Happy Days: 365 Facts to Brighten Every Day of the Year
Emily Coxhead
Walker Books

A few years ago, Emily Coxhead had a mission: to sprinkle a tiny bit of happiness all over the planet. To that end she launched a quarterly newspaper, The Happy News. Now comes this book aimed primarily at young children. Starting on 1st January, there are 366 fun facts, each one vibrantly illustrated by Rachel Suzanne. Some feature animals, others plants, and there are also facts relating to humans in various parts of the world.

You can either follow the pattern of the book, discovering a new fact each day, or perhaps start by looking at birthday dates of friends and relations. No matter how you read it, you’re certain to discover new facts. Did you know for instance that a group of pugs is called a grumble or that a 100-year old tortoise, Diego by name, saved his species from extinction by fathering 800 offspring. Wow!

I wonder how big a newly hatched tortoise is: a newborn koala, so we read, is the size of a 2 pence coin.

Prepare to be astonished, puzzled and amused as you turn the pages of this chunky book. I was puzzled to discover that elephants can hear better with one foot off the ground and surprised to read playing music to plants helps them grow faster and that lemons float but limes sink. I guess that’s to do with density. A fun, gently educative read that goes on giving.