February 2008

This is very much an initial list of books.  I hope it will be a useful resource for teachers and librarians for the Middle Years Programme Areas of Interaction of the International Baccalaureate.  I have tried to choose books which do not have a narrow focus but which are transdisciplinary in concept.  Many of them have a global perspective and many fit into a number of Areas of Interaction.  The list will gradually be added to and improved as I have time to consider more books and as I get more feedback from teachers and librarians.  I have divided the list into the five areas of interaction (though I realise that there can be considerable overlap between various themes.)  I have given an indication of reading levels for each of the titles.   Please contact me if you would like recommendations for books on specific subject areas, and at a particular age level.

Please Note   All prices are in Australian dollars and include the 10% GST tax.  However this GST does not apply to exports from Australia.

If you would like to order any of the books on the list, send the orders to Austral Ed by post, fax or by email.  Payment can be made with bank cheques in Australian dollars, by direct bank transfer or by Credit card.   Freight is sent by the most economical method within Australia or overseas, depending on urgency. 

Recommended by Kate Shepherd

Approaches to Learning

Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan  pb $16.95
New scientific research points to real biological reasons behind the behaviour of teenagers - their mood swings, their risk-taking and difficulties with learning.  As the mother and teacher of teenagers and also a writer for teenagers, Nicola Morgan brings an extremely interesting mixture of scientific knowledge which she has related to the social context of teenage behaviour.  During the teenage years, the brain undergoes great changes, especially to the cortex and it is these changes that scientists believe that produce much of the erratic behaviour that teenagers are renowned for.  Nicola Morgan discusses these and she has many suggestions which will help teenagers deal with powerful changing emotions, erratic sleep patterns, difficulties with learning, depression and other problems.  There are a number of quizzes about aspects of personality and a very interesting discussion of the differences between girls and boys.  This is an extremely informative and entertaining book.  At times it is very funny and I think teenagers, parents and teachers will all find it very useful to help them understand why teenagers can behave so erratically at times.    (11 years up)

• Know Your Brain: Feel It, Test It, Stretch It  pb $16.95

In this book Nicola Morgan continues talking in a very conversational tone about the amazing qualities of the human brain and how it differs from animal brains.  She talks about things we can do to make our brains even more brilliant and lists things that can damage our brains.  She discusses in detail the different types of intelligences, how we can recognise where our skills lie.  She also gives examples of people who did not do well at school or did not fit in well but were great success later in life.  (Dr Seuss apparently was voted the student least likely to succeed.)   She includes a number of quizzes and tests to discover the strengths and weaknesses of our brains and also training in remembering facts and in how to concentrate.  There are also tests to find out which learning style is best suited for each person and then activities to develop these further.  The tone is always conversational, the subject matter is informative, interesting and often humorous.   This book will be extremely helpful for students interested in understanding how their brains work and how they can improve its capacity and performance.     (11 years up)

Think of a Number by Johnny Ball hardback   $29.95
This is fascinating look at the world of numbers.   Those students that love numbers will love it whereas others (like me) will get lost fairly quickly.  However it covers a wide range of information about history of numbers, magic numbers, shapes and the world of maths in a very lively and inviting format and shows the amazing complexity of the world of numbers.  There are many tricks and mazes and mathematical problems.  (10 years up)

Community and Service

• Children of the Tusnami :  Khao Lak – A story of Hope  compiled by the students of Bangkok Patana School  edited by Robin Nagy     hardback $30.00 

Any schools involved with community service will be very interested in this project undertaken by 52 senior students of the Bankok Patana School in Thailand to help the children of Khao Lak, a coastal village in Thailand.  The community at Khao Lak was shattered by the effect of the tsunami which devastated so many regions in South East Asia in 2004.  The students collected stories, poems and illustrations drawn by the children of Khao Lak and they also took photographs of the children and of their village and put them together in a beautifully presented hardback book.  It is a very moving tribute to the children and their courage in re-building their lives.    All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the education and schooling of the children in Khao Lak.  It can be purchased directly from Macmillan Education in Australia, from the Bangkok Patana School in Thailand or through Austral Ed.    (10 years up)

