History and historical fiction

When Kevin’s parents can no longer take care of him, they bring him to the local monastery and promise they’ll come back. The monks teach Kevin to read and pray, but he prefers the freedom of the countryside where he befriends the wild animals who grow to trust him. When the monks decide that it is time for Kevin to grow up and relinquish his freedom, Kevin becomes unhappy until a pair of blackbirds decide to build their nest in his hands.

Dutch artist and pilot Jan Van Der Veken follows up his illustrated titles on boats and planes with a third volume on space, or more specifically space travel, for older children. We begin with a discussion of how rockets work, and then move into the history of space travel, from the mid-twentieth century right up to the present day – there is a nod to potential problems with cooperation on the International Space Station, for example, given the current state of Russian politics.

This book does more than just the simple task of showing children a number of famous boats and nautical stories, rather it interweaves the science of naval architectural engineering with meaningful anecdotes about boats, steamers, icebreakers and even ghost ships across the world.

Shaped by the editorial direction of art historian Doris Kutschbach, 42 Artists Everyone Should Know offers a compelling journey through the history of art, introducing readers to some of the most influential artists from the Renaissance to contemporary times. Featuring luminaries like Hieronymus Bosch, Leonardo da Vinci, Sofonisba Anguissola, Katsushika Hokusai, Frida Kahlo, and Banksy, this book spans diverse genres, cultures, and styles.

Haughton’s first foray into non-fiction books tracks our species’ history through the lens of information accumulation. Sharing, storing and building up on information, Haughton posits, is what made possible the extraordinary achievements of humanity in a relatively short amount of time. This compelling argument is made clearly through chapters that are both chronological and thematic, starting with the origins of language all the way to AI.

Set in 1925 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this adventure takes place at Fernside, an old ivy-covered house, which is an inspirational school that clearly wants the best for its girls. The house and grounds of Rowanbank next door bring the girls together to uncover a mystery that is not what it seems ...

Eurek-HER! tells the stories of 20 female pioneers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and is a must-read for budding young scientists, particularly for girls, who do not often see themselves in the history of the field.

A murder-mystery is split into two time periods, in the present, Marlowe Wexler has fled to an island mansion to work as a tour guide, after a disastrous date with the girl of her dreams. When she arrives at Morning House, she discovers that she is there to replace a boy who has recently died. Back in 1932, the eccentric Ralston family are edging closer to the family tragedy that will lead them to abandon Morning House, leaving mysteries for Marlowe and her friends to unravel.

Based on the true story of the author’s grandparents, this poignant and beautifully illustrated picturebook brings to light the painful and often forgotten fate of Japanese Americans during World War II.