Coming soon
Being written or soon to be published are books on amazing facts, science experiments, the human body, caves, and amazing animal abilities.
Books:
Books I’ve written and co-written
This page lists my books in order of publication, most recent first. Just scroll down or search the page to find particular titles and topics.
You won’t find every single title I’ve published here, as many have been re-issued as bind-ups or with new titles – this page just lists what I’ve written, as it first appeared. Searching on Amazon will reveal more editions, as well as some forthcoming titles. I have also edited, rewritten, project-managed and contributed to quite a few other books, but I’m keeping this list to books I’ve written all or a large part of.
My specialist areas include:
Life science topics, such as the human body, genes and DNA, insects, plants and sea life
Other science topics, such as sound and light, matter, electricity, invention and discovery
Geography and geology, especially volcanoes and other natural disasters
Shakespeare, both as a non-fiction topic, and retellings of his works
Art, craft and “how-to” topics
Retellings of myths and legends, folktales and classic novels
History, especially ancient history, and ancient Greece in particular
Rhyming stories for young children
Book count! (as listed in this section) currently standing at: 148
Mental Development: From Birth to Old Age
2013, Raintree
This unusual book, part of a series on “Your Body for Life”, explores what happens to your brain and your mind as you grow up and grow older. Lots of amazing in-depth detail about things like how the brain makes connections, why most people don’t remember being born, which are the happiest and cleverest ages to be, and the mysteries of the teenage brain.
Car-Sized Crabs and Other Animal Giants
2013, A&C Black
Quite simply all about the biggest of various types of animals, from supersized spiders and monster worms to enormous elephants and mighty blue whales. Loads of fun to write!
Living in the Wild: Sea Mammals
2013, Raintree
Two books in a series on sea mammals, including seals, polar bears, and the amazing cetaceans.
Humpback Whales
Dolphins
Disgusting and Dreadful Science
2013, Franklin Watts
Fantastically funny and revolting physical science series that dares to go where other books on physics fear to tread. Find out how electricity was once used to animate corpses, what super-low sounds can do to your bowels, and what happens to your face at 46 Gs.
Ear-Splitting Sounds and Other Vile Noises
Glaring Light and Other Eye-Burning Rays
Electric Shocks and Other Energy Evils
Gut-Wrenching Gravity and Other Fatal Forces
Animal Groups
2012, Heinemann Library
Two books in a longer series on animal societies – I was lucky to be able to write the title on wolves and the one on ants, one of my favourite topics ever. Ants are amazing.
A Pack of Wolves and Other Canine Groups
A Colony of Ants and Other Insect Groups
100 Most Deadly Things on the Planet
2012, A&C Black
This “100 Most…” book is not the same as 100 Most Dangerous, in that it focuses mainly on deadly living things – the most venomous snakes and spiders, fiercest big cats and crocodiles, deadliest disease-spreading bugs and most poisonous plants.
First Questions and Answers
2011-12, Miles Kelly
Three fun and accessible books that form part of a series in Q&A format for younger readers.
Why do Horses wear Shoes?
Why do Crabs Walk Sideways?
Why do Kestrels Hover?
My Top 20 Deadly Animals
2011, Miles Kelly
Exciting and detailed deadly animals book with stickers and fact cards to help you compile your own top 20 list.
100 Scariest Things on the Planet
2011, A&C Black
The “100 Most…” series takes a terrifying turn, exploring scary sports and death-defying feats, hair-raising precipices, mysterious monster sightings, haunted houses and castles, ghastly graveyards and tales of ghosts and witches (with a sceptical eye!). Fabulous fun for those who like to scare themselves silly.
Animals on the Edge
2012, Bloomsbury/ZSL
A new series written in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and their EDGE programme for unique and rare endangered species. Besides lots of general info, the books explore life in the zoo and in the wild for these fascinating animals, with detailed explanations and examples of the threats that face them, and how we are trying to help. Find out how you transport a rhino by helicopter, raise a parentless baby penguin, catch an elusive nocturnal hippo on camera, or make the right noises to keep a gorilla calm. I love these books!
There are six in the series:
Gorilla
Tiger
Penguin
Elephant
Rhino
Hippo
Sharks Poster Book
2012, Miles Kelly
Full update of my earlier sharks book with Miles Kelly, with cool shark wall posters too.
