We are now half way through the Summer Reading Challenge, with some reading stars already having completed it and got their medals and certificates!
Some lovely new books around this year’s theme of Story Garden have also appeared on our shelves. This post highlights eight of these new exciting titles to look out for in your local library. You can also find four of them available as ebooks and two as audiobooks on Libby.
Wonder World: Earth, The Natural Science of Soil
by Ben Lerwill and Xuan Lee
This gorgeous non-fiction illustrated book from The National Trust tells the story of soil. The book asks and answers two questions. What is soil and why is it important? Showing two curious children, it takes us around the world looking at different types of soil and all the life forms nurtured by them, from invisible to microbes to large mammals like human beings. Soil cleans our air, grows our food, has a thriving active life, and all this is happening just below our feet.
This is an accessible and informative book including incredible facts – some earth worms grow to be longer than cars!
Wild
by Katya Balen and Gill Smith
A little girl with a stick walks through the city followed by fox, squirrel, owl and ladybird in this new picture book about how it’s possible to find nature everywhere. Helena grows up in the woods, but one day her family move to the city, and she longs for the animals she once knew and trees she once climbed. Then one day, she follows a bird, meets an urban fox, and discovers that even in amid grey skyscrapers, nature is all around us.
Superhero Plants
by Chris Packham
In this Little Expert’s book, Naturalist and TV Presenter Chris Packham looks at all the incredible things plants do for us. The lotus flower’s amazing self-cleaning leaves, for instance, gave scientists an idea for how to make hip and knee replacements which don’t get dirty. Packham also explores the ways that plants feed us, process our air, make our world beautiful and give us medicines to combat cancer and malaria.
Superhero Plants is also available as an ebook and an audiobook on Libby.
The World to Come
by Robert Macfarlane, Johnny Flynn and Emily Sutton
A father and his young son walk through the world, full of seas, rivers, animals, forests and tall grass, in this poetic picture book. They run to find shelter from a rain storm, and watch a blackbird, ‘singing of the world to come.’ Gloriously illustrated and written, this is one of my favourite picture books and though it is recommended for children three and over.
From Plant to Plate
by Ella Phillips and Darryl Gadzekpo
The authors of this book have a family allotment, where they grow their food. Alongside the bug squad, Winstan Worm, Babette Butterfly, Layla Ladybird, Halle Honey Bee, Azian Ant and Larry Woodlouse, they take us through growing, cooking and eating food. From the information gut biome to family recipes and growing thips, this book is great for taking older children on a journey where they see how their food grows and arrives on their plates. The courgette frittata looks tasty.
From Plant to Plate is also available as an ebook on Libby.
Little Rhino Lost
by Candy Gourlay and Jamie Bauza
One day Maya meets a bay rhinoceros lost in the big city. A lovely picture book for younger children about kindness, empathy, helping others and the power of nature. The illustrations are fun and the friendship which blossoms between Maya and Little Rhino is truly beautiful.
Watch Me Bloom: A Bouquet Of Haiku Poems For Budding Naturalists
by Krina Patel-Sage
This lovely book introduces children to haikus, with 24 of the small perfectly contained poems, following the rule of 5/7/5 while celebrating different flowers. Even as a grownup, I love these small magical descriptions of different flowers. Bluebells are fairy umbrellas, while sunflowers have their day to shine. I’d say this is lovely for all ages, with the smallest children able to enjoy the bright illustrations, while older ones can see if they can create a haiku themselves.
Watch Me Bloom is also available as an ebook on Libby.
The Green Kingdom
by Cornelia Funke, Tammi Hartung and Melissa Castrillón
A new adventure story for children aged 8-12 from the author of the Inkheart series, this botanical fairytale follows 12-year-old Caspia as she sets out to solve twelve riddles. A story of plants, puzzles and friendship, this sounds like a great read, and one that is perfect for this year’s SRC.
The Green Kingdom is also available as an ebook and an audiobook on Libby.
HiVis fortnight (1-14 June) gives libraries across the UK the opportunity to highlight services and support for those with a vision impairment.
This summer Edinburgh Libraries has been having a blooming marvellous time with the Living Knowledge Network’s ‘Unearthed’ season including touring exhibition, photography competition and colourful floral book displays! To round off this flora fantastic theme why not join in with 
Read the gorgeously written family saga The Storyteller’s Death during the 
Tales of one city 