Children’s Rights series hardback  $34.95 each title
Education                                                                       
Health
Home                                                                                   
Safety
Voice
These five titles have been published in conjunction with Save the Children Fund. Each title begins with a brief explanation of how Children’s Rights were first proposed in 1919 but were not accepted as International Law till 1989 at the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.  In addition to a general introduction to each subject, each book has individual portraits of particular children from different countries throughout the world. There is also discussion of the various rights that should be provided under each of the headings of home, safety, education, health and voice and as a result the reader gains a good idea of how many childhood rights are regularly violated and the many problems involved.  However many positive individual stories of cases where children’s rights have been improved are also included.     (10 - 14 years)

Tough Stuff: True Stories about Kids and Courage by Kirsty Murray  pb $15.95
A fast paced and inviting collection of short stories about children who have done amazing things.  It includes the story of Iqbal Masih the 12 year old bonded carpet maker from Pakistan who led a movement for children’s rights, as well as stories about exceptional children including those who saved lives, or were geniuses, earned a fortune or survived war and oppression.   (9 - 14 years)

Three Wishes: Palestianian and Israeli children speak out by Deborah Ellis pb $14.95    In 2002, Deborah Ellis talked to many children in Palestine and Israel about their daily lives, their frustrations and their hopes for the future.  In this book Deborah Ellis records what these children said.  Many of these stories are extremely moving and revealing of the suffering of children living under at times under great difficulties.  Deborah Ellis has also written a short introduction to the present day situation in Palestine and Israel.    (11 years up)

Immigrants series  pb $20.00
This series looks at the extraordinary history of the large-scale movement of peoples around the world.  It looks at the reasons why so many people left their country, where they settled and the effects of this as well as the continued connections with their country of origin.    (10 – 15 years)
Immigrants from Africa                                               
Immigrants from the Indian Subcontinent           
Immigrants from Ireland

Understanding Immigration series  by Iris Teichmann hardback $36.00 each
Published in 2005, this series attempts to look at the history of immigration as well as more recent immigration and its effects.  Many different aspects of immigrations are discussed and there are some very interesting tables re immigration into countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia in comparison with Asia, Europe and the US.  Each new topic is introduced with a short personal case study in order to emphasise the personal as well as the broader picture.  
Titles are:
One Country to Another
Life as an Immigrant
A Multicultural World
Immigration and the Law    (10 – 14 years)

People on the Move series  by Dave Dalton hardback $37.50 each 
This series is similar but has considerably more detail and is suitable for older students.  The author worked for Oxfam for many years.  Titles are:
Economic Migrants
Environmental Migrants
Nomad and travellers
Refugees and Asylum Seekers   (11 – 16 years)

World Organizations Series pb $20.00
This series looks at key world international organizations.  It discusses how and why they were established, their structure and their various functions. Each book has an Index, a Glossary and also useful addresses and websites.  
The complete list of books in the series is:
Amnesty International                             European Union
NATO                                                          The Red Cross
UNICEF                                                      United Nations
World Health Organization                       World Wildlife Fund   (11 - 16 years)

Sustainable Human Development - a young person’s introduction  pb  $32.95
A team of young people from round the world have selected key information from the UN annual Human Development Reports and presented it in their own words, together with personal stories about human development problems and progress in their own local communities.  The Human Development reports rank countries according to how healthy and educated their citizens are, as well as taking into account their standard of living.  They look at overall human concerns rather than just the financial concerns of raising the economic output of a nation.  I found the book fascinating with its wide-ranging statistics on the Human Development Reports and especially the balanced discussion regarding the ways in which progress could be made.  The book invites discussion on topics such as what is poverty, globalisation, the global economy, human rights, consumption as well as the environment.  The book looks at some of the problems in the world from many different viewpoints and not just from an environmental or human rights viewpoint.  When looking at economic development, there is acknowledgement of the concerns of less developed and also of more economically developed nations and of the role of aid givers, trade and also the importance of micro-credit schemes.  This is a most impressive and stimulating book.  It is a project of Peace Child International.     (12 - 17 years)

