By Andy Seed (author) , Sam Caldwell (illustrator)
Hardback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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Some people just can't resist showing off… and this book introduces readers to some of the biggest braggers and loudest show-offs throughout history. This book takes young readers on a tour of some of history's greatest show-offs, from wealthy kings and queens who loved to splash the cash to masterful musicians who weren't shy about their talents or brilliant artists who could not stop telling others how great they were. Some of the showoffs in this book include:
Andy Seed's hilarious text brings these crazy but true stories to life, as he tells readers tales about massive palaces, fast cars, monster banquets, immense armies, frilly outfits, dazzling bling, musical masterpieces, epic artworks, outrageous inventions and much, much more! Featuring long-dead leaders, artists, musicians and more, from all around the world, the snappy facts are paired with humorous character illustrations from the brilliant Sam Caldwell for maximum hilarity.
Andy Seed is an author and poet. He writes memoirs, funny poems and humorous non-fiction books as well as all sorts of things for teachers. Two of his greatest passions are cheese and table tennis, which he feels sure could be combined somehow one day. Andy lives on the side of a hill in the woolly wilds of North Yorkshire where he grows comedy vegetables and the best weeds for miles around. He also loves visiting schools and getting children reading for enjoyment. Andy's most popular book for adults is All Teachers Great and Small and his most popular book for children is The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff , which won the 2015 Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award.
Read a Q&A with Andy Seed:
Describe your book in about 15 words:
A fun guide to being a nature detective and discovering animals from the clues they leave behind.
How do you get the ideas for your books, especially The Clue is in the Poo?
I spend a lot of time with kids and I know the types of things that interest them and also parents and teachers. I read a lot, do research at the library, travel around a lot and explore wild places (and get lost a lot). I also collect interesting snippets and facts and true stories that can be used to make good books. And then it’s a case of adding some funny bits, maybe a splash of silliness and making it enjoyable to read. With ‘The Clue is in the Poo’ I borrowed lots of big detailed books about animal tracks and signs from my local library and used them to learn things I didn’t know. Then I walked around the forest where I live and I looked at the kinds of things that children are most likely to come across and be interested in. Then I added facts about dangerous and very large, exotic creatures, to add a thrill element, and there was a book that was useful, enjoyable and interesting.
What is your favourite children’s book? Both right now and when you were a child. Why?
Right now, I think The Iron Man by Ted Hughes is just a great, simple, powerful story. When I was young it was Stig of the Dump – it took you into a magical, wild and adventurous world. My current fact-book fav is The Usborne Official Astronaut’s Handbook (Louie Stowell) – this combines brilliantly info, wit, stories, great illustrations and expert knowledge. Outstanding.
Why are books important to you?
Stories give you a chance to enter another world and learn about other people and happenings you’ll probably never encounter. But for a time you are there, in it, living it. Our minds when we read great stories paint far more vivid pictures than any digital screen ever will.
Factual books I love too: true stories (biographies and memoirs) tell us about real amazing lives and events. Then who doesn’t love a wacky random fact or a clever explanation of the way that some small part of the world or nature works? And if a book can make me laugh too then that’s the best thing of all: we all need to giggle.
And poetry is wonderful too: playing with words to bring alive wit and fun and power.
Choose one thing that you would like your readers to take away after reading your book:
That there are clues to wildlife activity everywhere – and even a pile of poo can tell you a lot!
Did anything surprising happen during the writing of your book?
Living on the edge of a forest I was able to go for walks and see loads of the clues I was writing about and now I notice a lot more than I used to. On one of these research rambles I came face to face with a very big and fierce-looking wild boar. Luckily it didn’t consider me worth mangling!
No more Non-Fiction! - You Couldn’t Make It Up says Andy Seed, award-winning author of over 30 fact books for children.
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Some people just can't resist showing off… and this book introduces readers to some of the biggest braggers and loudest show-offs throughout history. This book takes young readers on a tour of some of history's greatest show-offs, from wealthy kings and queens who loved to splash the cash to masterful musicians who weren't shy about their talents or brilliant artists who could not stop telling others how great they were.Some of the showoffs in this book include: Queen Elizabeth I of England, who owned over 2,000 pairs of gloves, Alexander the Great, who named more than 70 cities in his vast empire after himself,... and one after his horse! The Montgolfier brothers, who showed off their flashy new invention, the hot air balloon, in front of huge crowds and even the King and Queen!
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed History's Biggest Show-Offs and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-10 years old
History's Biggest Show-Offs features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, History, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Queens, kings, princesses, princes etc, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Humour and jokes, Recommendations, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, People / Places
Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
History's Biggest Show-Offs was written by Andy Seed and published by Happy Yak
History's Biggest Show-Offs has 64 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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