Engaging reads for children, from Books go Walkabout

Category: Happy Yak

The World’s Most Atrocious Animals by Philip Bunting

This witty, quirky, colourfully illustrated and fact-filled book features some of the most terrifying and shocking animals on the planet! 
The third title in the series from the hilarious Philip Bunting is filled with facts about some of the scariest creatures in the natural world.


Meet the enormous murder hornets of east and southeast Asia, the poisonous blue-ringed octopus, Africa’s hungry but deadly hippos and some truly shocking electric eels, among many more truly scary creatures!

The antagonist voice (speaking though cheeky annotations) points out the most frightening aspects of each creature’s characteristics, while the narrator’s voice describes engaging, factual information about each animal’s seemingly scary characteristics. Are they really as scary as they seem?

With hilarious text throughout and bright, contemporary illustrations, this guide to terrifying animals contains funny labelled diagrams and fabulous facts. It will help teach kids about the animals we fear and whether their gruesome reputation is deserved!

Philip Buntings books have been translated into multiple languages, and published in over 25 countries around the world. Since his first title was published in 2017, Philip has received multiple accolades, including Honours from the Children’s Book Council of Australia. His titles include Mopoke and How Did I Get Here? Philip’s work deliberately encourages playful interaction between the reader and child, allowing his books to create a platform for genuine intergenerational engagement, and fun. Philip lives in Queensland, Australia.

Happy Yak are the publishers, an imprint of Quarto Knows with an amazing portfolio of intriguing books for children.

Quirky Creatures is a series dedicated to seeking out the weird and wonderful denizens of the natural world and explaining why they are so strange, from the ridiculous to the truly terrifying. Also available in this series is The World’s Most Ridiculous Animals and The World’s Most Pointless Animals.

Sue Martin – Children’s Literacy Specialist

The Secret Life of Oceans by Moira Butterfield and illustrated by Vivian Mineker

The Secret Life of Oceans is a stunning book, full of wonderful images with delightful stories and engaging facts. It will enable a love of Oceans and nature on the next generation, inspiring them to look after the world around them.This book has been on my coffee table and is a real joy for anyone visiting. It just looks so inviting and is a ‘Wow’ with everyone who opens the book!

For instance , did you know that blue whales are the largest creatures on earth? And that corals are actually tiny creatures?
Tia the green turtle guides you through this beautiful first guide to ocean life around the globe. Learn about ocean homes and who lives where, big creatures (whales and whale sharks), little creatures (baby animals to zooplankton), incredible journeys, sea weather, and how to help save our oceans.  Intertwined in the facts you can read magical folklore sea stories from around the planet.


Following on from The Secret of Trees, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Secret Life of BirdsOceans is the next book in the series. Sumptuous and detailed illustrations have pride of place in this magical book that mixes natural history with a splash of fantasy, creating a book to be pored over time and again.

Moira Butterfield is an internationally published children’s book author. Her work includes picture books, board books, fiction and highly commended non-fiction books that seek to spark a child’s imagination about our world. She currently lives in Bath, UK, with her family, where she loves to cycle, sew and sing. 

Vivian Mineker is a Taiwanese American from Taipei and Portland, currently working out of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her interest in art began at a young age, using drawing to express herself and her inner imaginary world. She uses watercolour, coloured pencil and digital processes to create a blend of traditional texture with a modern look and feel.

Happy Yak are the publishers and are part of Quarto group of publishers, they have a great range of eye catching designs bringing non-fiction title to life.

Sue Martin – Children’s Literacy Specialist

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