Homo Faber

Life Times series by Anita Ganeri   pb $19.95 each
The four titles in this series looks at how rites of passage in people’s lives are celebrated in the six major religions.
New Beginnings:  Celebrating Birth                     
Growing Up: From Child to Adult
Wedding Days:  Celebrations of Marriage
Journey’s End: Death and Mourning               (9 - 12 years)
                                                           
Culture in series  by Melanie Guile  hardback $29.95
Culture in Australia                                             
Culture in India                                         Culture in Singapore
Culture in Malaysia                                    Culture in Thailand

Culture in North and South Korea            Culture in Vietnam                              These books provide a good introduction to the discussion of what is culture and how is it expressed in these countries.  It examines the ways in which people identify themselves through language, social customs and habits as well as traditions of art, craft, dance, music and spiritual belief.  They also look at the different cultures of various ethnic groups within each country.    (9 – 14 years)

Discover other Cultures series by Meryl Doney  pb $17.95 each
Festivals around the World                   Games around the World 
Masks around the World                       Papercraft around the World
Puppets around the World                    Toys and Dolls around the World
Textiles around the World                     Baskets around the World
Musical Instruments around the World     Jewellery around the World
An excellent source of practical information on crafts from around the world.  Background cultural information on the crafts is given as well as step by step instructions on how to make puppets, masks, paper etc.  (This series was originally published as World Crafts.)     (8 – 13  years)

Legacies from Ancient China  by Anita Ganeri  pb $19.95
Excellent introduction to history of Ancient China and some of its legacies including silk making, papermaking, printing, Chinese medicine, and gunpowder. A similar format is followed in each of these titles:
Legacies from Ancient Rome                        pb $19.95
Legacies from Ancient Greece                     hardback $33.00  pb $19.95
Legacies from Ancient Egypt                        pb $19.95            (9 - 15 years)

Traditions Around the World series  edited by James Kerr  pb 22.95 each
Body Decoration                                                Masks
Costumes                                                           Musical Instruments
Jewellery and Accessories
This series is more descriptive with fewer practical examples of crafts to make but contains interesting examples of traditions from round the world.  It is levelled at a higher age range than the Discover other Cultures series.   (10 – 14 years)

Kids Around the World Play!  by Arlette N Braman  illustrated by Michele Nidenoff  pb $24.95     This book contains an array of games from round the world, clearly described and illustrated so that children can make their own and then play them.  The games are divided into those that Tease Your Brain, Games of Chance, Board games, Toys and also Games of skill.  They include games from Russia, India, China, Italy and Board games from Kenya, Germany and Ancient Egypt.  (8 - 12 years)

Archaeology by Trevor Barnes  pb $16.95
This is a good general introduction to the topic but it is especially of note because it looks at the archaeological work at sites around the world including Catal  Huyuk in Southern Turkey, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley in Pakistan, the terracotta army in present day Xi’an in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and of the civilisation at Benin in West Africa.  There is also information on the more usual sites such as Ancient Egypt and Greece.  There are many excellent photographs of the sites and the artefacts discovered.   (11 – 15 years)

• The Usborne Introduction to Archaeology - Internet-Linked  by Abigail Wheatley and Struan Reid  hardback   $39.95   Published in 2004.

This very interesting book looks at examples of famous archaeological excavations round the world by continent.   It also describes how archaeologists work and some the difficulties they face when excavating sites, whether underground or underwater.   It discusses some of the painstaking detective work necessary and also some of the latest technological advances in dating, conserving and reconstructing the past.   (10 – 16 years)           

Communication: From Hieroglyphics to Hyperlinks  by Richard Platt pb $16.95  Richard Platt is himself a skilled communicator and is able to make this discussion of many different types of communications both interesting and accessible.  In his introductory chapter, he discusses various types of communication such as communication between animals, facial expression and gestures, language and speech, and written language.  The second chapter concentrates on sending messages from the development of the alphabet to the postal service, use of fires and flags, telegraph and the telephone.  The third chapter covers printing, recording of sound, as well as photography, cinema, radio, television, video and DVDs.  The final chapter looks at the world as a global village in which the internet has made enormous changes to our ability to communicate and in which many media are now merging.  Very well set out with many photos and glossary and index.   (12 – 15 years)     

