Small, Sparkling Raindrop

‘Small, Sparkling Raindrop’ is the latest in the ‘Start Small, Think Big’ series. These lovely books thoughtfully present information by starting with things children are familiar with and connecting these to the bigger picture of the world.

In this book, children follow the path of a raindrop from the moment it falls from a cloud. Through its journey, they learn about the water cycle, the vital role water plays for all living things, how water shapes the land and the importance of clean water to the environment.

The text is beautifully presented, supported by attractive, eye-catching illustrations. The raindrop tells its own story at each stage, clearly and concisely explaining what is happening whilst additional information is also offered, written in italics to be easily differentiated from the raindrop’s narrative.

An excellent classroom resource, the book links with many curriculum areas and, although geared at a KS1 audience, would be very useful in KS2, supporting understanding of topics such as the water cycle or rivers. Technical vocabulary associated with these subjects is carefully used and explained, for example, children learn why a river delta has this name. The book focuses on the Mekong river, offering a chance to enrich the curriculum by drawing attention to a river which might not be a ‘typical’ classroom choice and offering potential for further research and discovery.

As with all the titles in this series, the book concludes with a fold-out which pulls together all the information covered through the book, plus offers an I-Spy game which encourages readers to re-explore the book, hunting for the animals.

A great addition to the series!

Start Small, Think Big: Small, Sparkling River

Mary Auld, illustrated by Lou Baker Smith

Mama Makes Books ISBN: 978-1916780101

You can read my review of ‘Flying, Fluffy Seed’ here and ‘Small, Speckled Egg’/ ‘Little, Brown Nut’ here.

Earth’s Incredible Places: Amazon River

Like the other books in the ‘Earth’s Amazing Places’ series, ‘Amazon River’ is a beautifully illustrated text, perfect for supporting working in KS2/3 or for browsing independently. Starting with an introduction that gives an overview about this amazing river, the book is then divided into four clear sections: From Source to Sea, Wildlife of the Riverbank, People of the Rainforest and Life on the River.

Clear side headings and succinct, accessible section of text make this a very readable and engaging book and an index and glossary help to make it a useful resource for research as well. Additionally, there are notes at the end of the book to support teachers with ideas for four possible topics for investigation and suggestions for further reading.

The book is a fascinating read from start to finish, celebrating the diversity and wonders of the Amazon, including the indigenous people of the area and some of their myths and legends. Each spread is stunning with colourful illustrations bringing the detailed text to life. Completely absorbing, there really is something for everyone to learn and enjoy here.

Earth’s Incredible Places: Amazon River

Sangma Francis, illustrated by Romolo D’Hipolito

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838741464

You can read my review of Earth’s Incredible Places: Yellowstone here, Earth’s Incredible Places: Everest here and The Great Barrier Reef here.