Non-fiction and information books


After a surfeit of stories about old men improbably delivering presents to all the world’s youth in one night, readers are probably more than ready for non-fiction at Christmas and this year has seen publication of many handsome, well-designed information books. Peter Frankopan has carefully adapted his acclaimed history book The Silk Roads for young readers. Condensed into 128 pages, and with stunning new illustrations by Neil Packer, this version makes clear the interconnectedness of the world, not just today, but throughout history, showing how east and west have always been joined via trade, people, war, religion. It’s an important message and the book will leave children inspired as well as informed. In a very different way, over 300+ pages in Absolutely Everything, Christopher Lloyd, creator of the ingenious What On Earth timeline books, also shows how history, from the dinosaurs to the modern day, is a process of one thing leading to another, with the world a much more connected place than you’d think from studying chunks of British history. This is a book to dip into, return to and one that will also inspire readers to discover more themselves. For specialists, Dictionary of Dinosaurs is a comprehensive alphabetical guide with dinosaur portraits and diagrams created by illustrator Dieter Braun that is sure to keep would-be palaeontologists happy for hours. How Does a Lighthouse Work? by Roman Belyaev takes readers into lighthouses explaining how and why they work, how they are built, and their history, all over stylishly illustrated colour pages. Rivers by Peter Goes is another huge book, just right for poring over on the floor, and beautifully illustrated. It details the world’s major rivers, and shows that by understanding them, we can understand the people who live beside them and journey along them. Usborne’s Lift-the-Flap Engineering is an interactive, eye-opening and again inspiring volume that explains how behind practically everything in our world is an engineer, from bridges, roads and airports to planes and spacecraft, to medical equipment. Fun and informative, and the world needs engineers, male and female.


Silly stories, novelty books and stocking fillers


And finally, a selection of books to stick in a stocking: Santa’s Wonderful Workshop is a typically funny, irreverent and ingenious picture book by Elys Dolan and its not-quite punchline: ‘The children are happy, the penguins are happy, and no-one got eaten by a bear’ justifies the cover price alone; similarly Super Frozen Magic Forest by Matty Dolan is super inventive and super silly, with more frosty in-jokes than you can shake a shovel at; while The Funniest Book Ever, seven favourite stories from the Phoenix Comic in one volume guarantees giggles or your money back. Danny Wallace is on cracking form in Hamish and the Terrible Terrible Christmas which serves up three self-contained stories starring Hamish, Elliott and Alice, stars of his Worldstopper series, and provides a first-class helping of comedy and excitement. The


Storm Keeper’s Island by


Catherine Doyle, a brilliantly realised and original fantasy adventure full of danger, excitement, and family love, will keep them rapt, even on Christmas morning while Have Sword Will Travel by Garth Nix and Sean Williams is another bit of fabulous fantasy for those aged 9+ and very funny to boot. For younger fans of fantasy adventures, The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club delivers the kind of excitement that will last into the New Year, especially now the sequel Explorers on Witch Mountain is out. First published twenty years ago, Henrietta Branford’s story of the peasants’ revolt as witnessed by a dog, Fire, Bed and Bone deserves to be recognised as a modern classic and is as vital as it ever was, and even more topical. And to bring us back to where we started, for readers of 6 - 8


The First Christmas Jumper by Ryan Tubridy and Chris Judge starring patchwork ewe Hillary, is charming, silly and utterly joyful.


Happy Christmas reading, one and all.


Take the list of recommended books with you when you go Christmas shopping.


Andrea Reece is managing editor of Books for Keeps.


8 Books for Keeps No.233 November 2018


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