Life Processes
2012, Raintree
Comprehensive introduction to life processes such as respiration, nutrition and growth. Scientific and detailed, but clear, friendly and practical, with lots of real examples from human, animal, plant and microbe life.
Be Creative!
2012, Franklin Watts
A funky four-part craft series:
Customise Your Clothes
Bedroom Makeover
Accessories For All
Cards, Wrap and Tags
Collins Big Cat
I’m delighted to be involved in this high-profile reading series. So far I’ve written:
World’s Deadliest Creatures 2012, Collins Educational
Muscles 2012, Collins Educational
… with more to follow.
Sci-Hi: What Are the Limits of Organ Transplants?
2012, Raintree
A fascinating subject to write about. Not just how organ transplants work, but the latest techniques and inventions, alternatives, and headline-grabbing topics like face transplants and robot limbs.
Radar: Dance
Two modern, journalistic-style dance titles with interviews and instructions as well as background info.
Bhangra and Bollywood 2011, Wayland
Ice Dancing 2011, Wayland
White Wolves
Original and high-interest non-fiction readers. I have contributed:
Knight Survival Guide 2011, Bloomsbury
Treasure Hunter’s Handbook 2011, Bloomsbury
101 Ways to Beat Boredom
2011, Pearson Education
Part of the new Bug Club reading scheme, this is also a really useful things-to-do book – including indoor and outdoor activities, experiments, games, crafts and creative projects.
Big Picture
Fun first factual books aimed at curriculum Key Stage 1 (in the UK). I wrote two of the series:
Mummy Maker 2011, Bloomsbury
Feast at the Castle 2011, Bloomsbury
100 Most Awesome Things on the Planet
2011, A&C Black
The third in the popular “100 Most…” series covers all kinds of awesome things – awesome structures and vehicles, incredible natural features and events, and amazing sights.
Science Secrets: Secrets of Light
2010, Marshall Cavendish
Thorough and colourful introduction to the science of light.
Breakthroughs in Science and Technology
I’m proud of these seriously in-depth, wide-ranging and totally non-dumbed-down books on important and difficult science topics. I wrote two in the series:
Who Split the Atom? 2010, Arcturus
Who Discovered Natural Selection? 2011, Arcturus
These reviews in the esteemed journal Science Books and Films are very nice!
Who Split the Atom?
“This is much more than a story about splitting the atom: It is a rich and colorful picture of the process of science, personalities, and breakthroughs that led to our contemporary view of the atom. The book is lively and brimming with interesting photos, diagrams, and side notes that focus the reader’s attention while providing tangential ideas that lend a broader view of the chemistry and physics involved. Highly Recommended.”
Who Discovered Natural Selection?
“This is a must buy for school libraries. “Who Discovered Natural Selection?” has made evolution theory accessible to young learners in a fresh and accurate way. Highly recommended.”
Deadly Diseases and Curious Cures
2010, Bloomsbury
All about the scary and strange illnesses and injuries a ship’s doctor would encounter in the great age of sail – complete with instructions for remedies and cures.
Also appears with the slightly clearer title Sick at Sea? Cure it or Cut it Off!
The Story of Exploration
2010, Usborne Publishing
Illustrated, chapter-style book telling the stories of the greatest explorers ever – Columbus, Magellan, Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and many more.
100 Most Disgusting Things on the Planet
2010, A&C Black
The 100 Most… series continues with this thrilling exploration of revolting foods, disgustingly behaved animals, gross body substances and other delights. Even a bit too disgusting for me, in parts!
Extreme!: Pirate: From Navigation to Amputation
2009, A&C Black
Fun factual pirate book with loads of info about how pirates got around, what they ate, the diseases they caught, their weapons, ships, and unsavoury habits.
May also appear with the title Pirate Secrets Revealed.
Extreme!: Volcano’s Edge
2009, A&C Black
An exciting book about volcanoes that takes you to look at volcanic craters, eruptions and processes in close-up.
May also appear with the title Investigating Volcanoes.
Forms of Energy
2009, Heinemann Library
Introduction to the often-confusing facts about energy, its forms and how it changes form – with lots of useful real-life examples and activities. Part of the extensive Sci-Hi series.