Earth-Saving Acts for Eco-Warriors
Ammonite Press

By now pretty well everyone must be aware that our world is getting hotter and that this is having a devastating environmental effect Yes ,we had COP26 in Glasgow towards the end of last year, but how many of the promises made will actually come to anything and how much will remain just rhetoric? If you want to help fight climate change – and surely hand on heart, everybody does – then here’s a helpful little book bursting with ideas and practical suggestions on how individuals can make a difference and thus be part of the drive to halt the catastrophe that is fast approaching.

None of its contents is really new: essentially the message is resist constantly buying the latest thing and when you do buy, go for quality rather than quantity; reuse and recycle, avoid single plastics whenever possible, spend more time outdoors rather than on screens, switch off lights and appliances when you don’t need them, walk, cycle or use public transport rather than travelling by car, read labels and eschew unsustainable palm oil products, eat a plant-based diet and don’t waste food.

The final quote made by Margaret Mead, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ is apposite and one hopes a spur to activism in readers of this timely publication.

Great Lives in Graphics: Shakespeare
Great Lives in Graphics: Albert Einstein
Button Books

The first of these additions to the innovative infographics series features, I believe, the best-known playwright ever, William Shakespeare. Living in Tudor England much happened during his lifetime including outbreaks of the plague, the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot and execution of Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators.
As regards the bard himself, I was reminded that he left school at age fourteen, having learned only Latin and married Anne Hathaway when he was just eighteen and remained wedded to her till his death 34 years later. There is also information about other important people and places that feature in the life of the subject.

Being something of a rebel myself, I was excited to learn that Albert Einstein, subject of the second book was made special by his rebellious streak, liking to do things his own way and hating to be told what to learn or do. And I absolutely love this quote of his, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.’

These are just a few of the defining facts, thoughts, achievements and legacies of these two influential figures brought to life in these books. There are also timelines and glossaries and everything is in a form easily digested by most children in key stage two.