Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World by Tiffany Stone – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Picture, book, bursting, jaw-dropping, facts.
Children’s book title: Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World.
Children’s author: Tiffany Stone.
Children’s illustrator: Ashley Spires.
Genre: Poetry/nonfiction picture book.
Published by: Greystone Kids.
ISBN: 9781771646567.
Recommended for children aged: 4-8-year-olds.
First published: Hardback April 2023.
This children’s book is ideal for: EYFS and KS1 children who love to be inspired by the wonders of nature.
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Our review:
Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World is a picture book bursting with jaw-dropping facts. Fifteen poems introduce the reader to a variety of tiny creatures whose amazing powers belie their small stature. From mites to sea creatures and miniature mammals, all of them have a surprising superpower that will intrigue young readers and encourage them to find out more.
The poems vary in style and form, and each is accompanied by a short comic strip in which the creature tells us more about their unusual skill. For the dwarf lantern shark, it’s the bioluminescence that enables it to glow in the dark:
Dwarf Lantern Shark
In ocean depths,
In the twilight dark,
I lurk.A dogfish, yes
but I do not bark,
I hunt.My body glows
like a neon spark.
I waitThe smallest shark,
still a hungry shark.
I…
CHOMP!
Readers of all ages will be surprised by some of the facts in this book. For example, did you know that hydra can stay young forever? Or that wood frogs create their own natural antifreeze?
Ashley Spires’ playful, cartoon-style illustrations work well to tie the poems and facts together. The book concludes with a positive message that being small does not prevent you from doing amazing things and poses the question: what is YOUR superpower?
Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World would support the teaching of living things and their habitats at KS1 and KS2. It lends itself well to being read aloud, and the interesting facts promote lots of discussions. It also prompted my young readers to undertake their own research on some of the more unusual creatures.
Fun and educational, this book will appeal to those who love to be inspired by the wonders of nature.
Many thanks to Greystone Kids for the review copy.
If you like Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World by Tiffany Stone you might also like: our reviews of Forwards Always by Matthew Hodson, An Anthology of Aesop’s Animal Fables by Helen Ward, Prehistoric Beasts by Dr Dean Lomax, illustrated by Mike Love, I’m More Than A Sheep by Bethany Christou, I Ate Sunshine For Breakfast by Michael Holland and The Little Thing by Nick Cave.
Browse our list of picture books for EYFS
