Woolly Mammoth by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom
| Woolly Mammoth by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom | |
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| Category: Children's Non-Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Sam Tyler
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| Summary: This educational book combines the feel of a story book with plenty of facts about Woolly Mammoths that will entertain children of different ages. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: July 2015 |
| Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781847806642 | |
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The Ice Age is a fascinating time, but do you think that dinosaurs still roamed the Earth alongside both man and mammoths? Ray Harryhausen has a lot to answer for and the earlier that someone learns that man and dinosaurs did not walk the land together, the better. Plus everyone knows that Woolly Mammoths are almost as cool as T-Rex – who doesn't love a hairy elephant?
Woolly Mammoth is one of a series of Natural History Museum books that aim to introduce children to some of the fascinating aspects of our world's past. In this case we follow the life cycle of a group of Mammoths, how they feed, fight and sleep. We also get a glimpse into man during the period and how they hunted these giant beasts, but made sure that they used all the body for good.
It can be difficult to pitch a fact-based book to a child; too much information will alienate the younger children whilst simplification will make it dull for an older kid. Mick Manning has come up with a great idea that caters for both audiences within the same book. The central image of each two page spread is a picture and a rhyming story that you would find in a typical book for 3-5 year olds, but there is also a series of factoids on the edge of each page to intrigue a 6-10 year old. Added to this, a toddler can have great fun just looking at Brita Granstrom's colourful and inviting images. You can possibly cover all three children in one book – a rare occurrence.
The reason that this works in Woolly Mammoth is that it concentrates on one type of animal and tells a traditional story, but with historical accuracy on its side. Some of the other books in the series, such as Dino Dinners, cover too many aspects and lose the simple story thread that draws in a toddler.
With Woolly Mammoth doing a great job combining a fiction like story with non-fiction facts it is only some of Granstrom's illustrations that let the side down. They drift slightly too much into the fiction side of things. Whilst the book tells a story, it is kept historically accurate throughout. Did Mammoths really smile? This type of detail is at odds with the tone of the rest of the book.
If you are entertaining a couple of children with 2 or 3 year age gap, Woolly Mammoth is a perfect book to take on a car journey. There is something on offer that will entertain a child from 12 months – 10 years. If one them is bored by the pictures, they will love the facts. The book also works because it does not fail to educate as well as entertain; you learn a lot about the Woolly Mammoth and how man lived alongside them – and no dinosaur vs mammoth fights anywhere to be seen.
Some people just can't get enough Mammoths and if you are one of those people you can also read Mammoth Pie by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross or How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth by Michelle Robinson and Kate Hindley.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Woolly Mammoth by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Woolly Mammoth by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom at Amazon.com.
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