Book Monitor - books from across the world

Discover the unique ways children across the world celebrate Christmas in this captivating festive guide with 144 flaps to open.

This fact-packed around-the-world adventure is designed to be revisited year after year in the lead-up to Christmas, reminding readers all about the value of other cultures and the importance of accepting differences.

Each striking two-page spread covers the traditional Christmas foods, decorations and symbols of 10 different countries, complete with warm and merry illustrations to get readers ready for this wonderful celebration of love, harmony and goodwill to all.

On this fascinating, festive journey across continents:
 Visit a Christmas market in Germany

• In Italy, have a feast of seven fishes on Christmas Eve
• Hang out stockings on Christmas Eve in the UK
• Go to a special Christmas Ganna procession in Ethiopia
• In France, put your shoes by the fire and open your presents on Christmas Eve
• Go to a St Lucia’s day procession and have a smorgasbord on Julafton in Norway
• Be dazzled by the Nochebuena light displays in the Philippines
• In India, go to midnight mass and prepare a special Christmas Biryani with spices and nuts
• …and have a BBQ in the sunshine in Australia!
• Whether it’s discovering the magic of Yule in Scandinavia, the colourful Pinatas of Mexico, or the time-honoured rituals of Ethiopia, this Christmas journey is a heart-warming reminder of the universal joy and togetherness that Christmas embodies around the globe. Get ready to lift the flaps and be transported into a world of festive wonder, spreading the holiday spirit far and wide.

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

Drawing is not very different from riding a bicycle, whistling, or cooking a tortilla: learning any of these things just takes a little practice and a sense of humour.

For example, to draw an elephant, you start with a teapot. Next add eyes and tusks, finish with a tail and four legs . . . ta-da, you’ve got your elephant! And how do you draw a horse? First, draw an elephant.

Start with a Teapot is utmost nonsense and unarguable logic. How do you draw a snail, a stapler, a butterfly, a eukaryotic cell? How do you draw poop? Enric Lax inspires his readers to observe, transform, tell stories and make mistakes—that’s how to draw.

Enric Lax studied illustration in Barcelona and later the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna. His work has been exhibited in Catalonia and Belgium.

Born in Catalonia, Spain, he now lives in Brussels, where he teaches art.

Such a good idea and fascinating look at how to draw, and it does start with a teapot but finishes with a car!

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

Have you seen a bird today? Probably, unless you’re reading this in bed. Did you notice what was really interesting about that the bird? Investigating a bird is like solving a puzzle. To gather all the pieces, you look for clues: meet the omnibird.

An omnibird shares the basics of all birdlife: it was born from an egg, has feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard, perhaps a premium feature like spurs or a curuncle. Knowing the omnibird gives you a case file of information to investigate any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.

Omnibird investigates 18 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. Explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, find the fascinating in bird calls, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.

Giselle Clarkson is a freelance illustrator living in New Zealand. She illustrates beautiful books for children’s books, educational resources, commercial projects and more. Omnibird is also written by Giselle and gives an amazing wealth of information about all aspects of birds and how to find out more in a quirky and intriguing way.

Gecko Press is based in New Zealand and hand-picks books by some of the best writers and illustrators in the world—books of good heart and strong character, excellent in story, illustration and design. One of my favourite publishers, their books are amazing and just so readable!

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

This is the most fantastical book ever! It’s jam packed with amazing illustrations and intriguing text. From the bestselling author of The Wonder Garden comes the incredible The Fantastical Safari!

Step into some of the hardest to reach landscapes on earth and meet the extraordinary creatures who live there. Discover how they survive and thrive in some of the strangest, most remote and unusual places in the world.

This book uncovers the science and stories behind some of the world’s most fascinating animals – from the tree kangaroo in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to the vampire ground finch in the Galapagos Islands. Alongside breath-taking illustrations, readers will explore different destinations where every day consists of endurance, perseverance and survival for the animals and plants that live there.
 
With its stunning design, engaging storytelling and fascinating facts, this book encourages young readers to see the world in a whole new way. Whether exploring solo or sharing the adventure with family, this book is a gateway to curiosity, discovery and endless imagination.

