Tag Sam Caldwell

Oh No They Aren’t: Nature

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Oh No They Aren’t: Nature
Eric Huang, illustrated by Sam Caldwell
Words & Pictures

Playful in approach it may be, but there’s a wealth of information about the natural world to be found in this book.

Following his introduction the author adopts his tongue-in-cheek question and answer style replete with pantomime-like ‘Oh no they aren’t!,’ ‘Oh no they weren’t!’ ‘Oh no they don’t’ interjections, in the book’s six thematic sections. These are in order, Prehistoric Life, Green Planet, Under the Sea, Creepy-Crawlies, Predator and Prey and High Fliers.

In Green Planet we read, ‘Flowers are just pretty decorations … aren’t they?’ followed by the rejoinder ‘OH NO THEY AREN’T!’ and an explanation of pollination and its importance.

Then in Predator and Prey we meet several sharks – all of which are fearsome predators aren’t they? Actually no: the whale shark – the largest shark in the world – is a gentle giant. Moreover, if you thought all sharks are very big, that’s wrong too: dwarf lantern sharks are only about the size of a mobile phone. Now that I didn’t know.

Sam Caldwell’s humorous illustrations match the jaunty style of the writing and the book concludes with a useful illustrated geological timeline and a glossary.
A thoroughly engaging addition to the Oh No’ series that will be lapped up by those with a preference for reading factual books rather than fiction.

There’s A Gorilla At The Door!

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There’s A Gorilla At The Door!
Clare Helen Welsh and Sam Caldwell
Little Tiger

Daphne and her Mum have just moved in with Anthony; Daphne really misses her friends and so the grown-ups decide to have a family party. Daphne has initial concerns about being bored but is even more concerned at the attire she is expected to wear. to meet the “ wacky bunch1” Anthony calls them, insisting that her help is required.

First to rock up is Aunt Gertrude with a troupe of lively little cousins that Daphne gets on with immediately. These are followed by in turn a bouncy marsupial with a pouch full of popcorn, a fair few flying mammals led by Grandpa Bruce,

a pachyderm on roller skates and a veritable menagerie of family members large and small, feathered, furry and smooth skinned. Things get rather out of hand

and despairing, Daphne cries in alarm, “Can’t we get along? … This doesn’t feel like a happy family party!”

Anthony responds with an idea: will it solve the situation or will it further ferment the family fiasco?
With language play aplenty, the spirited text presents a recently blended family with a host of totally unlikely relations whose antics are sure to amuse young listeners. So too are Sam Caldwell’s scenes of the creatures’ crazy capers.

History’s Biggest Show-Offs

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History’s Biggest Show-Offs
Andy Seed, illustrated by Sam Caldwell
Happy Yak

What is it about some people that makes them want to show off about their achievements? Have you ever wondered who the biggest braggers of all time might be? If so then Andy Seed has done the work for you, presenting in his lighthearted style, the flashiest boasters in the history of humankind.

The book is divided into three main parts entitled People in Charge, People Who Think Up Stuff and People Who Create Things; however if readers prefer they can look instead at different time periods: ancient (c.6000 BCE to 500 CE), post-classical (c.500-1500 CE), early modern (c1500 – 1800 CE) and modern (c. 1800 to the present).

We’re introduced to eleven rulers, five of whom were women. These include Hatshepsut, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Tarabai who at just twenty five, took over the leadership of the Marathas after the death of her husband and proceeded to show off her military skills to overcome the Mughals; and Christina of Sweden, she who was super-brainy and loved to read. Among the men was Mansu Musa who when on Haj, took 12, 000 servants each with a bag of gold to give away en route to Mecca.

Those with a scientific or technological bent include the first ever computer programmer, Ada Lovelace

and Ynes Mexia, an intrepid plant collector from the early 20th C who discovered 500 new species and had fifty plants named after her. Having studied at Brunel University, I have to mention the ace engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel who, with help from his father, built the first ever tunnel beneath a river (The Thames) and who sadly died before his exceedingly costly Clifton Suspension Bridge was finished.
Finally come the creative types: Ustad Ahmad Lahori was asked by Shah Jahan to create a building in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz and that’s how the magnificent Taj Mahal came to be. Another show-off architect Antoni Gaudi is famous for Barcelona’s still unfinished Sagrada Familia.

There’s a wealth of bling too, as Andy Seed’s humorous writing brings all these and more back to life and he’s even included some quizzes to ramp up the fun. Talking of fun, Sam Caldwell’s zany illustrations certainly add more of that in abundance: even the timeline will make readers giggle.