Advertising and Marketing: Developing the Marketplace  (Influence and Persuasion series) by Clive Gifford  hardback $39.95   This book succeeds in covering comprehensively many aspects of the advertising industry today.  It describes the huge changes in advertising over the past two hundred years and also how an advertising business is run and how advertising targets are chosen and how an advertising campaign may be organised.  In addition a wide variety of advertising techniques used to persuade consumers to buy and also described.  Students will find the book interesting because of the detailed information it gives about the variety of people who are involved in working in advertising companies and the variety of campaigns they work on.  However throughout the book there is also awareness of the effects of advertising on the consumer and the ways advertisers attempt to influence the public to change their attitudes or to change their buying patterns.  There is also discussion of the broader effects advertising has on the society.  There are many photos and graphs as well as Glossary and Index and list of websites of interest.  Other titles in this interesting series are:
Influence and Persuasion series  hardback $39.95 each  (12 – 16 years)
Espionage and Disinformation  by Clive Gifford
Political Manipulation by P Steele
Propaganda in War and Peace: Manipulating the Truth by Simon Adams 
Public Relations by M Ali

• Ideas of the Modern World series Democracy pb $23.00 each

It’s surprising that there are so few good non-fiction books suitable for secondary students written on concepts such as democracy.  It seems especially important at times like this of crisis and uncertainty round the world that we have a good understanding of what democracy means, how it came about and the challenges it faces today.  This book is well written in clear language with interesting examples and is illustrated with cartoons, photos and paintings.  Other titles in this series are:

Anti-Capitalism

Democracy

Fascism

Fundamentalism

Nationalism

• 1,000 Inventions and Discoveries by Roger Bridgman  DK in association with the Science Museum (UK)  pb $29.95

This book is so much more meaningful than I would have imagined because of the way Bridgman has organised this subject.  The inventions and discoveries are arranged chronologically and so there is an explanation of how these discoveries have changed over time (from the Stone Age to very Modern Times) and it also becomes very clear how the speed of invention has accelerated greatly over the past fifty years or so.  From time to time two additional pages explain in more detail some of the changes happening throughout the world for example in agriculture or in writing systems or monumental inventions such as the first printing press of the telephone.  Inventions such as the magnetic compass, gunpowder and paper from China are also acknowledged.  Many inventions are so much more interesting when we can see how they have developed over time.  A quick reference time-line across the bottom of some pages gives an instant overview of events in the world at that time.  There are many photos and paintings of examples of the 1,000 inventions and discoveries over the years.  (9 – 16 years)

The Way Things Work by David Macaulay with Neil Ardley  pb $45.00
It is wonderful to see this exceptional book back in print in a new revised edition.  The book is inspired because as well as detailed a detailed description of the working of hundreds of machines and the principles behind their technology, Macaulay also uses extremely funny illustrations and descriptions of mammoths from prehistoric times to give further examples of the various principles.  It is most surprising to find a book which combines humour and science and especially with such flair.  The machines described in the book are grouped according to the principles that make different machines work, rather than by their uses.  There are sections on The Mechanics of Movement, Harnessing the Elements, Working with Waves, Electricity and Automation, The Digital Domain and The Invention of Machines.  (9 – 15 years)

Can you feel the Force? by Richard Hammond  hardback $29.95
A dynamic and extremely interestingly presented book about Physics and the forces which make our world the way it is.  Hammond has a lively and exciting way of talking about forces.  He describes Newton’s laws by demonstrating what happens when you go for a ride on your bike.  He gives some of the history behind efforts to understand the problem and gives examples demonstrating its use. Looks at the composition of Matter and also discusses Light and its many complexities and mysteries.  (9 – 15 years)     

Charles Darwin's Big Idea: The revolutionary theory of evolution by Robin Stewart            pb $18.95 
This is a very readable account of Charles Darwin’s life and voyages on the Beagle and of his discoveries and research which led, after many years, to his Theory of Evolution.  It is also a very interesting and helpful introduction to the Theory of Evolution.  It is set out clearly with many illustrations.   (11 - 15 years)   

Einstein’s Theories of Relativity (Milestones in Modern science series) by Alan Morton hardback 38.50    This is an extremely interesting book which combines fascinating background about Einstein’s life with historical information about what was accepted regarding the laws of Physics prior to Einstein’s theories.  It explains what relativity is and goes on to investigating the theories of Special and general relativity.   After reading this book, I still don’t understand Einstein’s Theories of Relativity but I do have an understanding of how the ideas developed, as well as their impact at the time and their huge importance in later scientific developments.  Many fascinating photographs and illustrations as well as quotes from Einstein add to the interest of the book and to its comprehension.  There is also a Timeline, Glossary and Index.   (13 years up)
Other titles in the series are:
Splitting the Atom                                      The Discovery of DNA
The Discovery of Penicillin                        The First Computers
The First Polio Vaccine

Made in China: Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China by Suzanne Williams   hardback  $41.95   A detailed description of some of the many scientific discoveries of Ancient China, including bronze making, paper, silk, printing, the compass, porcelain, abacus and acupuncture.   Illustrations and photographs.  (9 - 15 years)                       

Judge for Yourself Series hardback $39.95
This series contains factual details of the life of these important historical figures and they also encourage students to look at some of the results of their actions.  Students are encouraged to give their opinions regarding the results of their actions.   The books give statistics, factual information and quotations which can be used to back up both sides of a debate.  Extra research would of course be needed but this is a good introduction to some of the many complexities of historical study.  Also in this series: 
Judge for Yourself:  Catherine the Great
Judge for Yourself: Mao Zedong
Judge for Yourself: Martin Luther King
Judge for Yourself: Mahatma Gandhi     (11 – 16 years)

Picture the World:  Children’s Art around the Globe by Tracy V Spates  hardback  $45.95   This book features a number of art works from children of different ages and from eight different countries.  The art work presents an opportunity for storytelling and discussing similarities and differences between cultures as well as a chance to focus on familiar and new ways of being creative. Countries included are Japan, Ecuador, India, Russia, Kenya, USA and Vietnam. (10 – 14 years)

Look! Zoom in on Art!  by Gillian Wolfe  pb $16.95
This is an exceptional book which encourages us to look carefully at paintings and makes us think about the different ways artists paint when they attempt to portray perspective, movement, emotion and many other complex ideas.   (8 – 15 years) Also
Look! Seeing the Light in Art  hardback $27.95
This fascinating book makes us think about how light is used in a variety of paintings under headings such as dramatic, cold and hot, dappled, reflected and patterns.  At the end of the book there are brief background notes to each of the eighteen paintings.    
Look ! Body Language in Art    pb $16.95 
This book has a similar format the other two titles and looks at the way body language is expressed in seventeen famous paintings.  (8 – 15 years)

The Art Book for Children  hardback $29.95
The Art Book for Children looks at the artworks of thirty very different artists, ranging from the Middle Ages to very modern times.  It asks children to think about the reasons why the artists chose to paint or create in that style.  It explores the various ideas, meanings, roles and functions of art by looking at painting, sculpture, photography and prints and helps develop children’s understanding of colour, form, texture and pattern.  A great introduction to the world of art for children.  (8 - 15 years)

• Art Book for Children Book 2 text by Amanda Renshaw   hardback $29.95 

With a similar format, this second book introduces artworks from another 30 artists from the Middle Ages to very modern times.   The art works are striking and Amanda Renshaw makes comments and asks questions which encourage us to observe the works more closely and to think about why the artists chose to paint or create in that style.  It is an excellent introduction to the world of art and it helps children to think creatively.    (8 - 15 years)    

Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang  pb $24.95
In this book Molly Bang helps us understand how the structure of a pictures affects our emotional response.  She uses simple cutout shapes to tell the fairy story of Little Red Riding Hood as a visual example of how varying shapes, colour and composition of a picture make us feel differently about it.  This is a truly original and fascinating book.  (11 years up) 

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids : His Life and Ideas  by Janis Herbert  pb $32.95
This book describes in detail the life of Leonard da Vinci and his amazing inventions, his engineering designs, and his wonderful paintings and sculptures.
There are descriptions of his interests in nature, in anatomy and in science and these are accompanied by extensive use of photos of many of Leonardo’s sketches, paintings and designs.  There are also suggested activities related to Leonardo’s interests.  (11 years up)

World Art and Culture series hardback  $42.95 each
Aboriginal Art and Culture                        Islamic Art and Culture
African Art and Culture                             Japanese Art and Culture
Chinese Art and Culture                           Mexican Art and Culture
Indian Art and Culture                              Native American Art and Culture
A wide-ranging look at the diverse culture of these countries through their architecture and art and crafts over the ages.    Each book endeavours to use a wide variety of art and craft to reflect something of the culture, including the history, technology, beliefs and daily life of each country.    (11  - 16 years)

History in Art series  hardback  $38.50
Ancient China                                   Middle Ages
Ancient Egypt                                    Native Americans
Ancient Greece                                 
Ancient Rome                                    
Islamic Empires    
An excellent series.  Both Ancient China and Islamic Empires have well written texts and wonderful photos of a wide variety of art and architecture.  Ancient China uses extraordinary examples of art and artefacts to show how these reveal much about the history of this ancient civilisation and how people lived in those times.  In Islamic Empires there is a greater emphasis on the architecture and historical records.  In each book, information panels provide additional information on historical background and artistic techniques.  There are maps, a timeline, glossary and an index. (11 - 16 years)

Inspirations: Art Ideas for Primary and Middle Years by Ann MacArthur    pack $59.95  This newly produced pack contains a marvellous range of images of contemporary, modern and traditional artworks from Asia. On the back of each image there is background information as well as suggestions for looking and making activities for students, for discussion and for cross-curricular activities.  The specific arts activities have a variety of approaches designed to support different learning styles.  Images include works from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Persia, Philippines and Vietnam.  (11 years up)

Environment

Fishing for Islands: Traditional Boats & Seafarers of the Pacific  by John Nicholson hardback  $24.95      Nicholson links his obvious love of boats and their design, decoration and how they are built with an outline of how the islands in the Pacific were settled.  He describes through beautiful detailed illustrations and text, the first boats or rafts that must have been built and how they were used, through to dug-out canoes, outriggers and the canoes used by the Polynesians on their vast journeys across the Pacific.  (9 - 16 years)

Pat Lowe with Jimmy Pike
Jilji: Life in the Great Sandy Desert   pb  $32.95   
"You call it desert we used to live there."  In a marvellous collaboration, Pat Lowe's photographs interact with Jimmy Pike's striking paintings to make us see the Australian desert landscape with new insight.  Jimmy Pike was a well-loved Aboriginal artist who was brought up with his family in the Great Sandy Desert in north-western Australia.  Pat Lowe describes with great clarity what Jimmy Pike has told her about the way his family and community used to live in the Great Sandy Desert.   (10 years up)

Upside Down World Map   pb $10.95       Laminated $24.95
Drawn from the perspective of those living in the southern hemisphere, this very simple Upside Down World Map is centred round the Pacific Ocean, thereby giving Asia and Australia a prominent position and relegating Europe to a small group of countries in the far top left hand corner of the map.  It promotes some interesting discussion about the history of cartography and how this has affected our perspective of the world.  (8 years up)

If the World were a Village: A book about the World’s People  by David J Smith illustrated by Shelagh Arstrong  hardback $31.95  pb $16.95
This is such an important book, especially for students trying to gain some comprehension of the huge numbers of people living on our planet.  As of January 2005, there were 6 billion 400 million people.  David Smith imagines the whole population of the world in just one village of 100 people.  In this global village, each person represents 64 million people.  He then takes us through this village showing us more about the people living there.  In this global village, 61 are from Asia, 13 from Africa, 12 from Europe, 8 from South and Central America, 5 from Canada and the US and 1 from Oceania.  He looks at the beliefs, languages and ages of these people as well as the food they eat.  If the food they eat was divided equally, there would be no shortage of food in this global village but it isn’t and so 50 people are hungry some of the time and 20 are severely malnourished.  He also looks at water, electricity, money and possessions and also how many people lived in this village in the past and will live there in the future.  The text is very simply written and I am sure that it would spark spontaneous discussion.  This is very much a book with an interdisciplinary world-view which links geography, environment and human rights.  (9 - 14 years)

• The Usborne Internet-Linked Introduction to Weather & Climate Change   by Laura Howell  hardback 34.95    A fascinating and clearly explained introduction to this most complex subject.  It describes climate changes and their possible explanations over many millennia and also looks at a number of possible reasons for the present changes in climate.   It also looks in details at many other phenomena of our weather.  Very well illustrated with photos, maps, charts and drawings.       (9 – 14 years)

• Our World Our Future by Sharon Dalgleish  hardback $45.00

This title was originally published as six individual titles Saving water, Cleaning the Air, Managing the Land, Renewing Energy, Protecting Forests and Caring for Wildlife in 2002.  The information from those six titles has now been updated (2007) and published as one hardback volume.  It looks at the problems of sustaining the environment round the world and also our responsibility to contribute to the protection of our planet.  There are suggestions throughout the book on what we can do to have an effect on improving the environment.    (10 – 13 years)

• Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Rethink  by Kate Walker hardback $45.00

This title was originally published as six individual books: Glass, Aluminium, Household Waste, Paper, Plastics, and Steel  in 2004. The information from those six titles has now been updated (2007) and published as one hardback volume.  This book gives a brief history of each material or product and how it is used and how it can be recycled.  Points for and against recycling are listed as well as some excellent ideas of examples of successful recycling from round the world.   There also suggestions of what wee can do to help recycle.    This is a very helpful up to date resource with examples from round the world.    (10 – 13 years)

• Action for the Environment series pb $20.00

Clean Air

Food for All

Energy Supplies

Protecting Habitats

Rubbish Disposal

Saving Wildlife

Transport Solutions

This series was published in 2006 and so is fairly up to date.  It discusses problems around the world and also initiatives that are being taken to fight these problems.    Photos from around the world show some of the problems and solutions.  ( 9 – 12 years)

• Future Energy by Julie Richards  hardback $45.00

This title was originally published as six individual books: Solar Power, Wind Power, Nuclear Power, Water Power, Fossil Fuels and Geothermal and Bio-energy in 2003. The information from those six titles has now been updated (2007) and published as one hardback volume.  This is a very comprehensive book giving examples of how people have used various types of energy throughout history.  Detailed information of each energy source is given again with examples from round the world.  At the end of each section, advantages and disadvantages of the various types of energy are described.  The many photographs, illustrations and charts make this a most useful up to date resource.  (10 – 13 years)     

Health and Social Education

What Makes Me Me?  By Robert Winston  hardback   $29.95
This book is a dynamic and different look at how our bodies work and what makes each of us a unique person.  I t also looks at what our bodies are made of and discusses some of the complexities of how our brains work.  There are fascinating sections on personality traits, multiple intelligences, body language, dreams and phobias.  There are also a number of tests for genes, memory as well as verbal, spatial and numerical skills and for personality.  (10 – 14 years)

• Body: An Amazing Tour of Human Anatomy by Robert Winston and  Richard Walker   hardback (includes CD)  $39.95

I know there have been many books which try to reconstruct the human body and give an idea of its amazing complexity but this one I think does it extremely successfully.  The book looks at the various body systems such as skeletal, muscular, nervous etc but then looks in more detail at the head, and upper and lower body sections.  The illustrations are exceptional and enable us to visualise the amazing complexity of the body through reconstruction which has been made possible apparently through modern scanning machines and computing.    (10 – 18 years)

Medieval Realms series   hardback   $36.95  pb $19.95
Art and Architecture only hardback
Daily Life  only pb $19.95         
Death and Disease  only pb $19.95
Education 
Monarchs  only hardback
Warfare 
This series provides a good introduction to medieval life in Europe from 1000 to 1500 AD.  Each title features contemporary written and visual sources which allow the reader an insight into the beliefs and customs of people in medieval times.  Each book also shows how people lived their daily lives and also the changes and developments from AD 1,000 – 1,500.   Paintings, maps and illustrations from the period as well as quotations from written works of that time are used extensively.  (12 – 15 years)

All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST of 10% which is not applicable for overseas schools.

 If you would like to order any of the above books, send orders to Austral Ed by fax, post or email.

For additional lists of recommended books and newsletters from Austral Ed, visit our website       www.australed.iinet.net

© Kate Shepherd 2008.