: The Academy of Barmy Composers

Baroque

Mark Llewelyn Evans and Karl Davies

Graffeg

Here is a unique book, the first in a series, that aims to tell the story of baroque music to a new, young (8+) audience. It’s an eye-catching and engaging volume and educational too. Further books on classical, romantic and modern music styles will follow.

The books have been put together by Mark Llewelyn Evans, himself an opera star with a successful career and wealth of experience with Welsh National Opera and other UK-wide companies. Mark is the creative director of ABC of Opera; an organisation offering educational workshops around the country (more info here). Established landscape artist Karl Davies has ventured into the world of illustration and has brought the words to life with incredibly sparky artwork in this colourful and vibrant book.

Mark Llewelyn Evans says: ‘I was 14 when I saw my first opera and was blown away by the whole experience. To this day opera still captivates me, and I wanted to introduce the next generation to this incredible art form in a unique way – one that would not only engage them with the beautiful music but also with the genius composers who created this world. I wanted each composer to come alive, step out of the book and into the hearts of the children. With 97% of the children we have met through the ABC of Opera workshops asking to meet the composers, we knew it was time to open the doors to The Academy of Barmy Composers.’

With Karl Davies, Mark has created a storybook that takes us back in time to learn factual information about the baroque period and its composers. Jack and Megan find a forgotten trunk in an old music hall which takes them back to 1597. They meet the inventor of opera, Professor Peri, who introduces them to the likes of Monteverdi, Handel and Purcell. The narrative text, in many ways, makes this an accessible book to a wide audience. Little footnotes and wry nuggets of explanation adorn the pages making it great fun. There follows some extremely informative pages at the back of the book where fact-seekers will revel in learning about other baroque composers, baroque instruments, operatic voices and more!

Opera is defined as a story set to music and this thrilling history of baroque music is aptly wrapped in a story that will delight and educate in equal measure. We can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

The Secret Dragon

Ed Clarke

Puffin

The Secret Dragon is a wonderful story set on the South Wales coast, inspired by visits to the beaches of the Vale of Glamorgan. Ed Clarke lives in London but the story evolved as he visited his parents.

Mari Jones, inspired by her father, is a young fossil hunter and aspiring scientist. She makes a remarkable discovery on the beach one day – a tiny gwiber or wyvern hatches from the rock. Mari’s mother is tolerant of her passion for paleontology but is far from encouraging and so Mari feels unable to share her revelatory discovery. But can she keep the secret to herself? She wants to honour her father’s memory with ‘Gweeb’ and so begins to study it carefully, putting together her findings before ‘going public’. However, the secret is hard to keep, especially as the dragon is full of mischief and keeps escaping.

This is a great adventure story full of humour and heart. Mari, an isolated and quirky individual, is forced to learn the value of friendship and family. She’s a great character – resourceful, headstrong and determined – even when things are against her. Ed Clarke’s narrative is enchanting and absorbing with more than a touch of danger and there are plenty of life lessons along the way.

The Secret Dragon is recommended for readers 8+, but there is plenty to keep older readers engrossed and engaged throughout.

We received a free copy of The Secret Dragon from Puffin in exchange for this honest review. You can find out more about Ed Clarke at his website or you could follow him on Twitter.

The cover of The Secret Dragon was illustrated by Ben Mantle. If you’d like to buy a copy, why not visit your local independent bookshop or buy online.