This time Davies teams up with Petr Horacek to introduce a dazzling celebration of the wonders of life on our planet. It's a book that defies categorization: part poetry, part picture book, part non-fiction. I love the inspirational approach, using a lyrical but accessible text to explore facts that will fascinate readers. The Bookseller Davies is one of our very finest natural history writers for children. A First Book of Nature, illustrated by Mark Hearld, was an international bestseller and it's a book I have given as a gift numerous times. This is the second titie in the First Book series - and i's just as dazzling and accessible. An epic exploration of animal life on our planet, over 50 different creatures are revealed, from monkeys as small as teacups, to majestic blue whales, and fireflies twinkling in the evening sky. They are grouped not by genus or region, but in inventive chapters such as Colours and Shape, and Animals in Action. The tone is inquisitive, very much encouraging readers to think for themselves. It's a book that defies categorisation: it's a non-fiction book, a picture book, a volume of poetry. A book to dip into, to read aloud, a book to enrich children's research of topics. Horacek's pictures of the animals and their habitats are lush and on a grand scale, creating a sense of life bursting from the pages. A book for every school, library and home. The Bookseller Nicola Davies A FIRST BOOK OF ANIMALS is the companion title to the wonderful A FIRST BOOK OF NATURE, this time illustrated by Petr Horacek. A lyrical, inspirational text is paired with dazzling pictures of animal life around the planet, from blue whales to bumblebees. The Bookseller