Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth in all its forms, and there are many. From miniscule bacteria to colossal blue whales or from tiny flowers to giant redwoods, every living thing on our planet has its own unique role in the global ecosystem.
This selection of books celebrates some of the many wonderful examples of biodiversity on our planet. You can learn about insect heroes that keep our planet clean, reptiles that have been around since before the dinosaurs, plants that can hunt animals and much more besides!
A robust and attractive lift-the-flap book answering all the questions youngsters might have about bees: where they come from, how they live, and why they are important in our world.
This is a book to pore and ponder over, from reading the story to picking out the different creatures in each picture, to reading the funny and fascinating animal names.
Did you know there are 400,000 species of beetle but only eight species of bear? Jam-packed with fun facts and figures, this is a glorious celebration of our world by non-fiction specialist Nicola Davies.
This delightful and very funny cartoon-style guide to food chains is a brilliant introduction to the concept, and gives young readers/listeners some simple facts about a range of animals and their eating habits, and the natural cycle of life.
Discover more about strange and fascinating species and behaviours, with colour photographs and bite-size facts. Perfect for fact-obsessed children who aren’t squeamish.
by Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferron, illustrated by Eduard Altarriba
2021 5 to 14 years
Historical
Non-fiction
Picture books
This fascinating picture book for junior readers delves into the hidden world of microbes, explaining what they are, where they are found and why they are essential to our existence.
Did you know that ant plants have ants living inside them? This fantastic first science book is packed with fascinating facts about plants. Perfect for young school children.
Join Stevie the World’s grumpiest slug as he learns about all the things that makes slugs special in this hilarious picture book. A mixture of narrative and non-fiction with excellent illustrations.
by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Hegbrook
2017 9 to 14 years
Non-fiction
Picture books
Learn about the inner workings of our earth, including earthquakes, volcanoes, thunderstorms and tsunamis; animal life on earth; the earth regions and the impact of humans on the planet, including information on migration, population and sustainability in this comprehensive hardback book celebrating the biodiversity and structure of this fascinating planet.
Discover everything there is to know about the amazing wildlife and people that thrive at night in this accessible, appealing introduction to the nocturnal world.
With remarkable illustration that will make anyone want to dive in and learn more about the wondrous oceanic realms, this is a brilliant addition to the now extensive “Welcome to the Museum” series, which has featured the planets, plants, history and more.
by Sarah Darwin and Eva-Maria Sadowski, illustrated by Olga Baumert
2023 9 to 14 years
Historical
Non-fiction
Evolution can be defined as the way that living things change over time to suit their environment. In this rather stunning and highly informative read, real-life scientists Sarah Darwin and Eva-Maria Sadowski introduce readers to some of the amazing animals, plants and fungi that have lived on our planet, from dinosaurs to early humans, mushrooms and bacteria to monkeys and fish and beyond!
This illustrated non-fiction book takes the reader on a journey of discovery around the globe, identifying animals who are under threat from dangers such as habitat loss, climate change and hunting.
Stunningly illustrated, the stories of these eighteen young environmental activists, and their home landscape and animals, will inspire and inform all readers. A passionate and inspiring call to action to save our planet, our one home.