Locations include:
The Mariana Trench
The Greenland Ice Shelf
The Galapagos Islands
The Highlands of Papua New Guinea
The Sahara Desert

Icelandic-born artist KRISTJANA S WILLIAMS studied graphic design and illustration at Central St Martins and quickly gained critical acclaim as Creative Director of Beyond the Valley for 8 years. Williams’ work has become well known throughout the industry, 2013 saw the studio Highly Commended for ‘Best Use of Color’ at the Dulux Color Awards. Kristjana has won a D&AD award, a New York Festivals Grand Prix & First Prize and been shortlisted for the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

Lucy Brownridge is an author and editor of children’s books based in London. She writes books for children about history of art, history, animals and science. She has an MA in history of art from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a BA in history of art from the University of Bristol. 

A great book for anyone and my copy is definitely staying with me!

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

What’s behind the eerie St Elmo’s Fire phenomenon? 
What was the mysterious explosion that tore through a Siberian forest in the early 1900s? 
And can fish and frogs really rain from the sky?

Travel around the globe and even into space with this dazzling natural history book, discovering the stories of nature’s rarest events and best-kept secrets.

From strange marvels of the night sky to the world’s weirdest weather events; from the most peculiar plants to rare and elusive animals; this book gathers together a jaw-dropping collection of natural wonders. Eclipses, ball lightning, pizzly bears . . . each stunningly illustrated spread explores a different phenomenon, including those that have baffled scientists through the centuries. 

Presented in five chapters – Amazing Space, Peculiar Plants, Unusual Animals, Weird Weather and Unique Wild Places – this is a celebration of nature at its quirkiest and most wonderful. Written by best-selling author Emily Hawkins and brought to life in glorious detail by illustrator Vlad Stankovic, this spectacular collection is the perfect title to gift, share and treasure for years to come.

Once a children’s book editor, Emily Hawkins is now a full-time author. Her work has been featured on the New York Times bestseller list (Oceanology, 2009) as well as winning the Children’s Travel Book of the Year Award (Atlas of Animal Adventures, 2016). Along with her background in children’s non-fiction Emily has a strong interest in myth, folklore and storytelling, and has written several titles in the Lost Atlases and Spin to Survive series (Wide Eyed Editions). In 2020 she wrote A Natural History of Fairies, which has been translated into twelve languages, selling more than 100,000 copies worldwide.

Vlad Stankovic is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Sydney, Australia. His inspiration comes from science and nature on one hand, and fantasy, fairy tales and all sorts of mysteries on the other. Created with both digital and traditional media, his illustrations can be seen published in picture books, greeting cards and other stationery products worldwide.

Absolutely super book, my copy is joining me this evening to discover more about our planet and beyond.

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

Poetry legend John Agard’s own selection of over 80 of his poems for younger readers, in a gift hardback edition. A legend in his own lifetime, John Agard is in a class by himself among leading poets for children. Here is a selection of 80 poems from the 1970s on, again available to entertain, delight, and challenge young readers.

From the poems, No Hickory, No Dickory, No Dock to The Last Bird, there is huge variety in this enormous range of poems from John Agard. This book will bring poetry alive to children of all ages, even though it is focussed on a younger age group.

John Agard is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and amongst other major achievements, he was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2012. A brilliant poet with an astute look on life.

Superbly evocative illustrations from Shirley Hottier, which match the theme of the poems so well.

Otter-Barry Books have always brought great poetry books for children and this is an amazing new title to have.

Love this edition and will donate the book to my favourite small school.

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

What happens when the summer ends? With beautifully drawn characters, lyrical depictions of the natural landscape, brotherly love, family loyalty – and surfing. A powerful and thought-provoking summer read.

Rhys lives in a small town on the Devon coast, where seasonal work dries up as winter storms hit, housing is hard to come by and livelihoods are threatened by distant bureaucrats. Life is much harder for Rhys and his two younger brothers than tourists can possibly know.

It is only when surfing that Rhys finds solace in the beauty around him: the crashing waves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. But when that solace is taken, his tinder-dry rage is soon ignited. Determined to defend his family from a life blighted by social neglect and poverty, Rhys is drawn to Dodo, a radical political activist. Before long, Rhys’ actions spiral out of control, with dire consequences for himself and those he loves.

