STEAM

Based on their bestselling A History of Pictures, artist David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford discuss the development of pictures from cave paintings to the computer screen. Hockney’s voice is that of an artist reflecting on how artists created their work, while Gayford supplies plenty of solid information about the development of visual media over millennia. Throughout the book, the reader is reminded that art is a continuum: an artist is influenced by what earlier artists have done and how they did it.

This board book is part of a series of non-fiction titles introducing science to babies. Botany for Babies has colourful illustrations which set out interesting facts on the life cycle of a plant accompanied by simple text which further allows the reader to expand on the information given on each page.

This strikingly visual, impressively holistic consideration of the oceans incorporates science, history, mythology and geography alongside experiments, crafts and witty asides. The content is carefully paced, never overwhelming with facts and skilfully balancing informative sections with open ended questions and activities.

Dara Ó Briain, the intelligent and brilliantly funny author of Beyond the Sky, has written a second book for children called Secret Science.

In Beyond the Sky, the mysteries of the universe were explored. In Secret Science, Ó Briain turns his attention to the amazing world of our everyday lives. The book explains all of the incredible science that occurs from the moment we wake up to the time we drift off to sleep.

Dogs in Space introduces children to the amazing story of Belka and Strelka, the world-famous Soviet space dogs. Belka and Strelka were strays living on the streets, before they were rescued and taken to Moscow’s Space Centre. Because of their clever, calm, brave and obedient behaviour, they were selected to be canine cosmonauts. After intensive doggy training, they were launched in a rocket and became the first ever living creatures to successfully orbit the Earth.

This new picturebook is the fourth in Walker’s Science Storybook series. Described as a ‘science storybook about growing’, it introduces the life cycle of the bean plant and the butterfly to very young readers. The main text and illustrations describe the life cycles in a storytelling format; additional facts are provided in the form of smaller text hidden within the illustrations.

The Clue is in the Poo is all about making factual things fun. From the intriguing title to the characterful animals that fill its pages, it is packed with fascinating, funny facts about the natural world that you can discover through the animal droppings, tracks and other traces that are left behind.

In Focus Forests is an accessible and unique non-fiction book. Although there is a distinct lack of an overall introduction to the book, there is an impressive amount of interesting information here. Aside from the stories of trees and forests, there are facts on animals, history and science, as well as information on weather, geography, culture and people.

Steve Mould, the physicist, comedian and popular YouTuber, brings his expertise and humour to a new book which demystifies the magic of magic tricks.

In Science is Magic, not only is the science behind the impressive magic tricks explained, but Steve also teaches readers how to re-create these awe-inspiring tricks themselves, using common household items. With simple step-by-step instructions and illustrations, this book makes it easy for you to baffle, flabbergast and bamboozle your unsuspecting friends and family.

This is an intriguing book from Ukrainian picturebook makers Romanyshyn and Lesiv. It is no suprise to learn that it won a Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima (first works) Award.