Nicola Davies

An exquisite book that evokes a child's first experience of nature. From beachcombing to stargazing, from watching squirrels, ducks and worms to making berry crumble or a winter bird feast, this is a remarkable book – part poetry, part scrapbook of recipes, facts and fragments – and a glorious reminder that the natural world is on our doorstep waiting to be discovered. Mark Hearld's pictures beautifully reproduce the colours of the seasons on woodfree paper, and Nicola Davies' lyrical words capture the simple loveliness that is everywhere, if only we can look.

"Pitch-perfect throughout, enthusiastic and confident. . . . Positively ducky all around." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) The young girl in this story may live in the city, but outside her window there's a river full of mallard ducks She hears them as soon as she wakes up, and on the way to school she sees them upside down bobbing for food. Interspersed with fun facts, her enthusiastic commentary about her feathered neighbors -- what they look like, how they behave, where they nest, where they sleep -- pairs swimmingly with cheerful watercolor illustrations. Back matter includes an index and a note about ducks.

Michael, a young boy growing up on the tropical island of Rose Town, has been saving up for his own fishing boat for years. But when a terrible storm wrecks his home, Michael is forced to take a job working for a rich, mysterious newcomer named Spargo. Spargo asks Michael to search for one thing in the deep waters around Rose Town - whales . . .

Lift the flaps and learn about animal life with two books in a fresh, fun-filled series for curious preschoolers. Here's a hungry chameleon with a long, long tongue. And here's a big juicy caterpillar. Can you guess what happens next? What if a honeybee comes upon a beautiful patch of flowers, but the members of her hive don't know how to find her? Or if two chimps want to munch on termites that are out of reach deep inside a mound? Peek under large flaps to find out -- and refresh your memory at the end

An exquisite book that evokes a child's first experience of nature. From beachcombing to stargazing, from watching squirrels, ducks and worms to making berry crumble or a winter bird feast, this is a remarkable book – part poetry, part scrapbook of recipes, facts and fragments – and a glorious reminder that the natural world is on our doorstep waiting to be discovered. Mark Hearld's pictures beautifully reproduce the colours of the seasons on woodfree paper, and Nicola Davies' lyrical words capture the simple loveliness that is everywhere, if only we can look.

Chipo and his little sister Gentle live on Papa Fudu's dumpsite in Rubbish Town, searching for valuable things amongst the rubbish to try to stay alive. Life isn't easy - luckily, Chipo has spirit, courage and lots of imagination! And now, he has a plan... But when Chipo and Gentle are caught with something precious that Papa Fudu wants for himself, they have to think quick, move fast. Suddenly they're on the run... Along with their friend Dede and their loyal dog, Mouse, Chipo and Gentle set off on a dangerous and exciting journey to find a safe place to call home - meeting a cast of extraordinary characters along the way.

This gorgeously illustrated volume of poetry -- sprinkled with facts and fun things to do -- sows an early love for nature in all its beauty and wonder. The buzz of bees in summertime. The tracks of a bird in the winter snow. This beautiful book captures all the sights and sounds of a child's interactions with nature, from planting acorns or biting into crisp apples to studying tide pools or lying back and watching the birds overhead. No matter what's outside their windows -- city streets or country meadows -- kids will be inspired to explore the world around them. Written by award-winning author Nicola Davies and illustrated by Mark Hearld, a breathtaking new talent in children's books, Outside Your Window is a stunning reminder that the natural world is on our doorstep waiting to be discovered.

Dog wasn't really a dog, she was a human girl. But she was called Dog because that is what Uncle had always called her. Dog has never been outside of nasty Uncle's pet shop. She sleeps in a box on a floor and has no idea what the world outside looks like. Then in a flurry of colour and feathers, Carlos the parrot arrives in the shop and her world as she knows it changes for ever. Managing to escape, Dog, Carlos and her best friend Esme the coati set out, in search of the same thing, somewhere they belong, somewhere they can call home. But the world is a huge, dangerous place, and they face danger and adventure at every turn . . . A spirit-soaring tale of adventure, friendship and belonging that will appeal to all lovers of Michael Morpurgo and Roald Dahl.

"Playful, but filled with information, this book takes poop out of the sewers and into the scientific community where it belongs." --The Horn Book Hippos navigate by it, sloths keep in touch through it, dung beetles eat it . . . and most grown-ups would rather not mention it. But scientists who study animal feces find out all sorts of things, such as the number of insects a bat eats or just how a T. rex devoured a triceratops 70 million years ago. Poop is an excellent prototype for recycling and perhaps the most useful stuff on Earth. Take a peek at Poop and find out what it's for, where it goes, and how much we can learn from it. Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

"Upplev monster i 3D. Med hjälp av datorn reser sig havets dolda jättar ur boken, rör sig fritt och vrålar högt - så vi verkligen kan se dem. När vi tänker på monster förknippar vi dem ofta med varelser som hör hemma i det förflutna eller i rysare - inte i verkligheten. Men monster finns faktiskt också på riktigt, vilket boken Monster från havets djup visar. De flesta gömmer sig i världshaven och det är därför vi människor sällan står öga mot öga med ett verkligt monster. Boken tar med läsaren långt ned i det nästan bottenlösa havet och ser på jättarna som bor i detta otillgängliga område. Böckerna Levande dinosaurier och Monster från havets djup vänder sig till barn men 3D-animationen, som får dessa gigantiska djur att verka så levande, fascinerar säkert också vuxna. Med datorns pilknappar kan man nämligen själv få de stora djuren att röra sig och på så sätt studera dem på mycket nära håll. Tekniken är enkel. Det enda man behöver är en dator och en webbkamera. I boken finns en liten symbol tryckt på sidorna som fungerar som en streckkod. Webbkameran skannar streckkodsymbolen och gör därigenom djuren levande - bokstavligt talat. Men det är ganska lätt att få havsmonstren och dinosaurierna att försvinna igen. Man behöver bara stänga boken."

Some farms are up in the hills ... or down long, winding lanes ... but Silver Street Farm is different – it's right in the middle of a town! Meera, Gemma and Karl have always dreamed of a farm of their own, and when Meera discovers an abandoned railway station called Silver Street it seems like their dream might one day come true. But events happen quicker than the children could ever have expected – some eggs they thought were off surprisingly hatch into fluffy ducklings, some poodles bought on the internet turn out to be lambs, and soon Silver Street Farm is up and running. The news of a city farm spreads like wildfire and the council try to shut it down – but the good citizens of Lonchester are determined to save it, and, thanks to a friendly policeman and some singing supporters, Silver Street Farm survives – with several additions including a dog that herds chickens and some sweet but stubborn goats. The first in a charming series of fun-filled animal adventures on Silver Street Farm.

"A charming and informative story about a pipistrelle bat. . . . Offers vivid descriptions of the animal's flight, its navigational skills, andthe hunt for food." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Night has fallen, and Bat awakens to find her evening meal. Follow her as she swoops into the shadows, shouting and flying, the echoes of her voice creating a sound picture of the world around her. When morning light creeps into the sky, Bat returns to the roost to feed her baby . . . and to rest until nighttime comes again. Bat loves the night "

"The subject is inherently fascinating to kids, who will find a good deal of information. . . . The artwork adds a welcome comic veneer." -- Booklist Mites and lice, fleas, ticks, and tapeworms -- most living creatures that have a habitat also are a habitat, including you (are you itchy yet?). Unwelcome guests -- parasites -- are everywhere, from the barnacles hitching a ride on a humpback whale's head to the tiny flies that control a bee's brain and make it literally dig its own grave. Now an expert team returns for an in-depth look at how these insidious critters do it, whether it's leaping aboard moving targets or morphing their body shapes, and what their unwitting hosts have learned to do to fight back and reclaim their space. Back matter includes an index and a glossary.

"Few children now have access to the open woodlands and grasslands frequented by barn owls, but they can all enjoy the magic of the bird thanks to this lovely introduction." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A young girl and her grandfather look for a barn owl night after night. Will a distinctive heart-shaped face appear at the window? Michael Foreman's lush, intimate paintings are a perfect companion to Nicola Davies's lyrical text featuring intriguing facts about a rare bird indeed. Back matter includes further information about nest boxes and an index.

Follow the path of the awe-inspiring polar bear as it strives to survive in an age-old Arctic habitat threatened by global warming. Huge, magnificent, and solitary, a polar bear moves through the frozen Arctic. Powerful hunter, tireless swimmer, tender mother, gentle playmate -- she is superbly adapted for surviving, even thriving, in this harsh and icy climate. Written in poetic language interspersed with fascinating facts, Nicola Davies' breathtaking tale of this massive, stark white animal is brought to life in striking paintings by Gary Blythe. Just as the Inuit people have watched and learned from this amazing creature for generations, readers are invited to witness the majesty of Ice Bear. Back matter includes a note about polar bears and an index.

"Everything works in this book -- the informative yet humorous writing, the not-too-scary illustrations, and a superb layout that employs multisized text and bright color backgrounds to great effect." -- The Horn Book "SHAAAARRRKK " That's probably the last word anyone wants to hear while swimming in the warm blue sea. But most sharks aren't at all what people expect. In fact, those who think all sharks are giant, man-eating killers are in for a surprise. The compelling narrative, colorful illustrations, and captivating facts in Surprising Sharks reveal that sharks come in all shapes and sizes -- and probably should be more afraid of humans than we are of them. Back matter includes an index and a note about sharks.