Nicola Garrard is a poet, and author of the critically-acclaimed novels 29 Locks and 21 Miles. She grew up on the Devon coast, growing vegetables and fishing to eke out her family’s earnings. Nicola has been a teacher in Inner London for over 20 years and now lives in West Sussex with her wife, three children and dog.

Old Barn Books are an independent publisher with a great collection of books for all ages of children. On the Edge is in their YA / crossover novel in August 2025. Nicola Garrard’s writing is beautiful and she has a keen ear for teen language and concerns. You really won’t be able to put this one down!

Amazingly for me, I read to the end in two sessions, the first time for ages that I have become so entranced with a book. A must read for the summer holidays.

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

What happens when the summer ends? Sea, surf and impossible dreams… This book had me fixed as soon as I read the first few pages, the story is powerful beyond measure. It fixes with a time in your life when dreams are to be made but yet life gets in the way! A story for YA/crossover and for anyone who has, or had dreams!

Rhys lives in a small town on the Devon coast, where seasonal work dries up as winter storms hit, housing is hard to come by and livelihoods are threatened by distant bureaucrats. Life is much harder for Rhys and his two younger brothers than tourists can possibly know.

It is only when surfing that Rhys finds solace in the beauty around him: the crashing waves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. But when that solace is taken, his tinder-dry rage is soon ignited. Determined to defend his family from a life blighted by social neglect and poverty, Rhys is drawn to Dodo, a radical political activist. Before long, Rhys’ actions spiral out of control, with dire consequences for himself and those he loves.

Nicola Garrard, author, grew up in South Devon and reflects her knowledge of the area into the book, bringing it alive. Her previous novel 29 Locks has been shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction and its sequel 21 Miles has had excellent reviews.

Old Barn Books is an independent publisher of amazing books including picture books and fiction for +9 years. They look for the best in both illustration and writing.

In a short time as I read this book, it just gripped me and held me in its grasp. I recommend it hugely and would say… ‘”Just buy it!”

Sue Martin Specialist in Children’s Literature

A brilliant celebration of the many wonderful animals from around the whole world! From rainforests to rockpools, woodlands to cities, One World, Many Animals introduces children to the amazing animals in different types of habitats. 

We share the world with millions of other animal species. They live in hot places, cold places, busy places and wild places. Planet Earth is their home, just like it is our home.

Discover where your favourite animals live, then learn how you can help wildlife around you with tips from travel writer Ben Lerwill.

•  From a jaguar creeping through the steamy Amazonian rainforest to a snow leopard on a Himalayan mountainside, there are plenty of animals to see
  
•  Beautiful illustrations and lyrical descriptions bring to life coral reefs, sandy deserts, woodlands, rockpools and the bustling city – plus more!
  
•  A perfect introduction to biodiversity around the world
  
•  A wonderful companion title to One World, Many Colours

One World, Many Animals will delight readers with vibrant descriptions of wild animals from Ben Lerwill, and there is so much to spot in the colourful pages brought to life with artwork by Alette Straathof. Another brilliant book from words and Pictures, part of the Quarto Group, such beautiful books

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

Explore the wonders of bees with this gorgeously illustrated book by renowned zoologist Camilla de la Bedoyere and award-winning illustrator Philip Giordano.

This delightfully wild book covers everything a young nature lover could want to discover about bees. From learning how bees use their bodies to communicate with each other to understanding how a swarm is formed, this book is filled with fascinating facts about bees. With eye-catching illustrations and practical tips, Wild Your World Bees is the ideal guide to understanding and nurturing the wildlife that shares our world.

The book begins with a comprehensive introduction to bees. Learn all about bee basics, from the make-up of a bee’s anatomy to how honey is made. Then, discover the many different species of bees across the world, from orchid bees to mason bees.

This carefully crafted guide features:

Expert Knowledge Made Accessible
Written by Zoologist Camilla de la Bedoyere, this book breaks down detailed information into fun, digestible segments suitable for children.

Illustrations That Educate and Entertain
Experience the wonders of the natural world with vivid illustrations and diagrams, with plenty of fascinating details to pore over.

Practical Tips for Helping Wildlife
Discover practical tips for helping bees thrive where you live.

The Wild Your World series immerses young readers in the natural world with expert knowledge and rich illustrations. Discover more about the wild around you with Wild Your World Birds.

An amazing series and a beautiful book, ideal for schools, libraries and homes too.

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist